The main event of tonight's (Sept. 10) Strikeforce event at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, featured the other semifinal contest to determine who would advance to the finals to take on Daniel Cormier, as Josh Barnett squared off against Sergei Kharitonov.
This one may have been slightly unheralded and unable to sustain interest but it came through when it mattered. Kharitonov, the striker, had success with his chosen craft while Barnett, the catch wrestler, had just as much with his.
"The War Master" put the mixed in his martial arts, though, and after eating a few iron fists early, took his opponent down, gained full mount in about a half a second and finished with an arm triangle submission shortly thereafter.
Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier in the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament. Exactly what you predicted, right?
Kharitonov opened the bout aggressive and landing a few shots that had Barnett backing up. Of course, his game plan was never to stand and trade with the Russian bomb dropper and just as soon as he decided to go for a takedown, that was it.
"The Baby Faced Assassin" is now undefeated in Strikeforce and while he attempted to steal Mauro Ranallo's microphone to cut a promo after the bout, the commentator was having none of it.
It was a comical ending to an explosive broadcast.
Barnett also claimed he will take Cormier down once he climbs inside the cage with him before going home with the heavyweight grand prix championship.
Believe him?