Strikeforce betting fans will finally get to see the conclusion of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix this Saturday night when former UFC Heavyweight champ Josh Barnett faces up-and-coming Daniel Cormier in the tournament final.
Cormier will look to stretch his unbeaten streak to 10 fights this weekend with a win over MMA legend Barnett. Despite being an alternate and only getting a chance to enter the Grand Prix because Alistair Overeem was pulled out to go to the UFC, Cormier enters the final as just a slight underdog to win it all.
Cormier is currently a +100 underdog to beat Barnett at Bovada and will need to use his heavy hands to hurt his opponent enough to take control of the fight. Cormier will need to stay off his back and keep the fight standing, where his power will give him an edge.
Barnett has been one of the top Heavyweights in the world for over a decade and continues to dominate his opponents with elite top-game and ground-and-pound. Currently on an eight-fight win streak, Barnett should be able to use his cage experience to dirty-box and grapple his opponent to the ground where he does his thing.
As a -130 favorite at Topbet Barnett is coming at a bargain price. Not only is the Strikeforce Grand Prix title on the line, but a win over Cormier will all but assure his long-awaited return to the UFC.
Also on the Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier fight card is a Lightweight title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson. Melendez is currently a big -420 favorite at Topbet and could even cost more by fight time. Melendez is superior to Thomson in pretty much every aspect of MMA, and it could be a short night if he is on form.
For Thomson this fight could be the sweet redemption that he’s been chasing for years. Since losing his Strikeforce Lightweight title to Melendez over two years ago the day has finally come for him to avenge that loss and get back the belt. However, as the +325 underdog at Bovada his chances don’t seem very good.