CageJunkies.com:
Strikeforce’s heavyweight division has been in a bit of turmoil throughout 2011 and it doesn’t seem as though things will settle down until sometime in 2012. Earlier this year Strikeforce launched a Heavyweight Grand Prix with eight of their best fighters. As of this writing three of those fighters, Fedor Emelianenko, Brett Rogers and (at the time) Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem have been fired with a fourth, Sergei Kharitonov, expected to be released upon his next loss or completion of the Grand Prix.
With a division in so much chaos, many have wondered if Strikeforce would crown the Grand Prix winner as Heavyweight Champion. That won’t be happening. Earlier today Strikeforce tweeted the following:
“Coker: HWGP winner won’t be new titleholder; plans for the belt TBD. Finals will take place first quarter 2012.”
This means that Strikeforce may be without a titleholder in their heavyweight division until mid-2012, a span of half a year. This is also the second title that has been left vacant in Strikeforce in 2010, with the Welterweight Championship being left vacant with Nick Diaz’ move to UFC in June.
Scott Coker: HWGP winner won't be new titleholder; plans for the belt TBD. Finals will take place first quarter 2012."
Huh? Fail.
I fear this GP isnt going as planned on a few levels.
Jason Chambers - I fear this GP isnt going as planned on a few levels.
Lol ya think? What a disaster. We got some decent fights out of it though.
I am hoping and praying we get a Dan Cormier/Shane del Rosario final for this tournament.
That would be awesome!
The GP was supposed to be for #1 contender status and now that there's no champ, it's for nothing? GREAT marketing.
gp is likely now for a good shot at a UFC deal or fight for interim belt.
Radio Raheem - CageJunkies.com:um, sept. 2011 to june 2012 is 1/2 year??
Strikeforce’s heavyweight division has been in a bit of turmoil throughout 2011 and it doesn’t seem as though things will settle down until sometime in 2012. Earlier this year Strikeforce launched a Heavyweight Grand Prix with eight of their best fighters. As of this writing three of those fighters, Fedor Emelianenko, Brett Rogers and (at the time) Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem have been fired with a fourth, Sergei Kharitonov, expected to be released upon his next loss or completion of the Grand Prix.
With a division in so much chaos, many have wondered if Strikeforce would crown the Grand Prix winner as Heavyweight Champion. That won’t be happening. Earlier today Strikeforce tweeted the following:
“Coker: HWGP winner won’t be new titleholder; plans for the belt TBD. Finals will take place first quarter 2012.”
This means that Strikeforce may be without a titleholder in their heavyweight division until mid-2012, a span of half a year. This is also the second title that has been left vacant in Strikeforce in 2010, with the Welterweight Championship being left vacant with Nick Diaz’ move to UFC in June.
Winner of Velasquez/Dos Santos to fight Overeem for unification title fight? Would be a huge marketing opportunity for Zuffa to pass up. 
Sugarfoot - Winner of Velasquez/Dos Santos to fight Overeem for unification title fight? Would be a huge marketing opportunity for Zuffa to pass up. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
didnt overeem get stripped of the belt when he didnt re-new with sf?
They're not going to crown a champion because the company won't be around in 6 months or so.
Nexuscrawlers -Sugarfoot - Winner of Velasquez/Dos Santos to fight Overeem for unification title fight? Would be a huge marketing opportunity for Zuffa to pass up. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
didnt overeem get stripped of the belt when he didnt re-new with sf?
Yes, he did get stripped, but if you can't call him the Strikeforce champ, and the GP won't decide on until next year who is?
In regards to Reem sitting out until spring, doesn't he have some K-1 fights coming up in November or December? Timing might work out for the fight. DFW did make the GSP fight happen, and why not market two other HW champions? Would be a waste of a top contender is Reem loses to anyone other than another top 5 HW.
Won't Overeem be too busy defining his Dream title? lol
Sugarfoot - Winner of Velasquez/Dos Santos to fight Overeem for unification title fight? Would be a huge marketing opportunity for Zuffa to pass up. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
I think this will happen. Otherwise Coker would crown the GP winner.
This is the only reason I can think that they wouldn't crown the GP winner HW champ.
which is different from their previous HW Champ how?
Overeem held the belt from 2007 to 2010 and only defended it once before he got fired lol.
Fedor came in with the WAMMA title and only "defended" it when he won, it disappeared when he lost to Werdum
A year and a half is twice as active as when Overeem held the belt lol
Its not an 8 Man Tournie if its really only 2-3 men deep
The UFC could do a nice 8 Man Tournie if they signed Overeem
Cain
Dos Santos
Overeem
Brock
Mir
Carwin
Nog
Big Foot
That'd be a pretty decent set of 8 right there and unlike Strikeforce if this one suffered injuries you have Nelson, Schaub and Werdum or Kongo to throw in as replacements
Reem did NOT get stripped of the title. He is currently in the negociation period of the champions clause in his contract. Decision ro let him go is made however not let go yet due to negociation period. Thus cannot fight in golden glort october event and formally still the SF HW champ.
I like Tournies they can be fun the promotion just has to have enuff depth to cover injuries