Strikeforce results and live fight coverage for heavyweight grand prix tournament 'Barnett vs. Kharitonov' semifinals on Sept. 10 in Cincinnati

Strikeforce is set to pull the trigger on its heavyweight tournament grand prix semifinals TONIGHT (Sat., Sept. 10, 2011) from the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Showtime-televised event will feature the second leg of the San Jose, Calif.,-based promotion's heavyweight tournament that pits Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov and Daniel Cormier vs. Antonio Silva.

Also booked for "The Queen City" is a middleweight showdown between division champion Ronaldo Souza
 and number one 185-pound contender 
Luke Rockhold.

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET, as well as provide detailed results of all the undercard action that is set to begin on HDNet at 8 p.m. ET.

Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the broadcast to share their thoughts on the action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 10) before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it always turns out to be a great discussion.

Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after the show.

Without further delay, see below for the latest  Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action):

STRIKEFORCE: "BARNETT VS. KHARITONOV" QUICK RESULTS:

Josh Barnett
 defeats Sergei Kharitonov via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) Round 1
Daniel Cormier
 defeats 
Antonio Silva
 via TKO (Strikes) Round 1
Luke Rockhold defeats Ronaldo Souza via Unanimous Decision
Muhammed Lawal
 defeats Roger Gracie via TKO (Strikes) Round 1
Pat Healy defeats Maximo Blanco via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 2
Mike Kyle
 def 
Marcos Rogerio de Lima via unanimous decision
Rafael Cavalcante
 def 
Yoel Romero via TKO (strikes) at 4:51 of round two
Jordan Mein
 def Evangelista Santos via TKO (strikes) at 3:18 of round three 
Alexis Davis
 def Amanda Nunes
 via TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of round two
Dominique Steele def Chris Mierzwiak via unanimous decision

STRIKEFORCE: "BARNETT VS. KHARITONOV" PLAY-BY-PLAY MAIN CARD COMMENTARY (SHOWTIME):
Andrew here.

265 lbs.: Josh Barnett
 vs
. Sergei Kharitonov (Grand Prix semifinal match)

Round one: Both men trade punches right off the bat. Jab form Barnett. Jab from Kharitonov and a hook. RIght from Barnett and then a leg kick. Kharitonov lands some big power shots. Uppercuts from Barnett. Barnett working for and gets a take down and lands right into full mount!!! Barnett now landing some short elbows from the mount. Punches now from Barnett and Kharitonov cannot seem to get out of this position he is in trouble. Barnett just working the ground and pound to perfection right now and doing damage. Barnett with a flurry of punches and now Kharitonov rolls over and gives up his back to avoid more punches to the face. Barnett softening up Kharitonov with short punches and looking for the opening for the rear naked choke. Barnett now landing some more punches and Kharitonov rolls back over onto his back and Barnett has an arm triangle locked in and jumps into side control and that is it!! Barnett with the submission win.

Round two:
Round three:

Final result: Josh Barnett defeats Sergei Kharitonov via Submission (Arm triangle choke) Round 1

-end-

265 lbs.: Daniel Cormier
 vs. 
Antonio Silva
 (Grand Prix semifinal match)

Round one: Leg kick from Silva. Leg kick from Cormier. Silva charges Cormier into the fence but nothing doing. HUGE right hook from Cormier drops Silva!!!! Cormier now pounces and is on top and now Cormier is asking Silva to stand back up not trying to mess around on the ground with bigfoot. Left hook from Cormier wobbles Silva again. Another left hook from Cormier lands HARD. Right from Cormier lands flush and Silva shoots a double and Cormier sprawls out with ease. Silva on his back, Cormier just kicking the legs until the ref centers the fighters. Jab from Cormier. Body kick from Silva caught and Cormier with a sweep kick that drops Silva on his back hard. Cormier not chasing Silva to the mat he is just standing over him. Jab from both men as their back standing. Silva now lands a good flurry. Good right from Cormier. Double jab, big uppercut, and left hook combo from Cormier drops Silva limp to the mat!! One big hammer fists and Silva is stiff and OUT COLD!!! WOW Daniel Cormier the late minute replacement for Overeem has come in and shocked many people with amazing striking and a powerful KO win.

