Strikeforce Grand Prix Results: What's Next for the Losers

After the Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov wrapped up, fans were rightly celebrating Josh Barnett's dominant victory, as well as the upset wins from Daniel Cormier and Luke Rockhold.

But for every winner, there is a fighter who came up short. And there are more than a few losers who have a lot of thinking to do on their flight out of Cincinnati. 

Here's the part where I pretend to know what's next for these fighters, with a look into the future in my magical crystal ball.

10. Chris Mierzwiak

After dropping a unanimous decision to Dominique Steele, Mierzwiak is now 3-1 in MMA.

Despite picking up his first loss, the 23-year-old is still young in the sport, and the back-and-forth nature of the fight could have earned him one more shot on a Strikeforce undercard. However, he likely now faces a must-win situation in his next bout if he wishes to stay with the promotion.

9. Amanda Nunes

This was Nunes' first loss in more than three years, and despite it she'll remain in the top 10 for the women's 145-pound weight class. The TKO upset may have derailed The Lioness' plans to face Cyborg Santos for the strap, but the hard-hitting Nunes will be back soon. Might I recommend Shayna Baszler?

8. Evangelista Santos

What is it about Canadian welterweights? Santos' loss by TKO in the third stanza to maple leafer Jordan Mein was the second in a row for Cyborg: The Male Version.

Up next? A drop down in competition, and perhaps a bout with Scott Smith (a loser of three straight) to see who's fit to hang around the Strikeforce locker rooms.

7. Yoel Romero Palacio

In his Strikeforce debut, the light heavyweight was knocked out by former champ Rafael Cavalcante.

The Olympic silver-medalist wrestler is far from finished in the promotion, having recently signed a five-fight deal. But Romero, who did more taunting and dancing than fighting and was thoroughly outclassed whenever he did engage, should head back to the training room if he wants to continue to be taken seriously in a major MMA promotion.

6. Marcos Rogerio Da Lima

Da Lima was oustruck by hard-striking MMA veteran Mike Kyle, but the young light heavyweight nevertheless appeared solid in his Strikeforce debut.

And though he suffered the first loss of his career, he is still a respectable 8-1, and a prospect this tantalizing isn't going anywhere. Perhaps a wheat-from-chaff matchup with Roger Gracie would be a suitable next test for Pezao.

(photo credit:  MMA Core)

5. Maximo Blanco

This back-and-forth affair ended when Pat Healy submitted Blanco in the second round.

Blanco remains a top-10 Strikeforce lightweight (for whatever that's worth). The accomplished freestyle wrestler and Pancrase fighter could stand to work on his submission savvy, then test his new skills against veteran Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm. 

4. Roger Gracie

As is often the case when a fighter is knocked out with one punch in the first round, Gracie didn't look so good in this one.

He was completely unable to mount any offense, and looked like he was perhaps thinking a bit too much in the cage.

A fight with young buck Marcos Rogerio da Lima could determine which light heavyweight is truly ready for prime time.

3. Ronald Souza

Jacare lost his middleweight title to Luke Rockhold in a spirited matchup. It was a huge upset.

Souza remains one of the world's great middleweights. Who knows? Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. I can't imagine the UFC and Bellator are unaware of Jacare's brand recognition among hardcore fans.  A Souza-Rockhold rematch might also make sense.

(Photo credit:  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting)

2. Antonio Silva

After getting knocked out in the first round against the very talented but very inexperienced Daniel Cormier, those visions of UFC main events that were dancing in Bigfoot's head will have to go on hold.

How about an unofficial loser's bracket faceoff with Sergei Kharitonov? I know I'd watch it.

1. Sergei Kharitonov

Everyone knew Kharitonov was vulnerable on the ground on this one. I guess everyone included Josh Barnett.

The Russian banger was pretty thoroughly and efficiently controlled en route to a first-round submission loss. A de factor third-place battle with Bigfoot Silva might deliver the fireworks Kharitonov wants and needs to succeed in the MMA cage.