Strikeforce Heavyweight Tourney Is Gutsy, but Is It Smart?

Filed under: Strikeforce

Whatever problems Strikeforce may be forced to confront in 2011, a lack of ambition certainly won't be one of them. Not in the heavyweight division, anyway. Not after Tuesday's big news.

As MMA Fighting's own Mike Chiappetta reported earlier Tuesday, Strikeforce is planning an eight-man, single-elimination heavyweight tournament set to begin in early 2011. If the current plan holds, it should feature everyone from Fedor Emelianenko and Fabricio Werdum to recent acquisition Josh Barnett and champion Alistair Overeem.

Coming from an organization that has struggled at times to get any two notable heavyweights into the same cage at the same time, it's hard not to wonder if Strikeforce can even pull off something as complicated and prolonged as a high-profile heavyweight tournament. Even if we assume that CEO Scott Coker and his crew can make it happen, does that necessarily make it a good idea?

Martina Navratilova Ty Cobb Gordie Howe Joe DiMaggio Jackie Joyner-Kersee