Mixed Martial Arts returns to Showtime with the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament on Saturday, June 18, 2011, 10:00 PM ET/PT at the American Airlines in Dallas, Texas.
Two quarterfinal matchups will take place on June 18. In the main event current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem takes on the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Fabricio Werdum the first man to submit the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. Werdum also holds a 2006 submission victory over Alistair Overeem and Alistair is looking to get some payback.
The second quarterfinal pits heavy handed slugger Brett “The Grim” Rodgers against former UFC champion and PRIDE fighting veteran Josh Barnett.
The popular female MMA fighter Gina Carano was scheduled to make her return to the cage on the undercard but was pulled from the card by her doctor even though Gina Carano was cleared to fight by the Texas regulatory body.
Preliminary Strikeforce Fights Televised LIVE On (HDNet) AT 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
Lightweight bout: Gesias Cavalcante vs. Justin Wilcox
Lightweight bout: Conor Heun vs. Magno Almeida
Catchweight bout (180 lb): Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Joe Ray
Welterweight bout: Todd Moore vs. Mike Bronzoulis
Catchweight bout (175 lb): Brian Melancon vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Main Card Televised LIVE On (Showtime) AT 10 PM ET/PT
Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal bout: Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal bout: Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers
Lightweight bout: K.J. Noons vs. Jorge Masvidal
Heavyweight bout: Daniel Cormier vs. Jeff Monson
Heavyweight bout: Valentijn Overeem vs. Chad Griggs
