Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, also known as Strikeforce: Dallas, was a mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 event held by Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

. The event took place on June 18, 2011 at the American Airlines Center

American Airlines Center

The American Airlines Center is a multi-purpose arena, located in the Victory Park neighborhood, near downtown Dallas, Texas.It is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA, and the Dallas Stars of the NHL....

 in Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...

. The main card aired on Showtime while the preliminary card aired on HDNet

HDNet

HDNet is a men's interest television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format and available via cable and satellite television...

.

Background

Originally scheduled for April 9th, this event hosted the two remaining quarter-final fights in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.

Muhammed Lawal

Muhammed Lawal

|-| Win|align=center| 8–1| Roger Gracie| KO | Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov| |align=center| 1|align=center| 4:37|Cincinnati, Ohio, United States|||-| Loss|align=center| 7–1| Rafael Cavalcante| TKO...

 was expected to fight Ovince St. Preux

Ovince St. Preux

Ovince St. Preux is a Haitian-American mixed martial artist, who competes in the light heavyweight division for Strikeforce.- Early life :...

 at this event,, but the bout was later cancelled.

Scott Smith

Scott Smith (fighter)

Bryan Scott Smith, , is an American mixed martial artist previously fighting at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship making his debut at UFC 59. He also fought for EliteXC before it folded and currently fights for Strikeforce...

 had indicated that he hoped to fight at this event, however he instead fought Tarec Saffiedine

Tarec Saffiedine

Tarec Saffiedine is an Belgian mixed martial artist of Lebanese descent, who competes in the welterweight division. He has fought in a number of promotions around the world including DREAM in Japan and Strikeforce in the United States....

 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson

Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The event took place on July 30, 2011 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.-Background:...

 the following month.

Shane Del Rosario

Shane Del Rosario

Shane Kalani del Rosario is an American Thai boxer and mixed martial artist currently signed to Strikeforce. He holds the distinction of being the first American to become the WBC Muay Thai World Heavyweight Champion and has earned stoppage victories in all 11 of his professional mixed martial...

 was scheduled to face Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier is an undefeated American mixed martial artist and a former Olympic wrestler. He is currently signed to Strikeforce, fighting in the heavyweight division...

 in a Heavyweight Grand Prix reserve bout. However, Del Rosario had to pull out of the bout after a car accident in early May. Jeff Monson stepped in as a replacement to face Cormier. Though no longer designated as a reserve fight, Cormier beat Monson and was selected to replace Alistair Overeem in the tournament semifinals following his removal from the tournament in July 2011.

Amanda Nunes

Amanda Nunes

Amanda Nunes is a Brazilian female mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to Strikeforce and competes at both 135 and 145 pounds...

 was scheduled to face Julie Kedzie

Julie Kedzie

Julie Kedzie is an American female mixed martial artist. She is a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu....

. However, a hairline fracture in her foot forced Nunes off the card.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano

Gina Joy Carano is an American model, actress, and mixed martial arts fighter. Carano appeared as the Gladiator "Crush" on American Gladiators...

 was scheduled to make her Strikeforce return against Sarah D'Alelio. While medically approved by the Texas Athletic Commission, Carano opted to pull out of the fight on the advice of her own doctor.

Brian Melancon weighed in 4 pounds over the welterweight non-title bout allowance of 171 lb.

Main card (Showtime)

• Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal bout:   Alistair Overeem
  Alistair Overeem
  Alistair Cees Overeem is a British born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer, signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Interim Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and made history by being the only fighter in combat...
  
   vs.   Fabricio Werdum
  Fabricio Werdum
  Fabricio Werdum is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, a two-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, a two-time ADCC world heavyweight champion and European Jiu-Jitsu champion. He holds black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai. Werdum has competed in Pride Fighting Championships, the...
  
  

Overeem defeated Werdum via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) .

• Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal bout:   Josh Barnett
  Josh Barnett
  Joshua Lawrence Barnett is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who currently fights in the heavyweight division of Strikeforce. Barnett has been an accomplished fighter in mixed martial arts, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and the King of Pancrase Openweight...
  
   vs.   Brett Rogers
  Brett Rogers
  Brett Charles Rogers is an African-American mixed martial artist who fights in the heavyweight division. Rogers has fought in EliteXC and Strikeforce.-Biography:...
  
  

Barnett defeated Rogers via submission (arm triangle choke) at 1:17 of round 2.

• Lightweight bout:   K.J. Noons vs.   Jorge Masvidal
  Jorge Masvidal
  Jorge Masvidal is an American mixed martial artist of Cuban descent who trains with American Top Team. Currently signed to Strikeforce, Masvidal's record includes notable wins over Yves Edwards, Joe Lauzon, Satoru Kitaoka, Ryan Schultz, Billy Evangelista and K.J...
  
  

Masvidal defeated Noons via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

• Heavyweight bout:   Daniel Cormier
  Daniel Cormier
  Daniel Cormier is an undefeated American mixed martial artist and a former Olympic wrestler. He is currently signed to Strikeforce, fighting in the heavyweight division...
  
   vs.   Jeff Monson
  Jeff Monson
  Jeffrey William Monson is an American mixed martial artist from Olympia, Washington. He is a 2 time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, and a No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. He currently holds the Heavyweight titles in the International Sport Karate Association...
  
  

Cormier defeated Monson via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

• Heavyweight bout:   Valentijn Overeem
  Valentijn Overeem
  Valentijn Overeem is a Dutch mixed martial artist who competes as a heavyweight. He has previously competed for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, RINGS and Strikeforce...
  
   vs.   Chad Griggs
  Chad Griggs
  Chad Griggs is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Griggs has made a name for himself fighting in his home state of Arizona. He is currently signed with Strikeforce...
  
  

Griggs defeated Overeem via submission (strikes) at 2:08 of round 1.

Preliminary Card (HDNet)

• Lightweight bout:   Gesias Cavalcante vs.   Justin Wilcox
  Justin Wilcox
  .Justin Wilcox is an American mixed martial artist from San Jose, California.He is a former professional bodybuilder and a former NCAA Division I wrestler who first began competing as a welterweight...
  
  

Wilcox and Cavalcante fought to a no contest following an accidental eye poke at 0:31 in round 2.

• Lightweight bout:   Conor Heun
  Conor Heun
  Conor Heun is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
  
   vs.   Magno Almeida
  Magno Almeida
  Magno Santos Almeida born June 6, 1985) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is ranked #3 on the World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report by Bloody Elbow for up and coming fighters.-Early life:...
  
  

Heun defeated Almeida via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).

• Catchweight bout (180 lb):   Nah-Shon Burrell vs.   Joe Ray

Burrell defeated Ray via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).

• Catchweight bout (175 lb):   Brian Melancon vs.   Isaac Vallie-Flagg
  Isaac Vallie-Flagg
  -Strikeforce:Vallie-Flagg made his Strikeforce debut against Brian Melancon at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum winning the bout via split decision.Vallie-Flagg was scheduled to face Bobby Green at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs...
  
  

Vallie-Flagg defeated Melancon via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28).

Preliminary Card

• Welterweight bout:   Todd Moore vs.   Mike Bronzoulis

Moore defeated Bronzoulis via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). This bout was contested after the main card due to time constraints.