 
Round two:
Round three:

Final result: Daniel Cormier defeats Antonio Silva via TKO (Strikes) Round 1

-end-

185 lbs.: Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza
 vs. 
Luke Rockhold

Round one: Leg kick from Rockhold. Leg kick from Rockhold. Sprawl from Rockhold on a take down attempt. Good right from Souza and now he goes for a double leg take down and Rockhold with good defense but he is taken down. Souza just trying to hold him down now. Good punches from Souza and some more that are landing hard here. Rockhold clmbs the cage to his feet but it is short lived as Souza gets another take down. Rockhold back to his feet and Souza keeping him pinned against the cage. Now they break. Leg kick from Rockhold and then a front kick. Good counter right from Souza. Good right hook from Souza. Souza charges forward but nothing lands. Jab and leg kick from Rockhold. Leg kick from Rockhold. Good switch kick from Rockhold and then a body kick. Rockhold with a good flurry of punches and Souza had enough and he gets another take down. That is the bell. 10-9 Souza.

Round two: Spinning back kick from Rockhold and then a leg kick. Head kick from Rockhold. Leg kick and then head kick from Rockhold and then a double straight left that lands hard. BIG right hook drops Rockhold. Souza now charges in and is trying to finish but Rockhold recovers fairly quickly and now their tied up against the cage. Big elbows from Souza. Leg kick from Rockhold. Straight left from Rockhold lands flush. Switch kick from Rockhold. Good right from Souza. Straight left from Rockhold. Now their tied up again against the cage. Short knee's to the thigh from Rockhold now. Good combo from Rockhold. Counter right from Souza. Leg kick from Rockhold and then a head kick. Good right from Souza. Good combo from Rockhold to end the round. That was a extremely close round Ill lean towards Rockhold. 10-9 Rockhold.

Round three: Front kick from Rockhold. Good hard left from Rockhold. Head kick from Rockhold and then a leg kick. Low blow stops the action. Right hook from Rockhold. Souza goes for the take down and is holding onto a single. Rockhold unloads a big combo and Souza kicks out the leg with the sweep and now he is on top. Rockhold back to his feet and lands a leg kick and another. RIght from Rockhold. Left from Rockhold. Leg kick from Rockhold. Right from Souza. Good left from Rockhold. Another good combo from Rockhold and right from Souza. Leg kick from Souza. Left right combo from Rockhold. Good right from Rockhold and a leg kick. Jab from Rockhold. Good right from Rockhold. Head kcik from Rockhold. Spinning head kick and left from Rockhold at the bell. That round was Rockhold's. 10-9 Rockhold.

Round four: Right from Souza. Flurry from Rockhold. Right from Souza. Straight left from Rockhold lands right and then a hard right from Rockhold. Body kick from Rockhold. Body punch from Rockhold. Front kick and a combo from Rockhold, counter right from the champ. Right from Rockhold. Left form Rockhold and counter right from Souza. Good flurry from Rockhold. Body kick from Rockhold. Now their tied up against the cage with Souza in the dominant position but not for long as Rockhold reverses. Elbow from Rockhold. Rockhold almost gets a trip take down. Souza lands two good rights and a elbow. Head kick from Rockhold. Souza drops down going for a double and Rockhold with good defesne. Rockhold back to his feet and he lands a knee and right hook. Straight left from Rockhold. Rockhold avoids another take down and now their tied up against a fence. Big knee from Rockhold. Knee to the body as the bell rings. Another round for Rockhold in my book. 10-9 Rockhold.

