“Strikeforce: Fedor vs Silva” will be the focus of this installment of The North-South Position. CageCraze.com staff writers Brian Hemminger and Chad Cunningham will preview all of the main card fights and dole out their own predictions in part of their ongoing prediction competition. This Main Event for Strikeforce: Fedor vs Silva is a Heavyweight clash between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in the first round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

The card is entirely made up of Heavyweight fights with two Grand Prix fights and three alternate bouts. Former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski and Pride veteran Sergei Kharitonov will face off in a Grand Prix match on the other side of the bracket while the alternate fights are littered with exciting Heavyweight match-ups: Shane Del Rosario vs Lavar Johnson, Chad Griggs vs Gienpiero Villante and Valentijn Overeem vs Ray Sefo.

Chad won the last contest by picking four of the five televised fights correctly for UFC 126: Silva vs Belfort and it is his turn to lay down the punishment on Brian.  Chad has decided that Brian will be forced to draw his interpretation of Anderson Silva’s front kick knockout of Vitor Belfort on Microsoft Paint.  Brian, give it your best shot:

Picture coming soon

-Brian

Fedor Emelianenko vs Antonio Silva

(Brian) The Russian legend Fedor Emelianenko is looking to rebound from the first legitimate loss of his career in his last fight against Fabricio Werdum.  Antonio Silva is a very big and strong heavyweight, having to cut down to 265 lbs and he’s a legitimate threat to “The Last Emperor.”  Like Werdum, Silva has excellent Brazilian jiu jitsu credentials and improving striking.  Silva will likely want to either get Fedor on his back or push him into the fence, using his size to his advantage.  I’ve heard that Silva will want to test Fedor on his feet though, and that’s a really, really bad sign.  If he does, Fedor will knock him out for sure.  I think he ignores the game plan and gets caught.  Emelianenko via TKo in the 2nd round.

(Chad) We get to see Fedor for the first time since losing to Fabricio Werdum last June. Now that we have had several months for the shock and the hyperbole to die down, we can hopefully approach the topic of Fedor Emelianenko in a rational manner. The fact that recent bouts have made Fedor look mortal may not be such a big deal. After all, even a mortal Fedor is a great fighter. I do not think that Antonio Silva is going to beat Fedor. Silva has the ability to beat Fedor but he is faced with the unfortunate task of going after an animal that was just wounded for the first time. Fedor might not win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, but he makes a statement in this fight and dispatches Silva via first round TKO.

Andrei Arlovski vs Sergei Kharitonov

(Brian) Kharitonov is likely the least heralded member of this tournament, but if you didn’t know, he is the last man to defeat Alistair Overeem in MMA.  Obviously, Arlovski still has star power, being a former UFC heavyweight champion but the Belarusian Sambo specialist has fallen on hard times of late.  Back to back to back losses against fellow members of the field, Fedor, Brett Rogers and Antonio Silva have some questioning his inclusion in this tournament.  I think Kharitonov takes care of business here with a second round knockout.

(Chad) Brian, I really want to see a prime Arlovski come into this match against Kharitonov and make it the instant classic that it should be. I just don’t know which “Pitbull” is going to walk into that cage on Saturday. I’m not going to draw this one out, I think that Kharitonov will win. The Golden Glory fighter will KO Arlovski in the first round.

Shane Del Rosario vs Lavar Johnson

(Brian) Shane Del Rosario is a guy that Strikeforce has been grooming as a serious heavyweight prospect.  After 3 fights with the EliteXC Challengers and two on the Strikeforce Challengers series, all victories, he is finally graduating to a main Strikeforce card.  Lavar Johnson has also been on two Challengers events.  This bout is expected to bring some serious fireworks as of their 28 combined victories, neither man has had a fight go to decision.  Both men hit hard, but I feel Rosario has a slightly better chin and is quicker on his feet.  I think Rosario takes this one via first round knockout.

(Chad) This fight is cool because it matches up Strikeforce’s top heavyweight prospects against each other for a chance to enter the Heavyweight Grand Prix as an alternate in the event of an injury to one of the GP competitors. The winner of this fight will be in a prime position to advance towards the top competition in the weight class. I like Del Rosario in this fight because of his Muay Thai street cred (former WBC HW Muay Thai Champ) and I am a sucker for big guys that pull off omoplatas in MMA competions (watch his fight against Brandon Cash from Strikeforce Challengers 4). Lavar Johnson is gritty and has won his last seven fights via KO/TKO but I do not think his style matches up well with the technical striking ability of Shane Del Rosario. I think Johnson survives an ugly first round but loses via second round

Chad Griggs vs Gienpiero Villante

(Brian) Chad Griggs became an overnight sensation when he scored an unexpected second round TKO over WWE superstar Bobby Lashley at Strikeforce: Houston.  Villante was a Ring of Combat heavyweight champion and he’ll be making his Strikeforce debut against Griggs.  Neither man is very large, as both are capable of fighting at light heavyweight but I feel Villante has the better technical striking of the two.  I’ve got Villante winning via TKO in the first round.

(Chad) I have more faith in Griggs than my North-South Position counterpart does. Griggs would have problems with all of the fighters in the Heavyweight Grand Prix but Villante does not have the size or power of those fighters. I think that Griggs will be comfortable on the feet or the ground and will win this fight via decision.

Valentijn Overeem vs Ray Sefo

(Brian) Valentijn Overeem, if you haven’t guessed it, is the older brother of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.  Valentijn has not been nearly as successful at MMA as his brother, holding 28-25 career record but he should still have enough experience to put away Sefo.  Ray Sefo is a guy you might recognize from K-1.  He was a participant of the K-1 Grand Prix eight times and has some spectacular Muay Thai credentials.  At 39 years old though, it seems age has caught up to him.  Overeem should be the more well rounded fighter here but Sefo does have a puncher’s (and kicker’s) chance.  I’ve got Overeem via decision.

(Chad) An aging Ray Sefo is still very dangerous on the feet but I thing the wealth of experience that Overeem has will be the determining factor in the fight. Overeem has the tools to stand with Sefo but I think he would rather play it safe until he can score a takedown from the clinch. Once on the ground Overeem will be able to grind out Sefo for three rounds. It might not be pretty, but Overeem will win this fight via decision.