Strikeforce had to die. There was just no other way.
Did anyone really believe that UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, would be able to run another major-league MMA organization alongside its big cash cow?
OK, maybe you did for a second. But then what about when they plucked Alistair Overeem and Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson?
Strikeforce’s best hope under the Zuffa banner was as a minor-league feeder system. The whole purpose of the UFC is to have the very best fighters in the world under the same banner. UFC president Dana White doesn’t want there to be any discussion who the top dog is – it’s whoever the UFC champion is in that particular weight class.
As long as Strikeforce stayed in business, fans would always be wondering what would happen if lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez was in the UFC. Or how heavyweight grand prix champ Daniel Cormier would fare on the grandest stage. Both of those guys – and Luke Rockhold and Nate Marquardt – would have made their way to the UFC at some point.
Maybe it’s happening a little sooner than some expected. Honestly, I thought it would be even quicker. I didn’t think Strikeforce would be running its final event in 2013 when Zuffa bought the brand two years ago.
But Saturday will mark the end of an organization that was built by the likes of Frank Shamrock, Cung Le, Melendez and Josh Thomson. A company that was the best competition the UFC had in the United States and overall since PRIDE.
It’s bittersweet. Just make no mistake: It was inevitable. It had to happen. And it is what’s best for the fans.
Who was really benefiting from this inferior product? Showtime canceled two Strikeforce shows in the fall due to injuries to key fighters. Had those events been stacked with top-notch talent, that would have never happened.
They weren’t. Because the UFC took all that name talent and made it their own. That’s what’s supposed to happen. I’m not saying competition isn’t good; it’s great. Bellator has a tremendous product and it’s set to go toe to toe with the UFC in 2013.
Strikeforce did that for years. It lost. Zuffa bought the organization. I know White says there was never any expectation of just absorbing it. I believe him. But don’t believe that White didn’t want Strikeforce’s best fighters.
Why wouldn’t he? UFC is the brand name synonymous with MMA. It’s only natural to want all the elite talent under that banner.
That’s what will happen this year. We’ll get to find out how good Melendez really is. We’ll get to watch Cormier develop into one of the best heavyweights in the world. Rockhold will get his chance. Don’t forget Ronda Rousey, who was the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion.
With the UFC running more and more events, a deeper roster is a necessity. It was the only way. Strikeforce challenged the baddest MMA organization on the planet, put up a good fight and then lost.
That’s how it goes in the cage. To the victor goes the spoils.
White addresses superfights: The UFC boss did a nearly hour-long interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas regarding the company’s use of social media this week. At the end, he answered questions from spectators and one of them asked about potential champion versus champion superfights like Anderson Silva-Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones-Anderson Silva.
Anyone who reads The Main Event blog regularly knows this is one of my pet topics. White was candid in the Q&A session.
“My job is to put the fights on pay per view that you guys gonna watch,” he said. “If I don’t, you’re not gonna watch.”
White said he’s “working on” St-Pierre facing Silva. GSP faces Nick Diaz in March, foregoing a potential superfight with Silva that White had initially hoped would happen in May at a massive stadium.
“He wants to fight Diaz first and then we’ll see what happens,” White said.
Showtime staying in MMA business: Stephen Espinoza, Showtime Sports’ executive vice president and general manager, told MMAjunkie.com this week that his network hopes to continue airing MMA if the right deal comes along. Reports had him present Saturday night in Kansas City at Invicta FC 4, the latest event from the all-women’s organization.
Legacy Fighting Championship, Xtreme Fighting Championships and Shark Fights are also rumored to be in talks with Showtime.
“We are actively looking for other opportunities,” Espinoza said. “(We) haven’t found the right opportunity yet, but we are definitely looking for the next relationship in the MMA space.”
Quick jabs: The 17th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show will have a pair of locals among its participants – Uriah Hall of New York City and Timothy Williams of Millville, N.J. … Part of Eddie Alvarez’s UFC contract offer was an immediate lightweight title shot in March. Interesting. Unfortunately, he’ll be stuck in legal hell with Bellator for a long time. … UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem was granted a license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for UFC 156 in February where he’ll face Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Overeem failed a drug screening before what would have been a title fight with Junior dos Santos in May. … Douglas Lima and Ben Saunders headline Bellator’s season eight welterweight tournament, which begins Jan. 24. … ONE FC will return Feb. 2 with the first round of its Malaysian national featherweight tournament. Eric Kelly meets Honario Banario for the ONE FC featherweight title in the headliner.