Round five: Flurry from Rockhold and then a body kick. Left from Rockhold. Head kick and left hook from Rockhold. Right left from Rockhold. Uppercut and left from Rockhold. Left and leg kick from Rockhold. Good body shot from Rockhold. Right from Souza and now their tied up against the cage. Their down on the mat briefly and Souza lands a knee to the head. Big sweep take down from Souza and is on top now in half guard. Rockhold just powers his way up to his feet. Hard left right hook left combo from Rockhold. Rockhold lands a hard combo. Front kick from Souza lands on the face. Rockhold keeps coming forward and landing. Right from Souza. Leg kcik from Rockhold. Spinning body kick form Rockhold and right from Souza. Combo from Rockhold. Left from Rockhold. Both men trade lefts. Right from Souza. Thats the bell and another close round this one ill lean towards the champ. 10-9 Souza.

Final result: Luke Rockhold defeats Ronaldo Souza via Unanimous Decision

-end-

205 lbs.: Roger Gracie 
vs. 
Muhammed Lawal

Round one: King Mo stalking Gracie around the ring and looks relaxed. Jab from Gracie and things are very slow moving right now with either man not engaging. Two minutes gone by and literally nothing going on. Left from King Mo. Jab from Gracie. Knee from Gracie. Left hook from Gracie and then a push kick. Big flying knee from Gracie. Left from King Mo. Jab from Gracie. Body shot from King Mo. HUGE right hook from King Mo and Gracie drops to the mat!!! Now King Mo throws in a couple more bombs for good measure and Gracie is out cold. Class King Mo win.

Round two:
Round three:

Final result: Muhammed Lawal defeats Roger Gracie via TKO (Strikes) Round 1

-end-

155 lbs.: Maximo Blanco
 vs. 
Pat Healy

Round one: Blanco with a wild right and then body kick. Left right combo from Blanco. Jab from Healy. Leg kick from Blanco sweeps Healy off his feet. Blanco on top now in half guard. Elbow from Blanco and another. Healy to his feet now. Jab from Healy. Uppercut and right hook from Blanco. Jab from Healy and another one. Double jab from Healy. Jab from Healy and then a right hook. Jab from Healy. High head kick from Blanco and then two big knees and then a flurry of punches and another head kick and Healy dives for a leg he is hurt. Blanco gets on top now in full guard. Healy with a high guard and he is going for an arm bard. Healy bleeding above his right eye. Healy has a heel hook and Blanco throws illegal face kicks to a downed opponent and the referee has to stop the action. Those kicks landed hard. Blanco is going to loose a point now and that is huge considering he has controlled this round thoroughly. Jab from Healy. Both men trade left hooks. Hard body kicks from Blanco. Healy grabs a leg on a kick attempt and drives Blanco into the cage. Now Healy with a waistlock take down and he has the back. Good punches from the top position from Healy. Good hard hammer fists from Healy. Healy is finishing the round pounding away with punches. Blanco dominated the round but lost a point.. 9-9 round.

Round two: Right from Healy. Jab from Healy. Double jab and good right from Healy. Jab and left hook from Healy. Good right from Blanco. Left from Healy. Good combo from Healy. Jab from Blanco. Good left hook from Blanco. Good uppercut from Blanco. Good right from Healy and now Healy lands a good jab that drops Blanco he bounces up and Healy gets a waist lock take down! Healy now has the back and almost locks in a rear naked choke! Blanco back to his feet though. Healy slips and falls. Both men trade rights. Clinch knee from Healy. Body shot from Healy. Healy with a bull rush take down and again has the back now. Healy with punches from behind. Blanco slips out the back door and Healy with another waist lock take down. Healy with a crucifix sweep now and is going for a rear naked choke but he is on the side of Blanco. Blanco taps out!!! Healy with a big win after being beat up in the 1st round. Very impressive win for this guy.

