Strikeforce Grand Prix Semi-Finals Conference Call Live Updates

Strikeforce is hosting a conference call at 1 p.m. ET to promote the semi-finals of their heavyweight grand prix tournament. Scheduled to appear on the call are tournament participants Josh Barnett, Sergei Kharitonov, Antonio Silva, and Daniel Cormier, plus Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.

Follow Mike Fagan on Twitter for updates. Matt Roth will update this post with a live digest. Check back after the call for a full recap.

Barnett made swift work of Brett Rogers, submitting Rogers one minute into the second round. The win extended Barnett's streak to seven. Kharitonov lived up to his billing as the tournament's dark horse, knocking out the chinny Andrei Arlovski within three minutes.

"Bigfoot" Silva provided Fedor Emelianenko his third career loss and second consecutively after doctors stopped the bout in between rounds two and three. Silva spent the majority of the second round hammerfisting the Russian from mount. Cormier enters the tournament as a replacement for Alistair Overeem, who left the tournament due to injury and contract issues.

SBN coverage of Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov

Scott Coker

- Grand Prix finals tentatively scheduled for Q1 of 2012.

- I know there's ongoing discussions with Hendo, but nothing's been determined yet. 

- We've talking about a fight before the end of the year for Cris Cyborg, but no opponent has been determined. 

- Daniel Cormier was our first consideration after Alistair Overeem left the tournament. 

- The tournament winner will not be awarded the heavyweight title. We're still working on the process for the belt. 

Daniel Cormier

- I've look at the tournament with wide eyes since it started. This gives me the opportunity to do something special.

- I think I have the style to beat 'Bigfoot.' 

- Cain came back at the right time. He was released with six weeks left in my camp. 

- Beating 'Bigfoot' would allow me to springboard myself off of his successes. 

- Say he's got the standup advantage, the jiu-jitsu advantage. Fine. Wrestling's dominant, and I have the wrestling advantage. 

- I'm gonna push the pace, get in his face, and take him places he hasn't been before. 

- Take him places like make him wrestle for seven minutes. 

- 'Bigfoot' is going to train and adjust accordingly, so I don't think the opponent change will affect him. 

- The transition from wrestling to full-contact fighting has been great. 

- Let's be honest, no one likes to get hit. 

- If someone can't defend a takedown, they deserve to be on their back for fifteen minutes.

- Don't go backwards [against 'Bigfoot']. Don't get stuck against the cage. 

Josh Barnett

- Sergei always proved himself to be a tough individual back in Pride. 

- Sergei looked dominant against Arlovski, but, then again, I'm not Arlovski. 

- I'm a guy that's able and willing to take opportunities. There's not a part of this fight that makes me uncomfortable. 

- I think a lot of people have taken shortcuts with their athleticism and defensive tactics to exploit the ten-point must system. 

- Titles are spoils of war. You have to go out and win battles before you rape raid the dead for all their belongings.