Overeem vs. Werdum will determine the #1 MMA Heavyweight in the World

Pay attention LowKick’ers. This piece was written 4 months ago

Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament will kick-off next month, with some very exciting match-ups on the bracket. Of course, the first event will mark the return of Fedor Emelianenko to the Strikeforce cage, but in my opinion, the most important bout of the first round is the collision between Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum.

In his fight against Antonio Silva (Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey on February 12th), Fedor Emelianenko will look to make a statement that he’s still the driving force in the World of Mixed Martial Arts. Fedor’s possible victory over Bigfoot will surely put him back on track, but his real bread-and-butter will be in facing either Overeem or Werdum in the Semi-Finals.

Fedor needs two victories to win back what he lost in a fight against Fabricio Werdum. So whether it’s the man who beat Werdum (Overeem) or the Brazilian himself, victory in the Semi-Final would be an official return of “The Last Emperor”.

Both Overeem and Werdum are carrying an impressive amount of achievements into their fight. Alistair Overeem is the Strikeforce and Dream (Interim) Heavyweight Champion, as well as K-1 WGP Champion, while Fabricio Werdum is the lineal Heavywieght Champion, also coming off a stunning victory over the mentioned above Fedor Emelianenko.

In terms of achievements, Werdum and Overeem are currently two of the Top 3 Heavyweights in the World. And with so much at stake from both fighters, the encounter between the two will automatically determine the identity of the #1 Heavyweight on the planet.

Cain Velasquez is the other part of this Top 3. But the UFC Heavyweight Champion will not defend his title until the final quarter of 2011, as the June bout between Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos does very little to the Heavyweight landscape. However, if Cain Velasquez manages to defend his title in the same impressive fashion like he did at UFC 121, he will make a strong case in the argument for the #1 Heavyweight spot in the rankings against the eventual tournament winner.

In conclusion, we are clearly up for exciting times in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. I’m still convinced that Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament is one of the best things to ever happen in this sport, even despite some questionable regulation decisions. So what do you think LowKick’ers? Do you agree that the winner of the fight between Overeem and Werdum should be considered as the #1 HW on the Planet? Don’t be shy to voice your thoughts in the comments section.