Citing a toe injury, reigning Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem (35-11-0(1)) refused to compete on the tentatively scheduled Strikeforce 36 event on September 10. Claiming to have been threatened with possible release by Strikeforce's owner Zuffa, LLC, Overeem still refused claiming that he would need a little more time to heal his toe. For his refusal to compete at the event where both the semifinals for the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix were to take place, Overeem was pulled from the tournament and and will now be replaced by top undefeated prospect and NCAA1 All-American Daniel Cormier.
While many analysts and casual fans will see this as a buzz kill taking out the favorite to win the tournament, there are those who feel that this will actually eliminate questions on scenarios that the tournament could result in. At the very beginning analysts were questioning what would happen if Overeem had lost at any point during the competition. This minor set back for the tournament will most likely have Overeem waiting to take on the tournament winner who will become the #1 contender in the promotion. Speculation on what Overeem's removal from the competition meant ran wild when the news hit the news stream. While many thought that his removal from the tournament meant being released from Strikeforce as well. The facts followed fast with UFC President Dana White saying on Twitter that Overeem's contract would be upheld and that his next fight would be decided later on. With Overeem feeling disrespected by Zuffa, the relationship between the two parties may be on thin ice, and in a recent interview he stated that he is more than willing to fight in other promotions. Could this mishap lead to sour relations between the two parties? Will this mean Zuffa won't think twice about releasing Overeem in the future? With Overeem so intent on competing in other means of competition calling out top Heavyweight boxers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko in a professional boxing bout and wanting to still compete in professional kickboxing, is Overeem's head still in the MMA game?
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