UFC 146 Heavyweights Make Their Strikeforce Predictions

While the odds-makers make Josh Barnett the betting favorite to win the STRIKEFORCE World Heavyweight Grand Prix Saturday night in San Jose and live on SHOWTIME®, Barnett’s peers respectfully disagree.

As a former UFC heavyweight champion and PRIDE® Grand Prix finalist, Barnett has seen it all during his 15-year, 31-5, career as a mixed martial artist. He has defeated the likes of Dan Severn, Randy Couture, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mark Hunt and has looked almost unstoppable in the STRIKEFORCE GP thus far, tapping out Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov to reach tomorrow’s final.

However, the main and co-main eventers of next weekend’s UFC 146 event all tip 9-0 Daniel Cormier to make a mockery of the odds and win the Grand Prix after he stormed the field as an alternate, defeating Jeff Monson and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

Junior dos Santos, reigning UFC heavyweight champion, said: “They are both great fighters and this is a fight that could end very quickly for each guy. But Cormier is more explosive and has the better chances to end this early. It could be very exciting, but I think Cormier wins.”
           
Frank Mir, two-time UFC heavyweight champion, said: “I think Cormier takes this. I can’t see Barnett getting him to the ground, his wrestling is too strong. And on the feet I think Cormier has the power to end things. But with two top heavyweights, anything can happen. That’s why this division is so exciting - anyone who is world class can beat anyone else with one punch. You can’t say that about the lighter weight classes and that’s why heavyweight fights are so cool to watch.”

Cain Velasquez, former UFC heavyweight champion said: “I pick Daniel Cormier. Number one, because I train with him but also because he’s so hungry in this sport, I don’t think he will be denied. He was really raw when he came into our gym the first time a couple of years ago but he picked up everything a lot faster than most. He has dangerous strikes and I can’t see Josh getting him to the ground. Daniel’s wrestling is too good; I think he takes this fight and makes a statement about his future in the division.”

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, who reached the Grand Prix semi-final stage before losing to Cormier, also picked his old rival for the win, saying: “I think Cormier will win this fight and be the Grand Prix Champion. I was very surprised by him in our fight. I think he is too strong, too powerful in this fight. He punches very hard and his wrestling is very good. I think he will win inside the distance unless Josh Barnett gets this to the ground quickly.”

STRIKEFORCE® HEAVYWEIGHT GRAND PRIX FINAL will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while four preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). UK fans can watch the main card at 1 am on Primetime.

In addition to the previously mentioned matchup, the four-fight main card will also feature an exciting trilogy fight between champ Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson for the STRIKEFORCE lightweight title, a light heavyweight grudge match between Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante and Mike Kyle, as well as a welterweight battle between Nah-Shon Burrell and Chris Spang.