Overeem beats Werdum at Strikeforce, but fails to impress

Alistair Overeem looked to send a strong message in Saturday night's Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinals. Instead, he created plenty of questions about his much larger physique and his stamina. Overeem took a sloppy fight via unanimous decision, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, in the main event at Strikeforce's Dallas event.

Overeem, a huge tourney favorite, suddenly looks beatable. All three of the remaining fighters in the field are capable of taking out Overeem (35-11, one no-contest).

In the semifinals, the 256-pounder will face the massive Antonio "Big Foot" Silva. On the other side of the bracket, is a big puncher in Sergei Kharitonov and a great ground fighter, Josh Barnett.

Overeem has added 40 pounds to his frame over the last five years, but now it appears he may have gone too far. His gas tank was a real issue and his hand speed was unimpressive.

"As you know, Fabricio is one of the best grapplers in the world, so we didn't want to play with him on the ground," said Overeem, who indicated nothing Werdum landed really hurt him. "He just felt a little bit unpredictable in the standup."

For 15 minutes, Werdum (14-5-1) tried to get the fight to the ground where he could show off his excellent submission skills, but he never got Overeem into a dangerous spot.

The Brazilian worked hard throughout the opening round but was consistently thrown away by the powerful Overeem. In the second and third, both fighters were extremely tired. By pulling guard, Werdum actually got into some decent positions on his back with Overeem in his guard, but he was too tired to execute a submission. Overeem was also exhausted and often times just laid close to Werdum's body.

On the feet, Overeem landed harder, single shots. Werdum landed some decent combinations. CompuStrike actually had Werdum outlanding Overeem 69-48, but few of his shots did real damage.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Overeem-beats-Werdum-at-Strikeforce-but-fails-t?urn=mma-wp3695

Scott Morris Johnnie Morton Ben Mortimer Curtis Mostat

Despite calculated career path, Strikeforce's Daniel Cormier ready as tourney reserve

It's hard not to see big things on Daniel Cormier's horizon.

The two-time U.S. Olympian and decorated amateur wrestler beat down onetime UFC heavyweight title challenger Jeff Monson this past Saturday at "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" for a win as an alternate in the promotion's heavyweight grand prix.

Whether he gets to fight in the tournament or not, Cormier is approaching a stage in his career in which the competition gets stiffer and the pressure intensifies.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/GKo-Gcq3cr0/despite-calculated-career-path-strikeforces-daniel-cormier-ready-as-tourney-reserve.mma

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Top 5 Moments Of UFC 131 "Dos Santos vs. Carwin"

UFC 131 ?Dos Santos vs. Carwin? featured a few average fights, a few good ones, and a few great ones. Sprinkled here and there were some good finishes, including several shocking KO?s. But which stars shined brightest, and what moments will fans be talking about in the following weeks? Here?s my take on the matter: [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/06/12/top-5-moments-of-ufc-131-dos-santos-vs-carwin

Chris The Pitbull Myra Jason MacDonald Cory MacDonald Matt MacGrath

"Overeem vs. Werdum" official weigh-in results: Overeem (256), Werdum (246) set

DALLAS - MMAjunkie.com was on scene and reporting live from today's official "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" fighter weigh-ins, where all 20 fighters made weight without issue.

Today's festivities took place at AT&T Plaza outside of American Airlines Center in Dallas.

All main card fighters weighed in without issue. However, preliminary card fighter Brian Melancon weighed in four pounds over the cutoff allowed for non-title welterweight fights (at 175 pounds). Officials from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation told MMAjunkie.com the fighter agreed to compete at a catchweight.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/joQ84FVQL8U/strikeforce-overeem-vs-werdum-live-and-official-weigh-in-results-1.mma

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Paul Daley vs. "Cyborg" Santos official for "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson"

A welterweight scrap between sluggers Paul Daley and Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos is now official for next month's "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson" event.

Strikeforce brass officially announced the previously reported contest at Saturday night's "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" event.

"Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson" takes place July 30 at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The main card, including a Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson headliner, airs on Showtime.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/LtlZJGvq1Ss/paul-daley-vs-cyborg-santos-official-for-strikeforce-fedor-vs-henderson.mma

Evan Tanner Rich Franklin Anderson Silva Pat Miletich

Video analysis: Strikeforce fighters wants UFC champ, will it happen?

Nick Diaz is set to make the jump to the UFC in October. Strikeforce heavyweight fighters like Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett have made it clear they want in as well. Most of the fighters in Strikeforce's heavyweight Grand Prix say the victor in the tournament should get an immediate shot at the UFC heavyweight king early in 2012.

Is that possible?

During the UFC 131 prefight press conference, Yahoo! Sports' lead MMA writer Kevin Iole asked Dana White about the winner of the Strikeforce heavyweight GP getting an immediate shot at the UFC champ. The UFC president seemed surprised by the question and was non-committal.

Iole joined us this week on video and said the Strikeforce vs. UFC champ showdown makes sense and will probably happen, but Zuffa also has to be careful in managing its relationship with Showtime, the current broadcast partner for the smaller promotion.

If he wins this grueling tournament, Overeem wants the UFC king next.

"It's all about achieving a goal, and then you look toward the next goal," Overeem told the MMA media in Dallas. "This is my next goal. [...]
"After this tournament, there will be another goal. I don't know what that goal is, but if you think about it, and I'm not occupied with it, but the winner of the tournament should fight the UFC champion. That sounds like a logical next step."

Overeem's opponent on Saturday, Fabricio Werdum, has the same goal in mind.

"If I win this Grand Prix, I will count the titles," Werdum said. "I want to be the champ of this Grand Prix and defeat the champ of UFC."

The current UFC champ Cain Velasquez is looking forward to taking on the best from Strikeforce.

"Those guys are great, top level guys," Velasquez said earlier this year. "I'm glad that the UFC can finally, later down the road match everybody together so we can have a true No. 1 champion. I want to fight the best guys and those are the best guys, too."

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Video-analysis-Strikeforce-fighters-wants-UFC-c?urn=mma-wp3640

Randy Couture Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Brock Lesnar Frank Mir

?Kid? Yamamoto vs. Damacio Page planned for September showdown

Two of bantamweight’s best will put the 135 in UFC 135 when the world?s foremost MMA promotion makes a stop in Denver this fall, as WEC veteran Damacio Page and Japanese icon Norifumi ?Kid? Yamamoto have been booked to square off on September 24 as part of a card already ripe with talent more than [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/06/14/%e2%80%9ckid%e2%80%9d-yamamoto-vs-damacio-page-planned-for-september-showdown/

Matt Wiman Travis Wiuff Wu Haotian Rani Yahya