In a brutal one-sided beatdown to open Saturday night's Strikeforce event on Showtime, Chad Griggs threw Valentijn Overeem down and rained punches on him on the ground, eventually leading to Overeem tapping out because he didn't want to get hit anymore.
The fans in Dallas booed Overeem for tapping to strikes, and the Showtime announcers were highly critical of Overeem, saying he lacks heart. I wouldn't question the heart of anyone who steps into a cage, but Overeem has no business on a major MMA card -- he's just not good enough to compete at a high level, and the only reason Strikeforce and Showtime signed him is to do a favor to his younger brother, Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
Griggs is now 3-0 in Strikeforce, with wins over Bobby Lashley and Gian Villante in past events. He's an impressive heavyweight striker, and although he'll never be an elite fighter, it's good to see him in the mix of the Strikeforce heavyweight division.
And as for Overeem, that was almost certainly his last Strikeforce fight, as it should be: He just isn't very good.
The fans in Dallas booed Overeem for tapping to strikes, and the Showtime announcers were highly critical of Overeem, saying he lacks heart. I wouldn't question the heart of anyone who steps into a cage, but Overeem has no business on a major MMA card -- he's just not good enough to compete at a high level, and the only reason Strikeforce and Showtime signed him is to do a favor to his younger brother, Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
Griggs is now 3-0 in Strikeforce, with wins over Bobby Lashley and Gian Villante in past events. He's an impressive heavyweight striker, and although he'll never be an elite fighter, it's good to see him in the mix of the Strikeforce heavyweight division.
And as for Overeem, that was almost certainly his last Strikeforce fight, as it should be: He just isn't very good.