Strikeforce Overeem vs. Werdum: Brock Lesnar and the Top 10 Heavyweights in MMA

The Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix completed its opening round Saturday in Dallas. Strikeforce champion and tourney favorite Alistair Overeem scored a clear—if, eh, unsatisfying—unanimous decision win over Fabricio Werdum, setting up a semifinal match with Antonio Silva.

On the other side of the bracket, Josh Barnett will face Sergei Kharitonov in the next round after choking out an increasingly lackluster Brett Rogers in the second round.

With four of the world’s better heavyweights in action, it stands to reason that last night’s outcomes will shake up the world MMA rankings for this class. Did this win finally land Overeem in the top five? Does Werdum stay in the top 10? What about Barnett and Rogers?

Here’s one stab at a top 10 ranking.

First Four out

• Sergei Kharitonov
• Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
• Brendan Schaub
• Brett Rogers

10. Fabricio Werdum

Record: 14-5-1

Werdum trying to take down Overeem was a little like watching waves dash against the side of a cliff. The Jiu-Jitsu champion constantly worked to get the fight to the ground, but his option in that area was simply convincing Overeem to willingly jump into his guard.

Werdum also probably held the striking advantage (at least from a numbers perspective), but was unable to seriously threaten the champ all night.

9. Shane Carwin

Record: 12-2

Carwin was pummeled into KTFO in his loss to Junior dos Santos, but it’s hard to keep a man with a big heart and even bigger fists down. He’ll be back on an upward trajectory before long.

8. Josh Barnett

Record: 30-5

Of the four heavyweights who fought last night, Barnett was the only one who did everything he was "supposed" to do. I’m excited to see "The War Master" (his new preferred nickname, apparently) lock horns with stiffer competition against Kharitonov.

7. Frank Mir

Record: 15-5

It will be interesting to see who UFC matchmaker Joe Silva pairs Mir with for his next fight.

6. Fedor Emelianenko

Record: 31-3

He may have lost a step or three as of late, but he’s still one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world. His upcoming superfight with Dan Henderson will reveal a lot about what the future might hold for this all-time great.

5. Antonio Silva

Record: 16-2

Something tells me Silva will be able to score the takedowns Werdum couldn’t in his grand prix semifinal appointment with Overeem.

He may also be a little more adept at wiping that smirk off the Dutchman’s face. Not that I’m rooting for that or anything.

4. Alistair Overeem

Record: 35-11

The boos that poured from the rafters of American Airlines Arena tells you everything you need to know about the nature of this performance. There was little fireworks, or even actual engagement, to be found.

Still, a win is a win, and Overeem, though clearly gassed at the end, was never really threatened by a consensus top-10 heavyweight. Like it or not, this victory should vault him into top-five lists all over the Internet.

We’ll see if he’s still there after his collision with Bigfoot.

3. Brock Lesnar

Record: 5-2

Currently on the shelf with diverticulitis, but despite that and despite his lopsided loss to Cain Velasquez, Lesnar remains an extremely dangerous heavyweight who has the gifts and talents to present anyone with a challenge.

2. Junior dos Santos

Record: 13-1-0

After surgically picking apart Carwin’s face at UFC 131, dos Santos established himself as the world’s clear no. 2, trailing only…

1. Cain Velasquez

Record:  9-0

The UFC champ is not only well-rounded, but he might be at or near the very top of the heavyweight world in every individual phase of the game. His collision with dos Santos, recently confirmed for Nov. 19 at UFC 138, could be one for the ages.