Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix: Predictions You Can Take to the Bank

The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix semi-finals is on tap for Saturday night and can seriously boast one of the best, if not the best, Strikeforce fight card of all time.

The event is set up around the Heavyweight Grand Prix semi-finals, which will see two very intriguing big man match-ups in Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva vs. Daniel Cormier.  The two winners will meet in the Finals later this year or in early 2012.

The rest of the main card is also electric with a middleweight title fight between Ronald "Jacare" Souza against Luke Rockhold, as well as a very interesting fight between "King" Mo Lawal and youngster Roger Gracie. Lightweights Pat Healy and Maximo Blanco round out the main card.

The fights on the under card are as follows: Mike Kyle vs Marcos Rogerio De Lima, Rafael Calvacante vs Yoel Romero, Evangelista Cyborg vs. Jordan Mein, Amanda Nunes vs Alexa Davis and Dominique Steele vs Chris Mierzwiak.

Here are my main card predictions you can take to the bank

Pat Healy vs Maximo Blanco

If there is a somewhat weak fight on the main card of this event this is it.

Pat Healy is generally a seasoned veteran fighter who has lost against the top 20 tier in his division. He is 26-16 in his career and known for winning decision fights. Maximo Blanco ranked even lower and this fight both are looking to climb up for a shot at Gilbert Melendez. Blanco is an exciting striker and this is a step up for him.

I see Blanco having an advantage in the striking but that is were his chance ends and Healy will weather any storm he brings and dictate the fight from there out. Healy is more experienced and, more importantly, more well-rounded and I see him winning a decision.

Winner: Healy (via unanimous decision)

King Mo Lawal vs Roger Gracie

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Mo Lawal is coming off his first loss in Strikeforce and it was a very tough one at that. He lost his title to Rafael Calvacante last August and is looking for an immediate bounce back.

Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt Roger Gracie comes into this fight 4-0 in MMA and 2-0 in Strikeforce to date—this is a very interesting step up for him. All of his wins have come by submission and Lawal will pose a bigger problem for Gracie than he has seen to date.

Lawal is a large favorite in this fight and he will look to defend the takedown, land that fight-changing strike and test Gracie's chin throughout.

I believe that landing strikes will be the difference in this one and Lawal will have the upper hand on Gracies grappling based on damage and will gain a TKO in the end.

Winner: Lawal (2nd round TKO)

Ronald "Jacare" Souza vs Luke Rockhold

One of the most feared fighters outside of the UFC in recent years Ronald "Jacare" Souza is set to defend his middleweight title against Luke Rockhold on this card.

Like Roger Gracie, Jacare is considered one of the best jiu jitsu practitioners in the world and will look to submit Rockhold if the opening presents itself. Eleven of his 14 wins have come via submission but Souza does carry some skills on the feet.

Rockhold is currently riding a six-fight win streak and he's also won the majority by submission. By all accounts, this one appears to be a ground battle and Rockhold may want to prove he is the better man on the floor. I don't see a large advantage standing up for him, and he may have no choice but to try to roll head-to-head with Jacare, where I wouldn't like his chances at all.

Winner: Souza (3rd round submission)

Antonio Silva vs Daniel Cormier

In the first semi-final fight of the heavyweight Grand Prix, Antonio "Big Foot" Silva will look to continue his great momentum following his upset of Fedor in the first round. Silva used his size, power and top control to TKO the Russian star, and I see him trying to do the same to Daniel Cormier.

Silva is in a great spot in his career and has paid his dues along his way to true improvement in mixed martial arts. His game is solid and his size is imposingly unique.

Cormier is stepping in as a replacement for Alistair Overeem.  This is his chance to dance with the big boys and burst on to the scene of heavyweight title contendorship. Cormier has impeccable wrestling credentials and is on an eight fight winning streak of his own.

Both of these men are big strong men and I see the strength battle being an even affair. In my opinion, the difference in this fight will come down to reach alone and with Silva at 6'4 with an 82 inch reach and Cormier at 5'9 and a 72-inch reach, the difference will be too much for Cormier to overcome.

Winner: A. Silva (2nd round TKO)

Josh Barnett vs Sergei Kharitonov

In what I consider the main event of the stacked event, Heavyweight Grand Prix front runner and seasoned veteran Josh Barnett will take on tough Russian Sergei Kharitonov.

Barnett is widely considered one of the most well-rounded and dangerous heavyweights in the world and Kharitonov is looking to establish himself on the elite big man scene. Barnett is a superior shoot wrestler who will look to control this fight's pace and think his way to securing openings and then a victory while Kharitonov likes to come out blazing with striking from both hands and feet.

I see Kharitonov having a chance if the fight remains standing, but Barnett is a master at stuffing his opponents strengths and frustrating them into making costly mistakes in the clinch and on the ground. I don't see Barnett getting hit by the big shot, and I also don't see Kharitonov being patient enough to whether Barnett's smothering style

Winner (Barnett via unanimous decision)

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA (Also a correspondent for MMACanada.net)

Catch him on Twitter @: wakafightermma and on Facebook