The semifinal round of the Strikeforce Grand Prix is in the books and it time to move onto December’s Strikeforce event and the Grand Prix final in early 2012. Before we officially close the book on Saturday’s exciting card, the Ohio Athletic Commission and handed out it medical suspensions along with the reported fighters pay.
The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-finals last night wasn’t just about the big boys, but about the disproportionately large amount of prospects making promotional debuts. Some of these fighters brought nothing more than a record, while others came in with extraordinary expectations upon them. The beauty of the fight game though, is that a hype train can be knocked off the tracks and burst into flames at any time, and we certainly saw plenty of that.
The semifinals are in the books and the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix now has the two men that will battle in the finals early next year. The main card one-upped the undercard with four of the five bouts ending with a finish, one more than the undercard. Along with the two grand prix bouts, there was also a middleweight title fight that would end up being the only fight on the card to go the distance.
It took seven long months but finally the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals are here. With a two spots in the finals on the line, four men will step into the cage at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday September 10th looking to punch their ticket.
This Saturday, September 10, the semifinal round of the heavyweight grand prix goes down as Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov comes to you live from the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition to the two big Heavyweight matchups, a fight for the Middleweight Championship is set to take place, as well as a Light Heavyweight bout that could determine who is next in line to challenge for the championship. With the unexpected removal of Alistair Overeem, Daniel Cormier was chosen to replace him and will face his toughest completion yet. Let’s take a look at the five Main Card fights to be shown on Showtime and break them down.
Coming off back to back wins, MMA veteran Pat “Bam Bam” Healy returns to action this Saturday at Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov. Stepping onto the card in place of the injured Josh Thomson, Healy will open the night’s main card on Showtime against the Venezuelan Maximo Blanco.
Former Strikeforce lightweight champion, Josh Thomson has withdrawn from his scheduled bout at next month’s Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals card. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter was set to make his first appearance of 2011 against Maximo Blanco on September 10th.
UFC on FOX 9 Weigh in Photo Gallery
Photo gallery from the UFC on FOX 9 weigh-ins featuring the UFC flyweight championship bout between Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez. Also on the card are local favorites Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, Danny Castillo and Roger Bowling.
Bellator 100 Weigh-in Pictures
Last night the fighters for tonight’s Bellator 100 stepped onto the scales with all 24 fighters making weight. The historic 100th event for Bellator takes places tonight from the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona and features an all welterweight main card on Spike TV.
UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez Weigh-in Pictures
Due to a previously scheduled Arena Football game at the HP Pavilion, today’s UFC on FOX 7 weigh-ins were held less than a mile away at the California Theater. The small theater was completely filled with cheering fans and all the fighters they came to see made weight.
The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale Weigh-in Pictures
Amidst everything else going on, the UFC has themselves a busy day today with the UFC on FX 6 taking place in Australia and The Ultimate Fighter 16 finale weigh-ins. All 24 fighters made weight today for tomorrow’s event that will crown The Ultimate Fighter 16 welterweight winner.
UFC on FUEL TV 4 Weigh-in Results and Photos
SAN JOSE, Cal. – Still recovering from Saturday’s UFC 148, MMAValor.com was inside the HP Pavilion for today’s UFC on FUEL TV 4 weigh-ins. A few of the fighters would need to step onto the scale behind a towel but all 22 fighters on the UFC on FUEL TV 4 fight card made weight.
