Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix: Semifinal Breakdown

Sergei meets Barnett in the main event--can he pull off the upset? (photo: sho.sports.com)

As this weekend looms closer and closer, we will soon have a more finite picture to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, which has suffered dramatic highs and lows since beginning this past February.

The tournament field featured a bevy of big-named talent, including the infamous Fedor Emelianenko and the then-reigning Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem.

Both men have seen their exit from the eight-man line up, with Emelianenko losing by a second-round TKO at the hands of Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in the quarterfinals and Overeem making his exit later after injuries and disputes with the organization as the main culprit.

While the tournament has lost some of its luster now, the excitement is not completely gone, as a group of talented fighters remain, with the winner laying claim as the best heavyweight fighter under the Strikeforce umbrella.  

Daniel Cormier Has the Tools to Move the Immovable Object

A guy with Cormier's pedigree will always have the upper hand (photo: sho.sports.com)

This Saturday, Strikeforce will feature the next leg in its GP as the four remaining men will now enter the semifinal round. 

Daniel Cormier, an undefeated prospect, has since stepped in for Overeem and will now be taking on the aforementioned Silva, where both men will serve as the co-main event of the evening.

Silva's size and ability to move effectively have long been his biggest assets. In the past, he would stifle opponents by putting them on the mat and making them carry his weight, all 6'6" and 265-plus pounds of him. Silva is not the fastest nor the most agile, but if you find yourself underneath the towering Brazilian, consider it a wrap.

What we have seen from Silva in the past is that when he's presented with a man that has the sort of acumen to give him trouble grappling, he is found vulnerable off his back. In his bout with Fabricio Werdum in November of 2009, the much smaller PRIDE veteran was able to take down his fellow countryman time and time again, eventually earning the decision win. 

It stands to reason that Cormier, who like Werdum was the much smaller fighter against Silva, could find similar success. 

At just 5'10" and weighing in at soft 240 pounds, Daniel is a small man that wields a big hammer. To complement his world-class wrestling skills (a two-time Olympian who in 2008 was named captain of the team), Cormier has developed into a very competent striker. 

His speed and the power he packs behind his punches have dwindled lesser men, however, the American Kickboxing Academy product will best be served using his wrestling skills to clinch, single leg, double leg his way to victory against Silva. Cormier will use his blend of kicks and punches to plow his way in, look for the takedown and put the big man on his back round after round, eventually walking away the winner by unanimous decision.

Pick: Cormier, Decision.  

Josh Barnett Is Too Good to Lose

As long as his ego doesn't get in the way, Barnett is going to the finals (photo: cagepotato.com)

In the main event of the evening, former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett takes on fellow PRIDE veteran Sergei Kharitonov in the last semifinal bout. 

The path of least resistance for Barnett seems simple: takedown, takedown, takedown. 

Barnet, a submission wrestling expert, has developed into a very well-rounded fighter over the years, though his ego has gotten the better of him in the past. Earlier in his career, he was pitted against future three-time title contender Pedro Rizzo under the UFC banner.

Barnett was eager to show off his striking acumen, though against the more seasoned Rizzo, that change of pace proved to be disastrous, as the Brazilian striker made quick work of Barnett, finishing him off inside of the second round. They would meet years later, and though Barnett would come out the victor this time with his own knockout over the tattered Rizzo, his ego reared its ugly head once again, imploring his striking skills in order to polish off the kickboxer, abandoning his bigger advantage as a grappler.

Hopefully against Kharitonov that will not be the case. Kharitonov is currently riding a two-fight win streak, with impressive knockout victories over the likes of Tatsuya Mizuno and former champ Andrei Arlovski. The Russian has long been touted as a heavy-handed foe with an underrated submission game, evidence of his three-round unanimous decision win over jiu-jitsu world champion Fabricio Werdum. 

Now, the K-1 veteran has come full circle under the Golden Glory team, where teammates Alistair, Semmy Schilt, Jon Olav Einemo and others have rounded out his game.

The strides he's made in his career won't be enough, as Barnett has demonstrated a much smarter approach in recent outings. In his quarterfinal bout against Brett Rogers, Barnett avoided the dangerous stand-up arsenal "The Grim" presents by eventually wearing down the big man en route to a methodical second-round submission win, which will mirror his performance against Kharitonov.

Pick: Barnett, Second-Round Submission