Round three:

Final result: Pat Healy defeats Maximo Blanco via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 2

-end-

STRIKEFORCE: "BARNETT VS. KHARITONOV" PLAY-BY-PLAY PRELIM CARD COMMENTARY (HDNET):
Kevin Haggerty here.

Mike Kyle
 vs. 
Marcos Rogerio de Lima

Round one: Kyle comes out doing the "Jersey Shore" fist pump. Cool. Kyle comes out with a flurry of punches, missing. De Lima answers with a decent body shot. De Lima lands decent body kick. Kyle working the jab. Kyle with a nice leg kick.  De Lima responds with a nice leg kick of his own. Kyle's jabs are starting to get through. De Lima looking defensive and not attacking so far. Kyle making excellent use of his reach advantage. Good exchange of punches between both fighters. Pretty even to this point. De Lima looks hurt. Kyle is beginning to land his punches effectively. Under a minute left and de Lima still looks wobbled. Kyle is hammering away with jabs. Round ends with Kyle landing several punches to the head. Close to a 10-8 round for Kyle. 

Round two:
 De Lima starts off with a couple very nice leg kicks. Kyle goes back to jabbing and de Lima answers with a couple of punches this time. De Lima with another good combination. De Lima with a nasty leg kick. Kyle starting to back up a bit now. De Lima getting a bit wild with his strikes. Kyle finally checks the leg kick. Kyle with a decent body punch, but de Lima counters with another loud kick to the front leg. Kyle goes back to the jab, which seems to have a little less pop behind it now. Kyle gets de Lima up against the fence and then takes his opponent down. De Lima wall-walks back to his feet. De Lima complained of a low knee but the referee does not react. Kyle jumps on de Lima and gets a few good shots in before the end of the round. Kyle most likely took the round back near the end. 10-9 for Kyle.

Round three: De Lima probably needs to finish Kyle to get a win here. De Lima lands a nice leg kick-to-head punch combination. Kyle answers with another nice jab and then a body shot. De Lima starting to pick up the pace and push forward. Kyle lands another jab. I'd love to see the statistic on how many jabs he's landed when this is all over. Three minutes left. De Lima lands a good leg kick. Kyle counters with a nice left hook to the head. De Lima really looks unable to find an answer for Kyle's length and range. It hasn't been pretty, but Kyle has put on an exhibition of jab throwing. Kyle gets a takedown with just under two minutes to go. Kyle is now in de Lima's guard and looking to rain down some ground-and-pound. Kyle finishes the round on top and in control. 10-9 for Kyle. 

Final result: Kyle via unanimous decision

-end-

Rafael Cavalcante
 vs. 
Yoel Romero

Round one: Romero dancing around a bit. Cavalcante looking to find the distance. Romero fakes to rush in a few times but stays at bay. Fans start to voice their dismay. Romero goes for flying front kick but misses badly. Cavalcante comes in with a combination of punches but nothing lands. Romero still dancing. Cavalcante swings wildly and misses with another punch. Cavalcante swings again and misses. Romero not making any real effort to engage. Very uneventful round thus far. Cavalcante throws big kick but misses again. It takes two to tango and Romero doesn't appear interested. Cavalcante finally lands a good leg kick with about a minute to go. Dan Miragliotta pauses fight to warn Romero for not engaging. Romero seems unfazed, almost like he thinks it's a joke. Fans booing. I don't blame them. 10-9 round for Cavalcante just for trying to push the action.

Round two: Cavalcante lands leg kick to front leg right away, then a kick to the mid-section. Romero taunts Cavalcante (puzzlingly) then lands an accidental low kick. Cavalcante takes a minute then gets back to it. Cavalcante goes for big high kick but misses. Romero counters and tries to land a wild looping punch but misses as well. Romero stalking now and has Cavalcante against the fence. Romero is throwing everything he has at him. Punches, elbows and knees! Now we've got a fight! Romero has "Feijao" against the cage, pinned. Cavalcante looks a little gassed. Romero hasn't lost a step. Cavalcante lands another good kick to the body and, again, Romero lifts his arms as if to say he was not hurt. Romero now has Cavalcante against the fence again and is throwing combinations. Cavalcante is able to slip away more quickyl this time and avoids damage. One minute to go. Standstill again. Cavalcante lands a spinning backfist squarely then pounces on Romero! Miragliotta steps in right away to stop things. Romero is done "dancing with the stars" and is now just watching them dance around his head.  

