By FCF Staff
Strikeforce has confirmed that its ongoing heavyweight grand-prix will continue June 18th, and not April 9th, as originally hoped. The quarterfinal match-ups that will feature Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers, will take place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
“Strikeforce is coming off a record presale and impressive attendance for the kickoff of the Grand Prix at IZOD Center in New Jersey that also drew a record viewership on Showtime for live MMA,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker in the official announcement. “To build on the tremendous momentum from New Jersey we needed the proper time to promote an event of this magnitude, which is why we have decided to continue the Tournament on June 18 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, a venue that has been identified as one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the U.S.”
Coker continued, “We have a great relationship with the Texas State Athletic Commission, who, along with the American Airlines Center, is enthused to host the Grand Prix.”
The promotion’s heavyweight champ Overeem (34-11) will compete for the first time since New Year’s Eve, when he knocked out UFC vet Todd Duffee at K-1 Dynamite. Werdum’s (14-4-1) break from action will be even longer, as the renowned jiu-jitsu practitioner has fought since last June, when he tapped out Fedor Emelianenko.
Barnett (29-5) is coming off a first round stoppage of Geronimo dos Santos at Impact FC 2 in July, 2010, while Rogers (11-2) fought last in October, when he scored a unanimous decision win over Ruben Villareal at W-1 MMA 6.
The June 18th event will be broadcast on Showtime.
In the opening round, quarterfinals of the grand-prix on February 12th, Sergei Kharitonov advanced with a first round KO of Andrei Arlovski, while Antonio Silva eliminated Fedor Emelianenko with a second round, doctor stoppage.
