The Doggy Bag: Fox of a Deal

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How do you think Daniel Cormier is going to fare against Antonio Silva in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix? I would love to see him win, but I am worried it is too early for him as a fighter, especially given that he is a shorter, stockier heavyweight taking on such a massive, skilled opponent like “Bigfoot.” -- Ed, from Los Angeles

Jon Luther, Sherdog Radio Network “Beatdown” host: This grand prix immediately seemed a little less “grand” when Alistair Overeem pulled out.

Among the candidates primed to fill in as an alternate in the grand prix -- Shane del Rosario and Chad Griggs, two men some would argue are more qualified for the job than the relatively-green Cormier -- it is my belief that Cormier stands above the rest and may very well win the entire tournament.

Cormier captured the XMMA and King of the Cage heavyweight titles while displaying an evolving submission game and a simply brutal capacity for ground-and-pound. Cormier is becoming a lot more than just a wrestler and has his teammates at American Kickboxing Academy and perseverance to thank. Additionally, he has proven his worth as a prospect to both Showtime and Strikeforce.

When Cormier enters the cage against the 6-foot-4, 265-plus-pound Brazilian, he will be hot off the heels of a decision win over UFC veteran Jeff Monson. In terms of size, power and relevancy, the difference between the two opponents seems dauntingly large. Yet, Cormier says he has the advantage over Silva in the areas of speed, athleticism and wrestling.

I am inclined to believe him. Cormier has one of the most decorated amateur wrestling backgrounds in MMA, with standout honors from the Oklahoma State University wrestling dynasty and a stint at the Olympics. Being smaller and more dynamic is one of the most valuable traits in the 265-pound division, at least to Cormier, where he cites as inspiration the success of training partner Cain Velasquez over larger and more laborious opponents.

The outcome and significance of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix is still up in the air. Yet, with so much uncertainty surrounding the tournament, it is comforting to know that someone as hard-working and dedicated as Cormier has the chance to become a star in the MMA world. With all the upheavals the grand prix has already suffered, Cormier’s victory might just make the most sense.

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