Strikeforce set to return home October 9 with tournament

Posted by Joshua Wood (Editor in Chief)

Aug 12

Stikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced earlier this week that the promotion would return home to San Jose, California for an October 9^th event. The event will be televised on Showtime and will feature the organization’s middleweight grand prix. The event will take place at the HP Pavilion, which last witnessed Fedor vs. Werdum on June 26.

Details of the tournament are still being worked out regarding the format and who will be participating. The format will either be a same-night four man tourney, or an eight man bracket completed over the course of two events. Which direction they go in will likely hinge on the California State Athletic Commission and whether they approve an eight man format.

The winner of the tournament will face the winner of the middleweight championship fight between Tim Kennedy and Ronaldo ”Jacare” Souza at Strikeforce Houston next week.

With the format not decided yet the actual participants have yet to be set, but it’s not hard to list potential candidates. Looking at the current middleweight roster for Strikeforce, names like Dan Henderson, Nick Diaz, Cung Le, Jason Miller and Evangelista ”Cyborg” Santos would seem as logical choices. Throw in Robbie Lawler, Scott Smith, Matt Lindland and Melvin Manhoef and you have more than enough fighters.

Tournaments are fairly rare (except with Bellator) these days but Strikeforce appears to be trying to revive it. They are also holding a women’s four fighter tournament at tomorrow’s Strikeforce Challenger series 10 event in Arizona.