SHOWTIME presents the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Finals: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier also known as Strikeforce 40 on May 19, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
On Saturday night, Strikeforce will crown the winner of the World Grand Prix Heavyweight MMA Tournament, the two fighters who made it to the top of the heap are catch wrestler Josh Barnett who defeated Brett Rogers by submission in the quarter finals, and submitted Sergei Kharitonov in the semifinals and NCAA wrestling standout Daniel Cormier who was a late replacement for Alistair Overeem and beat Antonio Silva by knockout in the semifinals to make it to the finals.
The co-main event of the evening is a lightweight championship bout and a rubbermatch between champion Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson. Melendez and Thomson have fought two competitive and exciting matches together, and a split at one win each, Thomson winning their first encounter by decision in 2008 and Melendez beating Thomson by decision in the rematch. The two will settle the score at Strikeforce 40.
Preliminary Strikeforce Barnett vs. Cormier Showtime Extreme (8:00 PM ET/PT)
Lightweight bout: Gesias Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Light Heavyweight bout: Virgil Zwicker vs. Guto Inocente
Light Heavyweight bout: Gian Villante vs. Derrick Mehmen
Welterweight bout: Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort
Lightweight bout: James Terry vs. Bobby Green
Main Strikeforce Barnett vs. Cormier Showtime card (10:00 PM ET/PT)
Heavyweight Grand Prix final bout: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier
Lightweight Championship bout: Gilbert Melendez (Champion) vs. Josh Thomson
Light Heavyweight bout: Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle
Welterweight bout: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang
Watch Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier live on Showtime Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 10:00 PM ET/PT.
