Strikeforce came to the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey tonight for the start of its much-anticipated Heavyweight Grand Prix at Strikeforce: “Fedor vs Silva.” The event was headlined by a quarterfinal bout between “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

In a second quarterfinal matchup, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski clashed with Sergei Kharitonov. A trio of reserve bouts were also contested on the card featuring top heavyweight prospects and tough veterans. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the event.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva vs “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko

Round 1:
Emelianenko swarmed with big punches right away, but Silva was unfazed and answered with two solid shots of his own. Emelianenko clinched and landed a knee, but Silva pressed him up against the cage. The fighters were separated and Emelianenko landed a right hook. Hard punches landed for both and Emelianenko backed up. Silva landed a front kick to the body and clinched.

Emelianenko locked on a standing guillotine choke and Silva tried to pick him up for a slam, but wound up on his back. Silva tried for a heel hook and Emeliananko spun out. He returned to Silva’s half-guard and punched, then attempted a far-side Kimura. The fighters returned to their feet and both landed punches. Silva took Emelianenko down before the bell. 10-9 Silva.

Round 2:
Silva took Emelianenko down to begin the second round and worked from the top in half-guard. He peppered Silva with short punches and passed to side-control. Silva moved to mount and teed off with big punches. Emelianenko rolled over and Silva attempted a rear-naked choke. More punches landed for Silva and he nearly secured the choke, but Emelianenko survived.

Silva battered Emelianenko with more and more punches as Emelianenko struggled to defend. Silva locked on an arm-triangle choke and moved to the side. Emelianenko did not tap out and Silva returned to punching from the top in half-guard. Emeliananko could not escape, but Silva spun into a kneebar. He switched to a heel hook that had Emelianenko grimacing, but Emelianenko worked for a heel hook of his own until the bell. 10-8 Silva. Maybe 10-7.

In between rounds, the fight was called due to Emelianenko’s badly swollen right eye. Silva was awarded the upset victory and Emelianenko’s future now remains uncertain.

Winner: Antonio Silva by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 5:00 of round two. He improves to 16-2-0 and advances on to the semi-finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal

Sergei Kharitonov vs Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski

Round 1:
Arlovski landed a nice leg kick and a right hand early on, then followed with a stiff jab. More quick punches landed for Arlovski and the fighters exchanged strikes in a brief clinch. A short left hook snapped Kharitonov’s head back and Arlovski just missed with a big overhand right. Both fighters landed punches in close and Kharitonov hurt Arlovski with three punches.

Kharitonov swarmed Arlovski with punches and knees as Arlovski tried to fight back with looping hooks. Another barrage dropped Arlovski against the cage and Kharitonov knocked him out cold with more punches on the ground. Big win for Kharitonov, while Arlovski suffers his fourth straight loss.

Winner: Sergei Kharitonov by KO (Punches) at 2:49 of round one. He improves to 18-4-0. He advances on to the semi-finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout

Shane del Rosario vs Lavar “Big” Johnson

Round 1:
After a quick exchange of strikes, del Rosario clinched and backed Johnson up to the cage. Johnson countered with a takedown and tried to strike while standing over del Rosario, but del Rosario got back to his feet. Johnson clinched and landed a knee. He followed with a big right hand to the body and del Rosario fired back with a body kick and a pair of punches. The fighters battled for position against the cage and del Rosario backed away.

Del Rosario circled away from a three-punch flurry from Johnson and nailed him with two counterpunches. He took Johnson down and moved straight to mount. Del Rosario postured up and landed punches, but Johnson blocked many of them. More punches scored for del Rosario and he transitioned into an armbar. Johnson appeared to get his elbow free, but fell back into the hold and quickly tapped out.

Winner: Shane del Rosario by Submission (Armbar) at 4:31 of round one. He improves to 11-0-0.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout

Chad “The Gravedigger” Griggs vs Gian Villante

Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of big punches from both fighters, but neither fell. More punches landed for both and each fighter seemed to be rocked briefly, but they recovered and clinched. A huge one-two backed Villante up, but he threw a right hook and an uppercut, then dove for a takedown. Griggs continued to batter him with punches, but Villante fired back with a head kick that cut Griggs’s ear. Time was called to replace Villante’s mouthpiece.

Uppercuts landed for both fighters and Griggs began to bleed heavily from the ear. He floored Villante with a right hand, but Villante battled back to his feet. A massive right hook melted Villante to the mat against the cage and Griggs finished the fight with three more punches. Crazy fight, and a big win for Griggs.

Winner: Chad Griggs by TKO (Punches) at 2:49 of round one. He improves to 10-1-0.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bout

Valentijn “The Python” Overeem vs “Sugarfoot” Ray Sefo

Round 1:
The fighters traded leg kicks in the opening seconds and Sefo landed a looping right hook. He blocked a head kick and flurried with punches, but Overeem circled away. Jabs landed for Sefo and Overeem replied with a front kick that just missed. Overeem threw a one-two and Sefo landed another stiff jab. Overeem took Sefo down and secured a unique neck crank from the top in side-control. Sefo quickly tapped out.

Winner: Valentijn Overeem by Submission (Neck Crank) at 1:37 of round one. He improves to 29-25-0.