Strikeforce has assembled eight of the world’s top ranked heavyweights to compete in the Strikeforce World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011.
The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Fedor Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio “Big Foot” Silva in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski will face Sergei Kharitonov, Pride FC and K-1 veteran as well as the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem.
Fedor Emelianenko (32-2) vs. Antonio Silva (15-2)
Andrei Arlovski (15-8) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (16-4)
Shane Del Rosario (10-0) vs. Lavar Johnson (15-3)
Valentijn Overeem (28-25) vs. Ray Sefo (2-0)
Ticket pre-sale begins Wednesday, Tickets on sale to the public Friday