Strikeforce Barnett vs. Kharitonov Results: What's Next for Main Card Winners?

The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix hit Cincinnati, Ohio, earlier tonight, and they brought the leading four heavyweights in their organization to battle it out in the cage.

The main event featured former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett going up against Sergei Kharitonov. Barnett submitted the Russian fighter in the first round.

In the first of the two HW grand prix fights, Daniel Cormier upset Antonio Silva by knocking out the Brazilian in the very first round. Silva came into the fight in the top 10 while Cormier was unranked and a late replacement for the tourney.

Ronaldo Souza was also upset by heavy underdog Luke Rockhold, who is now the new Strikeforce middleweight champion. Rockhold won a unanimous decision after five rounds.

Other main card results include Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal defeating Roger Gracie and Pat Healy defeating Maximo Blanco.

This is what's next for the winners.

Pat Healy def. Maximo Blanco by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 2

Strikeforce lightweight and 10-year MMA veteran Pat Healy (26-16) extended his three-fight win streak with a second-round submission victory over Maximo Blanco, who came into the bout with an 8-2 record with seven knockouts.

Some controversy occurred in the first round when Blanco kicked Healy while he was down. The referee deducted a point after a two-minute delay, and the fighters could continue.

Healy took over after a shaky first round and took it to the Valenzuelan opponent throughout the second round, securing a rear-naked choke at the end of the round.

Healy's experience includes holding victories over welterweights Dan Hardy, Carlos Condit and Paul Daley. His only loss since 2009 was to former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thompson.

His next fight could come against up-and-comer Joe Duarte (10-2), who recently defeated Jorge Gurgel and is also on a five-fight win streak.

Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal def. Roger Gracie by KO in Round 1

In a battle of world class grappling vs. world class wrestling, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and former NCAA Division I wrestler Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal rebounded from his only career loss to knock out previously unbeaten jiu-jitsu ace Roger Gracie.

It turned out to be a striking match early on as both fighters were relatively nervous to engage. Gracie used his kicks to keep Lawal on the outside, but it only took one right hand for Lawal to put Gracie down and out in the final minute of the first round.

Lawal lost his title last year to Rafael Cavalcante. That loss occurred right after his upset victory over Gegard Mousasi.

The bout against Gracie was to occur in June, but Gracie had to pull out due to an injury. He brought a 4-0 record into the cage and has fought sparingly throughout the past five years. He made his MMA debut in 2006. Wins over Kevin Randleman and Trevor Prangley made up his two 2010 victories.

So what's next for the light-heavyweight standout? The LHW division is not as packed as the UFC's roster is so he will have to settle for tough challengers like Mike Kyle and Keith Jardine or shoot for Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Dan Henderson.

Luke Rockhold Def. Ronaldo Souza by Unanimous Decision

There is a new Strikeforce middleweight champion, and his name is Luke Rockhold.

Rockhold came into the fight as a heavy underdog, and after five rounds of competitive fighting, he walked away with the unanimous decision victory. The scorecards read 50-45, 48-47 and 48-47.

Souza held a rank among the top five middleweights in the world going into the fight, but the Black House member will have to work back towards the top 10 fighters with this loss against an unranked fighter. It was his second defense of the title.

Rockhold will now have a new challenger in Tim Kennedy (14-3), a fighter who earlier challenged Souza and lost a close decision. He picked up a victory over Robbie Lawler in July and looked impressive. The win guaranteed him a shot at the title.

Daniel Cormier Def. Antonio Silva by KO in Round 1

After replacing an injured Alistair Overeem in the tournament, former NCAA Division I wrestler Daniel Cormier blasted Brazilian beast Antonio Silva in the very first round of their semifinal matchup.

Cormier had early success knocking down Silva, and it was downhill from there. A visibly hurt Silva couldn't regain his composure and knocked out with a brutal uppercut and hammerfists by Cormier.

At 8-0, Cormier is undefeated and has a lot of momentum behind him as he goes into the final matchup in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix against Josh Barnett.

Silva falls to 16-3 and has his lowest moment as a professional fighter. It came right after he had his biggest moment in beating Fedor Emelianenko earlier this year.

Josh Barnett Def. Sergei Kharitonov by Submission (Arm-Triangle) in Round 1

Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett became the new favorite to win the tournament when Alistair Overeem dropped out. His first-round victory over Sergei Kharitonov showed why when he submitted the experienced striker with an arm-triangle choke.

Barnett improves to 32-5 with seven knockouts and 19 submission wins. He is unbeaten in the last five years with his only loss coming against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. His first victory in the tournament came over Brett Rogers, who he submitted in the second round.

His next fight will be in the finals against wrestling standout Daniel Cormier, who defeated Antonio Silva earlier in the evening. Cormier stunned Silva with a first-round knockout victory. It will produce the best heavyweight on the Strikeforce roster and will be a key for one of them getting a chance in the Octagon.