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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Strikeforce is set to begin their Heavyweight World Grand Prix next month with their February 12 event from New Jersey, but they have yet to lock down any dates or locations for the remaining two quarterfinal bouts.
According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, the organization is looking into international venues as possible hosts for tournament bouts, specifically Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Tokyo, Japan.
"This is a world grand-prix tournament, which means we might not just be in the United States," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. "This thing could be traveling."
Strikeforce would likely not make their Toronto debut until after April, as the first major event in the city is set to be the UFC's debut on April 30. But Coker's connection to K-1 and their relationship with DREAM could open up the doors to an event in Japan first. Nothing is set as of yet, and details haven't been worked out, but both cities could be possibly host Strikeforce events in 2011.
Penick's Analysis: I don't think we'll see an international event hit by April, but if Strikeforce is looking to skirt around Josh Barnett's issues with stateside commissions, they might be more inclined to look at Japan as soon as they can. If Strikeforce is going to make it international this year, however, the semifinals would be the most likely time for them to do so, as having the finals in Japan would be a bad move for their fans in the states. There's absolutely nothing definitive in Coker's statements, so nothing is close to being a guarantee, but it would make things interesting if Strikeforce ran an event in Japan.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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