Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix: How a UFC Heavyweight Version Would Go Down

Dana White can call Strikeforce a feeder organization all he wants, but the upcoming Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix has the promotion competing with the UFC for headlines. With some of the biggest heavyweight names in MMA history participating in the tournament, fans have even begun to question whether or not the UFC could put together a tournament to match the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

The UFC's heavyweight division is widely considered to be one of the most shallow divisions in the organization. Still, the elite UFC heavyweights are extremely popular. Some MMA fans may still disagree that a UFC heavyweight tournament would hold more talent than the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, but the UFC brand would undoubtedly result in its tournament drawing more interest.

Quarterfinals: No. 1 Cain Velasquez vs. No. 8 Mirko Filipovic

As current UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez would be the obvious No. 1 seed in this hypothetical tournament. The well-run organization that it is, the UFC would want to give their champion the easiest route possible to the finals.

There are several UFC heavyweights worthy of competing as the eighth and final contestant in this tournament. Since any one of them would likely be at a great disadvantage against Velasquez, the UFC would most likely invite the most noteworthy fighter to compete. For that reason, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic would edge out fighters like Brendan Schaub and Cheick Kongo.

Filipovic is one of the great fighters in MMA history, but his UFC career has been disappointing. At 36 years old, it seems clear that Filipovic is not the same fighter he was when he won the 2006 Pride Open-Weight Grand Prix. Although it has been years since he last pulled it off, Filipovic's fights still draw the interest of MMA fans longing to witness one last left heft kick.

The much younger Velasquez is simply on a different level than Filipovic at this point in their careers. Even if Filipovic were able to keep this fight standing, Velasquez would still be too quick for the Croatian.

Winner: Velasquez

Quarterfinals: No. 2 Brock Lesnar vs. No. 7 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

This matchup has been tossed around by fans on multiple occasions. Perhaps a tournament would give the UFC the reason they need to make this fight happen.

There is no disputing the fact that Brock Lesnar draws more attention than any other fighter in the UFC. For that reason and because he is still a legitimate contender, Lesnar would likely be placed on the opposite side of the bracket as Cain Velasquez in order to give him the best chance of fighting in the finals.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is a good boxer with outstanding jiu-jitsu. If Lesnar is unable to take the fight to the ground quickly, he might be in trouble against Nogueira. Fighting on the ground with Nogueira would be no picnic either, but Lesnar has showed vast improvement in his ground game since being submitted in his first fight against Frank Mir.

It's far from a sure thing, but Lesnar should be able to overpower Nogueira for a takedown. From there, this fight would probably look a lot like the second fight between Lesnar and Mir, which Lesnar won with methodical and powerful ground-and-pound.

Winner: Lesnar

Quarterfinals: No. 3 Junior Dos Santos vs. No. 6 Frank Mir

In order to avoid pointless rematches, pairing the remaining four tournament participants would take little thought. The only issue that would need to be discussed would be which side of the bracket the UFC would want to have Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin on.

Although it would be fairly easy to promote, the UFC might want to avoid a potential rematch between Carwin and Brock Lesnar in the semifinals. Also, the organization may want to create the opportunity for Dos Santos, the younger fighter with more potential, to fight Velasquez in the tournament final.

Before Dos Santos starts thinking about a meeting with Velasquez, he would most likely have to defeat Frank Mir.

Dos Santos would have a distinct advantage in striking in this fight. As long as he is able to keep this fight standing, which he should be able to do for the most part, this matchup would most likely equate to another knockout victory for Dos Santos.

Winner: Dos Santos

Quarterfinals: No. 4 Shane Carwin vs. No. 5 Roy Nelson

This final quarterfinal fight was actually one that had been scheduled to take place at UFC 125. Unfortunately, Shane Carwin was forced to withdraw from that fight with Roy Nelson because of a back injury.

In his last fight, Nelson showed his ability to take punishment as he was used as a human punching bag by Junior Dos Santos for three rounds. In a fight with Carwin, one of the most powerful punchers in all of MMA, Nelson would need a solid chin to survive the first round.

If Nelson could survive the initial barrage, Carwin has shown a lack of endurance in the past. With Carwin gassing, Nelson should be able to take the fight to the ground and put his jiu-jitsu black belt to use. 

Winner: Nelson

Semifinals: No. 1 Cain Velasquez vs. No. 5 Roy Nelson

A fight against Roy Nelson is about as favorable a matchup as Cain Velasquez could get in the second round of this tournament, which is exactly what the UFC would be hoping for.

Stylistically, Velasquez has the advantage over Nelson in just about any category. Velasquez is much quicker on his feet and his wrestling negates Nelson's strengths on the ground. Nelson is a jiu-jitsu black belt, but his grappling strength is from top control rather than off of his back.

As it should be, Velasquez would have a relatively easy path to the finals. The current UFC heavyweight champion would clearly be the favorite to win this hypothetical tournament. 

Winner: Velasquez

Semifinals: No. 2 Brock Lesnar vs. No. 3 Junior Dos Santos

As is the case in reality, there is good reason that Junior Dos Santos and Brock Lesnar should face off to determine which fighter would get a chance to compete against Cain Velasquez. It is hard to argue against these fighters as the top two contenders in the UFC heavyweight division.

Dos Santos' takedown defense hasn't been tested against a fighter like Lesnar, but there also really isn't any evidence to show that Dos Santos couldn't keep this fight standing. As long as he doesn't get taken down immediately, Dos Santos has the ability to finish this fight rather quickly.

In his last two fights against Velasquez and Shane Carwin, Lesnar has shown an inability to absorb much damage. Dos Santos, an even more technical striker than those two fighters, should be able to take advantage.

Winner: Dos Santos

Finals: No. 1 Cain Velasquez vs. No. 3 Junior Dos Santos

A matchup between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos in the finals shows why a UFC tournament is unnecessary. While tournaments risk being derailed by injuries, the UFC didn't need one to determine that Velasquez and Dos Santos were the two best heavyweights in the organization.

Before Velasquez was forced to undergo surgery, this fight had been pegged as the next heavyweight championship fight. Now, Dos Santos is able to compete in another meaningful fighter rather than having to wait months to complete a tournament.

With both fighters being so young and on the top of their game, this fight is bound to happen at some point. Dos Santos would have an advantage in striking, but Velasquez is certainly capable of holding his own on his feet. Velasquez is also more likely to secure a takedown or two in this fight, which would give him the edge on the scorecards.

Winner: Velasquez

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Sean Smith has been a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA since October 2010. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @BR_Sean_Smith.