Strikeforce Grand Prix Vegas Odds, Free Picks, Favorites and Expert Predictions – Heavyweight Tournament Tips and Preview: Check out the Strikeforce Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament preview and free picks from NSAwins.com expert UFC/MMA handicapper Eric Moore below. Enjoy…
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Bout – Quarterfinals
Brett Rogers vs Josh Barnett
Brett Rogers (11-2) grabbed the attention of the world when he knocked out former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in just :22. Rogers next fight was at the time against the most feared man in MMA Fedor Emelianenko who was suppose to steam roll him. Rogers put up an excellent fight and even had him in some trouble before Fedor landed a bomb that ended Rogers night. His next bout was against current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. Given his showing against Fedor people expected this to be a great championship match but it didn’t happen. Overeem beat down Rogers like he wasn’t even there in a first round TKO. Rogers has since won a unanimous decision against Ruben Villareal but he still has much to prove against the elite heavyweights of Strikeforce.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett (26-5) has fought a who’s who list of heavyweights in his career. He never lost his title by defeat but was stripped when he tested positive for banned substances. He has defeated the likes of Randy Couture, Antonio Nogueira and Pedro Rizzo. He hasn’t fought since July of 2010 but he is currently on a six fight win streak finishing five of those fights. His last loss dates back to 2006 in a rematch against Antonio Nogueira. Barnett is one of those rare big men that also have a good guard and submissions off their back.
Experience is going to be on the side of Barnett (-360) in this fight. He is a seasoned veteran of the cage and is going to use that to overwhelm Rogers (+260). Although Rogers possess one punch power that can end anyones night Barnett isn’t going to just back up into the cage and take it like Arlovski did. Look for Barnett to tie up if the stand up isn’t going the way he likes and dictate where this fight takes place. Barnett’s excellent ground game is going to be the deciding factor in this fight.
Prediction – Josh Barnett by way of submission
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Bout – Quarterfinals
Alistair Overeem vs Fabricio Werdum
Nicknamed “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (34-11-1) has been doing just that over the last three years. On a nine fight win streak, with a no contest in that stretch against Mirko Filipovic, Overeem has been destroying everyone put in front of him. Eight of those fights he finished in the first round and the other only went 3:42 into the second. Overeem uses a punishing style of Dutch kickboxing that he uses to attack the body as much as the head. He won the Strikeforce heavyweight title all the way back in 2007 and has only defended it once do to scheduling conflicts and the fact that he likes to also compete in K-1.
Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) instantly became a star when he became the first man to defeat Fedor Emelianenko in ten years. In that victory Werdum didn’t even land a punch but Fedor made the mistake of following the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to the ground and instantly found himself locked in a triangle choke. This has been called by many the biggest upset in MMA history. Werdum comes into this bout riding a three fight win streak and has to be more confident in his abilities than ever before.
Both these men enter this fight with a ton of momentum behind them. The difference in this fight is going to be the relentless way Overeem (-360) attacks his opponent. Coming with complex combinations of flying knees and crushing liver kicks his standup is much more advanced then Werdum’s (+260). Don’t expect Overeem to make the same mistake that Fedor did and follow a fresh Werdum to the ground. If the fight goes to the ground it will be on Overeem’s terms and he will get the fight standing if he feels he is in danger. Bettors can feel confident backing Overeem in this Grand Prix fight.
Prediction – Alistair Overeem by way of KO
Strikeforce Heavyweight Bout 6/18/11
Valentijn Overeem vs Chad Griggs
Valentijn Overeem (29-25) is the brother of Strikeforce heavyweight champion and has had an up and down career in many different promotions. Amassing a wealth of experience with 54 professional fights he has beaten the likes of Renato Sobral and Randy Couture. On the other hand four times he has had losing streaks at or longer than three fights with his longest being six. Overeem uses strong muay thai and an even better submission grappling to over power his opponents. Out of all of his fights only one has ever gone to decision so expect this fight not to go the entire fifteen minutes.
Chad Griggs (10-1) made a statement in his very first professional fight in 2005 in a victory that lasted all of :18. Griggs made his Strikeforce debut in August of 2010 against WWE star moonlighting as an MMA fighter Bobby Lashley. Late in the second round Griggs landed a flurry of strikes and Lashley was unable to return to his corner resulting in a TKO victory. Griggs is currently riding a five fight win streak and in his eleven professional fights has never gone the distance.
With 65 professional fights combined for these two men and only one going the distance expect an exciting fight. Griggs (-140) has the majority of his wins via TKO by punches which he sets up with his strong wrestling base. He must be careful taking the fight to the ground because Overeem (+110) has very good jiu-jitsu finishing seventeen fights by submission. Look for Griggs to dictate where this fight takes place and only follow Overeem to the ground if he feels like he can capitalize. Bettors should back Griggs in this fight and expect a finish.
Prediction – Chad Griggs by way of TKO
Strikeforce Heavyweight Bout 6/18/11
Daniel Cormier vs Jeff Monson
Daniel Cormier (7-0) was a two-time junior college national champion and a member of the 2004 and 2008 Olympic wrestling team. He started his MMA career in September of 2009 winning all seven fights he’s been in and finishing six of those. In promotions outside of Strikeforce he has won two heavyweight titles separated by less then a month.
Jeff Monson (42-11) has fought all over the world and at one point in his career was fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship. Monson is riding an eight fight win streak coming into this fight and also holds two heavyweight belts outside of Strikeforce. He uses a mix of wrestling and jiu-jitsu to bring the fight to the ground and either employ vicious ground and pound or tap out his opponent.
This is an interesting fight because both men primarily utilize their wrestling to wear opponents out. Cormier (-360) has an edge in pure wrestling given his experience in college and on two Olympic teams. Monson (+260) has much more experience and Cormier isn’t going to throw him anything he hasn’t already seen. That said Cormier’s wrestling is going to be to much for Monson to handle. Expect Monson to hold his own on the ground but Cormier is going to score enough takedowns and do enough damage to win a decision.
Prediction – Daniel Cormier by way of unanimous decision
Strikeforce Lightweight Bout 6/18/11
KJ Noons vs Jorge Masvidal
KJ Noons (9-2) was the first and only lightweight champion in the promotion EliteXC. Noons also has a 11-2 record in professional boxing showing he is an all around excellent striker. He is also the last man to record a win against current Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz going all the way back to 2007. Noons uses his high level striking to constantly feint and keep his opponent guessing on where he is coming from.
Jorge Masvidal (21-6) has finished thirteen of his twenty-one victories but has lately been in fifteen minute wars. His last four fights have gone the distance and he split them 2-2. He started his career in 2003 and was an impressive 5-0 before suffering his first loss. It was in a loss that Masvidal truly earned the fight communities respect. Scoring many takedowns and having a very game performance against Paul Daley is what helped him get signed to Strikeforce.
Both these guys are scrappy on the feet but Masvidal (+145) also has a very strong ground game to complement that. If Masvidal can score a few takedowns early he can throw off the rhythm that makes Noons so deadly. Noons (-175) is going to want to stay in perpetual motion not letting Masvidal get a beat on where he is going to strike from. Noons is going to stay on the outside using feints to get in close enough to strike and exit before Masvidal can get ahold of him. Bettors should back the favorite Noons is this fight.
Prediction – KJ Noons by way of unanimous decision
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