Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament Reserve Fights Announced

by Nick Thomas on Jan 4, 2011 8:10 PM EST in Strikeforce News

Shane Del Rosario (10-0) vs. Lavar Johnson (15-3) according to Josh Gross:

Shane Del Rosario fights Lavar Johnson on Feb. 12 in an alternate Strikeforce heavyweight tournament fight. Will be on the televised card.

And Ray Sefo (2-0) vs. Valentijn Overeem (28-25) according to MMA Junkie:

A matchup between heavyweights Ray Sefo and Valentijn Overeem is targeted for the supporting cast of Strikeforce's recently announced eight-man heavyweight tournament.

Sources close to negotiations today told that contracts have not been signed, but verbal agreements are in place. An announcement on the fight is expected soon.

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That's good.

Since I can think of 3 fighters in the tournament who might not show up…Overeem, Fedor, Barnett.

"When I beat Wanderlei I’m a take his belt, pull his pants down and spank him for being so ugly" - Quinton Jackson

by Hitmonchan on Jan 4, 2011 8:17 PM EST reply actions

Also

Lavar Johnson is “The Rock” straight up.

"When I beat Wanderlei I’m a take his belt, pull his pants down and spank him for being so ugly" - Quinton Jackson

by Hitmonchan on Jan 4, 2011 8:18 PM EST reply actions

So there exists a reality where Overeem vs Overeem could fight for the title… I’d imagine that bizarro world imploding instantly from awesomeness.

You need to respect the baby... 'cause life is precious... and God... and the Bible.

by timetraveltome on Jan 4, 2011 8:18 PM EST reply actions

by zuffazombie on Jan 4, 2011 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

Haha, in the event that that fight could be setup I believe Valentijn would be knocked out my the tremors caused by Overeem walking out to the cage.

Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.

I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.

by Sam Cupitt on Jan 4, 2011 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

Alistair wins by fingerpoke of doom

by Rich Hansen on Jan 4, 2011 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

1st fight is awesome, 2nd fight is huh? I was really hoping for Cormier vs Ishii.

by John Nash on Jan 4, 2011 8:22 PM EST reply actions

Ugh

Cormier yes, but you would actually hold out hope to see Ishii fight? He might be the most awful fighter to watch I can think of.

by Anton Chigurh on Jan 4, 2011 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

Kole Conrad

vs Ishii would be epic.

actually Ishii should cut down to 205lbs.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Nate Wilcox on Jan 4, 2011 10:03 PM EST up reply actions

If only Jon Madsen would get cut… an epic tourney of torture would start to shape up nicely.

You need to respect the baby... 'cause life is precious... and God... and the Bible.

by timetraveltome on Jan 4, 2011 10:30 PM EST up reply actions

Surprised that Cormier isn't included.

by av1o3 on Jan 4, 2011 8:35 PM EST reply actions

If he gets that Strikeforce championship he’ll have more belts then the Ultimo Dragon.

by DodgerFan86 on Jan 4, 2011 11:51 PM EST up reply actions

The only reason that I could think of as to why he isn’t included is that he is fighting very soon, but it seems that a few Strikeforce fighters have unusually quick turnarounds (OSP comes to mind) and some have to wait forever for their next fight.

I won't jump off the bandwagon just because you lost.

by chrisbboy82 on Jan 5, 2011 12:18 AM EST up reply actions

If he wins his fight on Friday he will be in a reserve match.

by fitefan on Jan 5, 2011 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

He has a fight in a few days.

I know that he rebounds amazingly quickly from fights, but they’re probably just playing it safe with him.

No need to rush your top prospects into meaningless alternate fights. Might as well be patient. He’ll be there if they need him.

by BVandDietPepsi on Jan 4, 2011 8:39 PM EST reply actions

No Cormier = FAIL.

Just make his fight this Friday into a reserve fight and you’re good to go.

by Rob Young on Jan 4, 2011 8:41 PM EST reply actions

Ray Sefo?

LOL!!!
Yeah, and no Cormier is pretty laughable as well.

@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner

by _Felix_ on Jan 4, 2011 8:51 PM EST reply actions

Oh yeah

Big LULZ to Over-rated’s brother being considered as well. Why not include Dan Quinn while you’re at it.

@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner

by _Felix_ on Jan 4, 2011 8:52 PM EST up reply actions

Valentijn can win this fight.

Food goes in here

by Pandanus on Jan 4, 2011 8:56 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for just ensuring another video or two of an angry Dan Quinn.

by Brent Ducharme on Jan 4, 2011 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

I think you meant

Under-rated…considering he is one of the 3 best HWs in the world, yet is only ranked 8ish…

"Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it."
-Mark Twain
"If I tell you I'm good, you would probably think I'm boasting. If I tell you I'm no good, you know I'm lying..."
-Bruce Lee
"People griping about this matchup need to stop using fight finder as their primary source of MMA information and watch some fights already."
-smoogy2

by The American Ronin on Jan 4, 2011 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe he'll be ranked higher

when he starts doing something of substance in the sport.

I don't want to say he's dirty, but Forrest Griffin looks like directly after a workout his crotch might resemble a cajun swamp.

http://twitter.com/FakeEmcee

http://www.unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com/

by Fake Emcee on Jan 4, 2011 10:29 PM EST up reply actions

The baddest man on the planet

Food goes in here

by Pandanus on Jan 4, 2011 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

we'll find out soon enough

when he walks through Werdum…

by The American Ronin on Jan 4, 2011 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

He may very well be a top 5 HW...

but until he fights any top compeition (in MMA), it’s hard to place him there.

by A K I R A on Jan 4, 2011 11:51 PM EST up reply actions

I remember when over half the BE.com staff picked Rogers over Alistair.

