Strikeforce – Overeem vs. Werdum
June 18, 2011
American Airlines Center,
Dallas, Texas, United States
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Alistair Overeem (35 – 11 – 0) defeated Fabricio Werdum (14 – 5 – 1) by unanimous decision. In an interesting twist, Werdum landed more strikes in this bout than his stand up based foe. Werdum tried many times to take the fight to the floor, but Overeem continually stood up from these attempts in the 1st round. In the 2nd and 3rd, Overeem remained in Werdum’s guard for longer periods of time, but the jiu jitsu ace was able to do nothing with the position. The result was a prosaic decision for the “Demolition Man.” Overeem, who is on a 7 fight win streak (has not lost since November 2007), moves up 4 spots from [#8] to [#4]. He will face [#6] Antonio Silva in the Heavyweight Grand Prix semi finals. Werdum, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops 2 spot down the ranks from [#3] to [#5]. Perhaps a bout with the loser of the [#10] Josh Barnett vs. [#13] Sergei Kharitonov semi final would be appropriate next for “Vai Cavalo.”
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Josh Barnett (30 – 5 – 0) defeated Brett Rogers (11 – 3 – 0) by arm-triangle choke at 1:17 of round 2. Barnett did not play the striking game with Rogers for long, taking him down with a big slam early in the 1st. He secured mount and worked for submissions from the top. The 2nd round ended up in the same position following a textbook lateral drop from Barnett which landed him in mount. Barnett used his submission prowess to apply a tight arm triangle from mount, and as he transitioned to side control, Rogers tapped. Barnett, who is on a 7 fight win streak (6 by stoppage, 4 by submission), holds his rank at [#10]. He will face [#13] Sergei Kharitonov in the Heavyweight Grand Prix semi finals. Rogers, who has lost 3 of his last 4 (albeit against top flight competition), drops 4 spot down the ranks from [#14] to [#18]. Rogers needs to get back on the winning track if he is ever to be seen as an elite heavyweight again, and a fight against [#34] Chad Griggs or even [#33] Jeff Monson could be appropriate next steps.
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Jorge Masvidal (22 – 6 – 0) defeated K.J. Noons (10 – 4 – 0) by unanimous decision. Masvidal used a dynamic strategy which was highlighted by range finding jabs, strategic takedowns and vicious knees and kicks. One head kick nearly ended the fight in the 1st round, sending the bloodied Noons to the canvas. Noons was saved by the bell, and was able to get back into the fight in round 2. Though Noons hung tough and never quit, Masvidal won all 3 rounds. Masvidal, who has back to back wins in Strikeforce (3-2 in his last 5), moves 5 spots up the ranks from[#15] to [#10]. He is the most likely candidate to face Strikeforce lightweight champion [#3] Gilbert Melendez next for the title. Noons, who is on a 2 fight losing streak (prior to which he had a 6 fight win streak), moves from [#68WW] into the lightweight “Top 500” at [#47]. Noons is still a very good lightweight, but a 3rd loss in a row would be very detrimental to his standing. Bouts with [#43] Pat Healey or [#60] Lyle Beerbohm would help bring more clarity to the sub-elite tier of the Strikeforce lightweight division.
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Daniel Cormier (8 – 0 – 0) defeated Jeff Monson (42 – 12 – 0) by unanimous decision. Cormier exhibited improved boxing and used kicks liberally to vex the older Monson in what was a 3 round stand up war. Only when Cormier would effortlessly toss Monson to the mat to shuck off a clinch did either of the opponents end up on the ground at all. Cormier, who has finished 6 of his 8 opponents (5 by strike based stoppage), jumps 13 spots up the ranks from [#28] to [#15]. He should face the man he was originally supposed to fight before injury struck, [#38] Shane del Rosario. Monson, who was on an 8 fight win streak prior to this loss, drops 12 spots from [#21] to [#33]. There are interesting matches to be made with Monson. Fights with [#26] Andrei Arlovski or [#46] Mike Kyle at either heavyweight or light heavyweight would be appropriate, depending on what division he wants to fight in.
