Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: How much has Alistair Overeem's removal from the Strikeforce Heayvweight World Grand Prix affected its draw? Hansen, Hyden, Park, Hobaugh, Perez, Williams and Pelkey
Jul 27, 2011 - 4:00:51 PM ROUNDTABLE: How much has Alistair Overeem's removal from the Strikeforce Heayvweight World Grand Prix affected its draw? Hansen, Hyden, Park, Hobaugh, Perez, Williams and Pelkey

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How much has Alistair Overeem's removal from the Strikeforce Heayvweight World Grand Prix affected its draw and your anticipation of the semifinals?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Well, considering that with or without Overeem I'm still making the 6-hour trek to Cincinnati, it certainly isn't crushing the tournament for me.  And I say that as a pure Overeem mark.  Sure, losing Overeem, Fedor, and Werdum before the beginning of the second round doesn't help matters, but the three remaining fights are still very good fights, and isn't that what it's all about?  Look, we all knew Strikeforce was going to find 42 different ways to f*@% this thing up; and they have for sure.  But there are still two very good fights going down on September 10, and we should appreciate that for what it is.

FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Well, considering that Overeem's Strikeforce Heavyweight Title wasn't on the line in any of these bouts, I think it's better this way. Now this Grand Prix can serve as a title fight eliminator, with the winner facing Overeem for his belt. Of course, with this being Alistair Overeem, the odds of that happening are very low. Honestly, I don't think this affects the draw that much because how many times has Overeem actually fought in the U.S. lately? He's fought twice for Strikeforce since 2007. That's a bad track record. A lot of fans only know him by name and YouTube highlights. I think the Grand Prix is better without him.

CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST

It's a tough card to be dealt as I was particularly looking forward to seeing Overeem vs. Bigfoot and can't really see Cormier defeating Silva.

The one positive is that Overeem will now be able to face the eventual Grand Prix winner to unify the division, along with his Strikeforce title, without having lost in the tournament.

ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

As overrated as I think Overeem is, I think this is a huge hit to the event. The mainstream fan originally tuned in to see Fedor Emelianenko make his return to championship greatness. After he lost it was left to Overeem to bring in viewers. I personally think he would have lost to Antonio Silva. Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett are not going to bring in viewers like Overeem would have. It will be interesting how low the viewing numbers are for the semifinals of the tournament.

ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

His removal has taken away any good progress Strikeforce has made since becoming the sister promotion of the UFC.  The fact that the heavyweight champion will not take part, makes it less of a tournament, and more of a random series of fights.  For what?  To say you won the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix, which gets you what?  Exactly.

ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I doubt it affects the gate or ratings much at all.  It has dampened my anticipation, though.  Now the winner will not have any claim to being the lineal heavyweight champion, a title that dates back to MMA's infancy and that currently belongs to Overeem.

MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Honestly not much on either front. That's not to say I don't care about Alistair Overeem, but the biggest fights for him now reside inside the Octagon against the UFC's best. The Strikeforce GP, while hosting some very quality bouts, serves only as an obstacle between Overeem and the truly marquee fights that would await him were he to sign a UFC contract. I was excited to watch Overeem battle Antonio Silva, but I'm also excited to get to see Daniel Cormier take a big step up in competition against Bigfoot. And while he's an intriguing figure in the MMA world who's starting to achieve cult hero status with the hardcore base, it's not as if Overeem is a draw. The same people who'd be tuning in to watch the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix with Alistair Overeem fighting will also tune into a Grand Prix without him.