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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix is official, as the organization - in conjunction with M-1 Global and Showtime - announced the eight man tournament, along with the multi-year contract signing for co-promoted events with M-1 Global featuring Fedor Emelianenko.
The four previously reported bouts, Fedor vs. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov, Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Brett Rogers vs. Josh Barnett, were all announced as quarterfinal matchups. Fedor vs. Silva and Arlovski vs. Kharitonov will take place on February 12 in New Jersey, though the Overeem vs. Werdum and Rogers vs. Barnett fights do not yet have a date or location.
"We are thrilled to have come to a long-term agreement with Fedor and M-1 Global,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker in today's release. "To have the greatest MMA fighter of all-time put his legacy on the line in a single-elimination tournament will truly captivate MMA fans worldwide. Strikeforce is home to the best heavyweight division in the world; the athlete who runs the gauntlet in a tournament such as this would have to be considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world."
The new agreement will also bring M-1 Global events to Showtime, as M-1 Global co-founder Vadim Finkelchtein commented on the deal and the new working relationship between the parties.
"I'm very pleased to be working with Showtime and Strikeforce and Mr. Coker and Mr. Hershman personally. Thanks to their interest and efforts, we've created what will go down in history as MMA's greatest heavyweight tournament of all time," said Finkelchtein. "M-1, Strikeforce and Showtime have built a partnership committed to the future growth of MMA—a sport where organizations represent a working collaborative that enable the best fighters in the world to fight each other. This agreement benefits everyone, especially the fans who'll see Fedor in action more often.
“With Showtime's significance in the U.S. and M-1's development of the European and Asian MMA markets, the cooperation will also deliver a global roster of talented fighters to viewers," Finkelchtein continued. "During the coming year, we'll be showcasing spectacular Grand Prix events using the same M-1 Selection tournament format, a series of events generating enthusiastic spectator interest keeping fans glued to their screens."
Showtime executive Ken Hershman commented on the tournament format, and pointed to Showtime's recent Super Six series in boxing as one of their recent successes with tournaments.
"I can't think of a better way to start 2011 than with this major announcement,” said Hershman. "Fedor is universally known to sports fans throughout the world and it is an honor to continue our work with M-1 Global and Strikeforce in presenting this legendary fighter to Showtime subscribers.
"Showtime has enjoyed great success with its two most recent boxing tournaments—the Super Six World Boxing Classic and The Bantamweight Tournament," Hershman continued. "And now, with the breadth of talent in the Strikeforce heavyweight division, we have the privilege of staging one of the biggest tournaments in the history of this growing sport. With the Strikeforce World Grand Prix's single-elimination format and the biggest names in the sport today, this tournament is something that no sports fan will want to miss."
Finally, Emelianenko himself commented on the tournament and the new deal, and expressed his desire to get back in action.
"I have been training very hard since my last fight and can't wait to get back in the cage," said Emelianenko. "Strikeforce has assembled a roster filled with the best heavyweights in the world and, together with M-1 Global, we have the opportunity to fight the best in a great tournament format."
Penick's Analysis: I sincerely hope that Strikeforce can pull this off without any snags by the time the finals and semifinals roll around. This will bring the two fights that make the most sense right now in Fedor vs. Bigfoot and Overeem vs. Werdum, and then depending how the tournament plays out they'd potentially have a Fedor vs. Overeem bout or a Fedor vs. Werdum rematch come as well. If Fedor gets beat, then whichever fighter beats him will already have a fight lined up. This could be a lot of fun, and provided it all goes to plan it could be a good year for Strikeforce after a disappointing 2010.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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