Strikeforce Sets Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier Heavyweight GP Final for May 19

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A date has been set for the conclusion of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix, as promotion officials Saturday announced that Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will collide on May 19.

No location has been set for the event, which marks the culmination of an eight-man tournament that began in February 2011.

A former UFC heavyweight champion and Pride Fighting Championships standout, 34-year-old Barnett advanced to the tournament final by submitting both Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov with arm-triangle chokes. A catch-wrestling specialist, Barnett rides an eight-fight winning streak and owns 19 career wins by submission.

Cormier entered the tournament as an injury replacement for Alistair Overeem, who withdrew from the bracket after outpointing Fabricio Werdum in his June quarterfinal. One of the division’s top prospects and a two-time freestyle wrestling Olympian, Cormier, 32, scored a knockout over the favored Antonio Silva on Sept. 10, flattening “Bigfoot” in just 3:56 to punch his ticket to the final.

However, in the process of taking out Silva, Cormier suffered a broken hand that has now healed after five months of recuperation.

“[My hand] is finally healed. I’m back, and I’m ready to fight,” said Cormier on Saturday’s Strikeforce telecast. “Replacement or not, I was given an opportunity, and I took it. Now I’m in the biggest fight of my career, and I can’t wait.”