Coker: Middleweight Tourney in 2-3 Months if Shields Vacates

Tim Kennedy and Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos made big impressions on Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker following victories at Strikeforce "Live" in Los Angeles, which reportedly drew 5,259 attendees for a $418,061 gate.

Coker said Kennedy has handily earned a slot in a proposed eight-main middleweight tournament the promotion is currently weighing should 185-pound champion Jake Shields leave the organization for the UFC. Kennedy could join Dan Henderson Robbie Lawler, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Kazuo Misaki and the winner of next week's Scott Smith-Cung Le rematch in the multi-night single-elimination tournament, said the promoter. Coker estimates the tournament could be underway in 2-3 months.

Also discussed by Strikeforce's head honcho: the acquisition of Russian boxer Sergei Kharitonov and who he might meet first, an update on Fedor Emelianenko's delay into the U.S. this week, and why Coker has a feeling June 26's Emelianenko-Werdum bout could bring on the upset.