ZUFFA set to eliminate Strikeforce Heavyweight Division in 2012

The announcement that Showtime and Strikeforce had inked a new deal to present six to eight fight cards on the cable network was not a real surprise as UFC President Dana White had all but officially announced the deal was done earlier in the week. What did come as a surprise was the announcement that the Strikeforce Heavyweight division would cease to exist at some point in 2012.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had this to say about the division, which currently sits without a champion and awaits the conclusion of the promotions Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament, “What you’ll see after the event with the tournament finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, you’ll see one more fight where the winner will fight a top-rated heavyweight and then we’re going to go back to focusing on our other weight classes.” And with those words the Strikeforce Heavyweight division effectively came to an end.

Coker did say that the goal would be to present the Heavyweight Grand Prix final bout before the end of the first quarter in 2012.

What do you think LowKick’ers, which Strikforce Heavyweights should make the leap to the UFC in 2012?

Further Reading: OFFICIAL: Showtime and ZUFFA sign a new deal for Strikeforce