Daniel Cormier, Barnett's opponent in Strikeforce GP final, won't likely go unemployed. Photo: Esther Lin.
The demise of the Strikeforce heavyweight division, announced last Thursday, has left a number of fighters orphans. Names like Brett Rogers, Andrei Arlovski, Shane del Rosário, Sergei Kharitonov, not to mention Fedor Emelianko are all contract-less and without a major event to fight at in the USA.
Others, like Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier—the finalists in the heavyweight GP final next March—, are tipped to bolster the UFC heavyweight fray, a route already taken by Fabrício Werdum, for example.
According to promotional upper management, the dissolution of the division comes down to the dearth of top heavyweight talent. The UFC purchased Strikeforce last March and renewed the promotion’s contract with Showtime cable-television channel, which will broadcast eight shows in 2012.
What do you think about the end of Strikeforce’s heavyweight division, dear reader? And who are the fighters deserving of a chance at fighting in the UFC? Check out a list of the fighters on the Strikeforce heavyweight roster:
Herschel Walker
Bryan Humes
Shawn Jordan
Devin Cole
Daniel Comier
Shane Del Rosário
Josh Barnett
Antonio Pezão
Gabriel Salinas-Jones
Mike Kyle
Fabricio werdum
Lavar Johnson
Chad Griggs
Sergei Kharitonov
The post What happens to Strikeforce’s heavyweights? first appeared on Graciemag.