Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament: 5 Reasons Josh Barnett Will Win It All

Josh "The Baby Faced Assassin" Barnett is not getting as much attention heading into the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as Alistair Overeem or Fedor Emelianenko, but he is just as likely to win the whole thing.

In a tournament stacked with heavyweight superstars, what makes Barnett the one to emerge from the pack?

These are the top five reasons Josh Barnett will win it all....

5. Knockout Power

Overlook Barnett's punching ability and you will likely end up on your back dancing with elves in Neverland.

Barnett is a big heavyweight and he knows how to throw that weight around as good as anybody in the business.

He has stopped the likes of Bobby Hoffman, Randy Couture, Pedro Rizzo, and Geronimo Dos Santos by way of his strikes.

4. Submission Ability & Grappling

One of the most talented submission artists in the history of the heavyweight division and the No. 2 submission artist in the tournament.

There is not a man in the tournament, or on earth, that Josh Barnett could not submit.

If he does not find the submission, he is still more than capable of dominating his opponents with his grappling ability.

3. He's No Stranger To The Spotlight

Barnett was a UFC champion, a top contender in Pride FC, and successful in organizations such as Sengoku and Affliction.

He is also a star in Japan as a professional wrestler.

As the tournament unfolds, Strikeforce will be pushing for more and more publicity. Fighters will be getting media exposure at levels most of them are not used to.

I think it is safe to say that Barnett will handle it just fine. 

2. He's On A Hot Streak

Barnett has not lost a fight since losing a close decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in 2006.

Since then he has dominated his six opponents with only Jeff Monson making it to a decision.

Barnett is one of the best heavyweights in history and there is no reason to believe he is not in the prime of his career. In his most recent fight, Barnett looked in top form by effortlessly blowing through Geronimo Dos Santos.

1. He Is In The Weaker Bracket

All the fighters in the Grand Prix are legitimate threats and bona-fide stars, but let's face it, Barnett's side of the bracket is the weaker of the two.

Barnett's first opponent, Brett Rogers, has lost two of his last three.

Andrei Arlovski lost his last three fights and Sergei Kharitonov has won twice in the past three years against not the stiffest of competition.

Winning three fights in a row is a lot more plausible when your first two opponents are not ranked in the top 10.