Barnett and Cormier (right) face off (photo courtesy Showtime)

By FCF Staff

Showtime has begun to ramp up the promoting for Strikeforce’s upcoming May 19th card in San Jose, California, which will be broadcast on the television network.

Yesterday, heavyweight grand-prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier were on hand at the city’s West Coast Martial Arts facility to film a video trailer for the card, as was lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and challenger Josh Thomson.

Thomson and Melendez will be competing in rubber match on May 19th, as Thomson won their initial encounter in 2008, and Melendez emerged victorious in their second meeting in 2009.

Barnett scored wins over Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov last year to advance to the GP finals, while Cormier stepped in as a replacement for Alistair Overeem and knocked out Antonio Silva at the semifinals in September.

The upcoming card will be hosted by San Jose’s HP Pavilion.

Melendez (left) and Thomson (photo courtesy Showtime)

Barnett (photo courtesy Showtime)

Cormier (photo courtesy Showtime)