Final result: Cavalcante via TKO (strikes) at 4:51 of round two

-end-

Evangelista Santos
 vs. 
Jordan Mein

Round one: Both fighters come out measured and cautious. Santos lands two nice leg kicks. Another leg kick. Mein needs to check these. See: Urijah Faber. Mein lands a nice couple of leg kicks of his own. Santos answers with another leg kicks that wobbles Mein a bit. Mein throws entire combination of punches that misses. Santos stalking and continuing to land leg kicks. Santos with a nice combination and lands a couple of punches. Round one has been chalk full of leg kicks from both guys. Mein is starting to favor his front leg. Santos lands another leg kick, this time to the back leg, knocking Mein to the ground. Mein pops back up but it's clear that those kicks are really hurting him. Santos switches it up with a nice body kick. Less than a minute left. Santos lands nice left hook to the body. 10-9 round for Santos. 

Round two:
 Santos is really getting everything into his leg kicks. I'm wincing every time I hear them "pop!" against Mein's legs. Mein is getting less and less behind his punches. It looks like he's having trouble planting. Santos is destroying Mein's legs with inside and outside kicks. Mein able to use his reach and finally lands a couple of decent punches. Three minutes to go in the round. Santos lands a nice jab. Santos looks confident. Mein looks unsure of what he wants to do. The kicks are effecting him. Santos throws spinning heel hook and misses badly. Santos with another leg kick and then another. Lots of punches being thrown but none are really connecting for either fighter. Mein lands a decent right cross. Santos with another leg kick. Santos goes for a head kick but Mein is able to defend. Kenny Rice is sure Mein got himself back in this fight with that round. I question if Kenny is watching this fight. 10-9 round for Santos. 

Round three: Mein looks like he knows he needs to do something major to win this fight. He has a sense of urgency. Santos lands very nice head kick. Mein lands nice combination of punches and then again. Mein is starting to light Santos up. This would be quite a comeback. Mein is going to town with punches and elbows. That it. It's all over! After almost certainly losing the first two rounds, Mein finds a second wind and finishes "Cyborg" with strikes. 

Final result: Jordan Mein via TKO (strikes) at 3:18 of round three 

-end-

Alexis Davis
 vs
. Amanda Nunes

Round one: Amanda Nunes taking her time getting to the cage and using up a lot of energy. Clay Guida would be impressed. Will be interesting to see if that plays any factor. The fight may not take as long as it did for her to get to the stage of combat. Davis looks nervous. If she saw Nunes' last fight, there may be good reason. Nunes comes out like a hurricane of punches, landing the majority of her strikes on Davis' grill. After about thirty seconds of weathering the storm, Davis is able to tie her up against the fence. Davis transitioning looking for underhooks. Nunes gets space and looks to throw hands again. Davis has her tied up again, clearly not liking how the exchange is going. Nunes grabs a single leg and gets takedown. Nunes in side guard and has Davis against fence. Nunes landing some punches but nothing that looks damaging. Back on the feet. Fighters trade knees. Nunes with a nice leg kick. Back to the clinch. Nunes backs up and lands another right hand to the head. Good jab by Nunes, who has slowed, but is still landing effective strikes. One minute left. Tied up again. Davis doing good job of keep Nunes from working her stand-up game. Round ends tied up against the fence. Davis proving to be tougher than most gave her credit for. Still a 10-9 round for Nunes.

