Strikeforce: Overeem Vs. Werdum Fight Card News: Sudden Death Overtime Rounds Introduced

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VIDEO: Randy Couture Picks Fabricio Werdum Over Alistair Overeem

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Strikeforce: Overeem Vs. Werdum To Employ Sudden Death Overtime Rounds

In a move that's both surprising and novel for a Zuffa-owned organization, reports indicate Strikeforce will employ a sudden death overtime round for this weekend's Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum event. This overtime round will only apply to the two scheduled grand prix fights on the card, Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers. MMA Fighting has the report and an explanation of how Strikeforce changed course on adjudicating draws:

When the GP was first announced in January, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said that a draw would be settled by an independent fourth judge who would "determine who advances or who wins based on the fighter's overall performance in the fight."

However, Marc Ratner, Zuffa's vice president of regulatory affairs, informed MMA Fighting on Sunday that Zuffa, the new parent company of the Strikeforce, has decided that all tournament fights ending in a draw will now be settled by a fourth sudden death round. There will not be a fourth judge assigned to the tournament fights anymore.

Other than the finals of the tournament, all fights are scheduled for three five-minute rounds. The finals will be a five five-minute round fight.

When the tournament was first announced, I spoke to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker about how draws would be settled and the value of the tournament generally. Listen to the entire discussion here:

Stay tuned to our Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum StoryStream for updates, news and information about this event.

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Strikeforce: Amanda Nunes Vs. Julie Kedzie Off, Nunes Out With Injury

The UFC isn't the only promotion facing matchmaking difficulty due to injury. Now Strikeforce gets in on the action as top female Brazilian prospect Amanda Nunes is out of her bout for Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum on June 18. According to MMA Diehards, Nunes is suffering from a hairline fracture on her foot, forcing her to withdraw from her bout with veteran Julie Kedzie:

Nunes (6-1) also has a serious contusion on the foot.  In the best case scenario, Nunes could begin light training by next week, but no determination will be made until that time.

The fight between Nunes and Kedzie (16-8) was slated for 135 pounds.  Nunes, who turned 23 on Monday, made her Strikeforce debut Jan. 7 and knocked out Julia Budd in 14 seconds in a 145-pound match.  Nunes has finished each of her opponents since losing her MMA debut.  Budd has recently been seen as the nutritionist for Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

There is no word yet on a replacement for Kedzie or if the bout will be eliminated from the card.

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Julie Kedzie Vs. Amanda Nunes Official For Strikeforce: Overeem Vs. Werdum

The fight card for Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum continues to fill out and take on a decidedly non-Strikeforce feel. Unlike the SVSE-era Strikeforce, Zuffa-operated Strikeforce cards feature high-level competitive MMA fights on the under card as well. The most recent to fill that section is a female lightweight contest between Julie Kedzie and Amanda Nunes. Strikeforce.com has the news:

Representing the renowned Jackson’s MMA team in Albuquerque, Kedzie (16-8) currently sports a four fight winning streak that includes victories over Sarah D’Alelio and Kaitlin Young. But the third degree Taekwondo black belt will be put to the test by Brazil’s Nunes (6-1), a 22 year old phenom who rebounded from a loss in her pro debut to win her next six fights.  In January’s Strikeforce Challengers show, she made an immediate impression with a 14 second knockout of Julia Budd, and as the newest member of New Jersey’s AMA Fight Club, she is ready to continue her move up the rankings on June 18th.

Here are pics of former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner and Nunes sparring at AMA. A very, very tough gal.

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Strikeforce: Overeem Vs. Werdum Fight Card News, Updates And Information

Strikeforce and Showtime are presenting the second quarterfinal leg of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix on June 18th at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. The event is being billed as Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum and is naturally headlined by the next stage of grand prix bouts. In the main event, Alistair Overeem will take on Fabricio Werdum. The co-main event is Brett Rogers will face Josh Barnett.

The winner of the Overeem-Werdum fight will eventually face Antonio Silva the semi-finals while the winner of the Rogers-Barnett bout will face Sergei Kharitonov.

The event also features the return of female MMA superstar Gina Carano who will face Sarah D'Alelio.

Strikeforce also confirmed this week that strikers Jorge Masvidal and K.J. Noons will meet in a lightweight contest. Heavyweights Jeff Monson and former Olympian Daniel Cormier will also meet at this event.

The main card for the event thus far:

Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers
Gina Carano vs. Sarah D'Alelio
Daniel Cormier vs. Jeff Monson
Chad Griggs vs. Valentijn Overeem
Jorge Masvidal vs. K.J. Noons