Food goes in here

by Pandanus on Jan 5, 2011 12:34 AM EST up reply actions

Poor Bobby Lashley

Cocker doesn’t want Bobby to play in his ’widdle heavyweight tourney.

Speaking of which, where’s that rumored Todd Duffie signing that was floating around before his disastrous showing at Dream?

by devious1 on Jan 4, 2011 9:00 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Can Bobby beat anyone involved, except maybe Valentijn, who I haven’t seen but is evidently terrible.

by Anton Chigurh on Jan 4, 2011 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

He’d beat Ray Sefo easily. Sefo’s still a good kickboxer, but one shot from Lashley and the fight would be over.

by Hawk52 on Jan 4, 2011 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe

He looked terrible in his last fight. Doesn’t seem to react well to punches to the face. I don’t think he would have much of a chance with any of the main tournament fighters. That and he is probably higher paid than any of the other alternates.

by Anton Chigurh on Jan 4, 2011 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

I doubt he’d beat any of the eight, Del Rosario, or Lavar.

Valentijn might be a stretch too.

But Ray Sefo really isn’t that good at MMA. He’s a fine kickboxer, but 90% of his “offense” is demoralizing the opponent because you can’t hurt him.

One shoot in and Lashley’d have him beaten.

by Hawk52 on Jan 4, 2011 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

Duffee was offered fights but turned them down.

by fitefan on Jan 4, 2011 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

I'd actually prefer Lashley over Sefo or Valentijn

Food goes in here

by Pandanus on Jan 4, 2011 9:17 PM EST reply actions

50 bucks on ray sefo winning it all due to dropouts from injuries, contract disputes, and laziness

"I have smoked weed with alot of UFC champions" - Joe Rogan

by milk72 on Jan 4, 2011 9:22 PM EST reply actions

I like Johnson's chances against at least three of the main participants.

Rogers, Arlovski, and Barnett by pissing hot DQ, granted, but still…

http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com

by some schmuck in texas on Jan 4, 2011 9:22 PM EST reply actions

Johnston would get murdered by any of those guys. I would say Johnston was way over rated if more than a hand full of people believed in him.

by fitefan on Jan 4, 2011 11:11 PM EST up reply actions

dude he whooped lolamolagolabola mahi mahi

or whatever his name was. What more can you ask for.

http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com

by some schmuck in texas on Jan 5, 2011 12:03 AM EST up reply actions

Lolohea Mahe. Have some respect.

by Pyrgz Krum on Jan 5, 2011 5:37 AM EST up reply actions

Cardio?

by fitefan on Jan 5, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

Del Rosario vs. Johnson is an incredible fight. I love it. It should probably be apart of the actual tournament but oh well.

by budgellism on Jan 4, 2011 9:43 PM EST reply actions

I'd like to see Cormier in it, but oh well.

I sincerely hope/honestly doubt that any of these alternates will be needed.

CPG
Alistair Overeem - StrikeForce HeavyWeight Champion, K-1 2010 World Grand Prix Champion, DREAM Interim HeavyWeight Champion

by Chris Groves on Jan 4, 2011 9:59 PM EST reply actions

you know who they should get in on this in place of Sefo?

gohan Saki.

he’s signed to SF. He’s a hw(in k-1 I forget how much he actually weighs, which could be the only problem)

I’d rather see Saki than Sefo. Neither have ground games but I think saki would fair better.

by Discman2 on Jan 4, 2011 10:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Awesome stuff from SF. Shit is about to get real this year.

Expect more vitriol from Zuffa viral plants and trolls with increasing irrational nastiness towards SF’s 2011 as they prepare to completely rip the HW mantle back away from the UFC’s division while the division in the UFC completes it’s six month lockdown. SF’s struggles have been completely overstated. A six month staging period after some divisional upheaval and the promotion’s 2010 was called a disaster. A little bit of an overstatement to say the least. Prisoner of the momentism. The UFC has to pay that same piper now. Will their division get the same criticism though?

No Cormier does suck because of all the prospects SF has, Cormier is by far the most dangerous, but all things considered this is an epic turn of events with a large slate of epic fights. Sefo vs Othereem in it’s own right is still a good fight. This isn’t stopping people from focusing on that out of their need to try and bring Strikeforce down somehow though.

Wolfgangsta @ www.ninjasplace.com

by Urijah Bieber on Jan 4, 2011 10:27 PM EST reply actions

Lot's of people have already said it...

but where’s Cormier?

by dribblebib on Jan 4, 2011 10:52 PM EST reply actions

I’m just excited. Any sort of life from StrikeForce at this moment is good.

"For your information, I would like to ask a question."
-Samuel Goldwyn

by fedorade on Jan 5, 2011 1:06 AM EST reply actions

I guess Cormier still could be fighting in this, if anyone drops out before the first round of the tournament (Barnett), the reserve fights wouldn’t have taken place yet, we’ll see him fight in the first round. Knowing Cormier can fight pretty often, I wouldn’t see it as a problem.

Perfec scenario: the winner of Arlovski/Sergei drops out, Cormier will replace Barnett, and beat Rogers.
That would mean a Lavar/Del Rosario vs. Cormier semi.

by Vonk on Jan 5, 2011 5:01 AM EST reply actions