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Chad Griggs (11 – 1 – 0) defeated Valentijn Overeem (29 – 26 – 0) by submission due to punches at 2:08 of round 1. Griggs was in control from the start, pressing Overeem up against the cage and hitting a lateral drop. He proceeded to punch out of an americana keylock attempt from Overeem, then pounded Overeem into submission. Griggs, who is on a 6 fight win streak (all by strike based stoppages), jumps 12 spots up the ranks from [#46] to [#34]. A bout with fellow prospect heavyweight [#38] Shane del Rosario would be excellent in propelling one of the fighters to the next level in the division. A bout with [#18] Brett Rogers would be an absolute stand up war. Overeem, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss (all by stoppage under 1:45), plummets 31 spots from [#98] to [#129]. Other than a fight with [#33] Jeff Monson, there aren’t many bouts that would not have a high possibility of Overeem giving up and submitting to strikes in the end.
Preliminary Bouts
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Justin Wilcox (11 – 3 – 0) and Gesias Cavalcante (15 – 4 – 1) fought to a No Decision after Cavalcante inadvertently poked Wilcox in the eye at 0:31 of round 2. Wilcox was in control of the action in round 1, but after the eye poke in round 2 he could not see well enough to continue. Wilcox, who was on a 6 fight win streak, holds his rank at [#27]. Cavalcante, who was 1-3 in his last 4 prior to this bout, holds his rank at [#42]. Obviously a rematch for these two fighters would be the best case scenario, and the bout could create the next lightweight contender after Jorge Masvidal.
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Conor Heun (8 – 4 – 0) defeated Magno Almeida (9 – 1 – 0) by unanimous decision. Heun showed tremendous heart in not tapping to an armbar that left his right arm broken. Despite the injury, Heun was able to finish the fight strong in top position with elbows and punches. Heun, who broke a 2 fight losing streak with this win, rockets 187 spots up the ranks from [#273] to [#86]. A bout with [#60] Lyle Beerbohm would be a good test for where both fighters belong in the division. Almeida, who was on a 5 fight win streak prior to this loss (all by submission), plunges 46 spots down from [#54] to [#100]. Bouts with [#128] Rodrigo Damm or [#218] Jorge Gurgel would help indicate who does and doesn’t have a future with Strikeforce.
Catchweight (180 lbs)
Nah-Shon Burrell (6 – 1 – 0) defeated Joe Ray (5 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision. Ray attacked with submissions from his back in the 1st round, but Burrell escaped all the attempts. During rounds 2 & 3, Burrell took control of the fight with multiple takedowns and more effective striking. Burrell, who is on a 4 fight win streak (3 by (T)KO), moves into the middleweight “Top 350” at [#315]. Previously ranked [#345] Ray, who is 1-2 in his last 3, falls off the middleweight ranks.
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Isaac Vallie Flagg (12 – 3 – 1) defeated Brian Melancon (5 – 2 – 0) by split decision. The 1st round went to Melancon. He threw power punches and secured a takedown that led to back control. The next 2 rounds were up in the air, with most agreeing that the fight should have gone to Melancon. Flagg, who is on a 3 fight win streak (9-0-1 in his last 10), moves from [#355LW] into the welterweight “Top 500” at [#201]. He could face [#143] Todd Moore or [#193] Nathan Coy next. Melancon, who is 2-2 in his last 4, falls 36 spots down the ranks from [#171] to [#207]. Bouts with [#174] Mike Bronzoulis or [#314] Damion Douglas would be telling.
Post-liminary Bout
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Todd Moore (14 – 4 – 0) defeated Mike Bronzoulis (12 – 3 – 1) by unanimous decision. Moore, who is on a 2 fight win streak (4-1 in his last 5), jets 145 spots up the ranks from [#288] to [#143]. Bronzoulis, who was on 4 fight win streak prior to this loss, plunges 53 spots down from [#121] to [#174].