Round two:
 Somehow in the scrum of round one, Nunes ended up with a big knot on her left forehead. Davis closes distance again and ties Nunes up. Nunes is looking frustrated now. Nunes gets successful takedown and is on top but backs away. Fighters scrambling and it's back to the fence. Ugly round so far, but it would appear as that's what Davis wants. Nunes is starting to play Davis' game. Davis is landing some good knees to the body in the clinch. Nunes is beginning to look like her will is breaking. Davis lands some good dirty boxing strikes. Two minutes left. Referee makes odd separation and Nunes lands a good strike after the break. Davis ties her up again immediately and lands subsequent knees to the body. Nunes gets takedown but Davis reverses right away and has top position. Davis lands a couple good strikes from the top. Davis takes her back with 1:38 left. She's softening her up with punches and looking for finish. The fight has been stopped due to strikes from Davis. This is a big upset. Great win for Alexis Davis.

Final result: Alexis Davis via TKO (strikes) at 4:53 of round two

-end-

Chris Mierzwiak
 vs. 
Dominique Steele

Round one: Steele starts off mean-mugging Mierzwiak at the glove touch. Steele lands a good shot, Mierzwiak goes for takedown right away. Doesn't get the takedown at first but is able to eventually get his opponent down. Steele reverses. Mierzwiak works submission game from bottom. Nothing doing. Back on the feet. Back on the mat almost as soon. Nonstop transitioning. Steele lands a nice knee to the head. Mierzwiak goes for another takedown and Steele sprawls effectively. Some dirty boxing. Mierzwiak lands a couple damaging punches and Steele looks wobbled. Two minutes left and Mierzwiak has taken Steele down and has him in a body triangle. Mierzwiak looking for a rear naked choke. Steele is in trouble. One minute to go, same position. Steele trying to turn out of it but Mierzwiak controlling. Steele able to reverse and is in Mierzwiak's guard now. Back on the feet. Steele goes for another jump-knee but hits nothing but air. Ten seconds left, both fighters sucking wind big time. Very exciting first round. Tough to score. Probably a 10-9 round for Mierzwiak.

Round two:
 Both fighters have slowed from the action in round one. Mierzwiak gets takedown but it's right back up instantly. Steele with the takedown and in Mierzwiak's guard. Steele is trying to soften him up with rib punches. Mierzwiak continuously trying to throw the legs up for submission attempts, very active from the bottom. Steele with a nasty knee to the ribs. Mierzwiak goes for another triangle, but Steele slips out. Steele has had top position for most of the round so far. Mierzwiak starting to turtle up a bit. Back on the feet. Steele barely misses with another flying knee attempt. Mierzwiak answers with an uppercut. Muay thai clinch for Steele, working knees and elbows. Steele lands a brutal elbow, Mierzwiak to the ground and looks hurt. Steele trying to implement the crucifix. He's raining down some vicious ground and pound. Thirty seconds left. Steele has Mierzwiak in bad shape but looks like he's not sure what to do. Mierzwiak somehow makes it out of the round. 10-9 round for Steele. Maybe 10-8. 

Round three: Both fighters look totally gassed. Steele pushes Mierzwiak against the fence where they both battle for position. Off of the fence now. Bit of a stand still. Steele rushes in and gets the takedown. Steele is back in the guard of Mierzwiak and on top. Mierzwiak tries to escape out the back and then go for leg lock, but both are unsuccessful. Steele has his back now but again looks like he doesn't know what to do with it. Mierzwiak gets back ot his feet and the fight is up against the feet again. Steele with double-leg takedown. Two minutes left. Steele on top and Mierzwiak looks ready to quit. He's still throwing up submission attempts but half-heartedly. Somehow, Mierzwiak reverses and has Steele in a body triangle. Thirty seconds left. Looks like we're going to the judges. I'd call it another 10-9 round for Steele. Decent fight to open things up with.

Final result: Dominique Steele via unanimous decision 

-end-