Strikeforce New Deal with Showtime

REDDzone · Post #1 » by **REDDzone** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:16 pm

http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/12/15/s ... o-tv-deal/

Keep checking the usual sites as news continue to break.

The new strikeforce will focus on lighter weight classes and women's divisions.
8ish events per year.

Another interesting tidbit. Heavyweight division being dissolved:

Among the few changes announced is the eventual abandoning of the heavyweight division. World Grand Prix finalists Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett will meet in the final -- which is likely to take place before the end of the first quarter of 2012, according to Coker -- and then the winner will fight one more time in Strikeforce before the weight class is discontinued.

The reason? Lack of depth, according to White, who said the promotion will focus on all of its other existing divisions. He also reaffirmed that Strikeforce will continue to promote both the women's 135- and 145-pound classes.

Looks like the quality sf HWs may be headed to the ufc.

Nemesis21 · Post #2 » by **Nemesis21** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:39 pm

Are they ever going to finish the HW Tourney ?

Posey H8er · Post #3 » by **Posey H8er** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:42 pm

I don't understand why the winner of the GP will have to fight one more fight in SF. Just bring everyone over at that point. Cormier, Barnett, Bigfoot, Sergei, Griggs, and Del Rosario.

Post #4 » by **CPT** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:41 am

Good news. The HW division in MMA is awful. No need to split it between two organizations.

I also saw that the broadcast team will stay the same, with some combination of Gus Johnson, Mauro, Quadros, and Miletich doing the broadcast. No mention of Frank Shamrock

ZanTabak2 · Post #5 » by **ZanTabak2** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:40 pm

They should just turn it into WEC 2.0, 155 and under and the chicks.

Cammo101 · Post #6 » by **Cammo101** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:37 am

All they need to do is turn Strikeforce into a feeder league. Now that every UFC fight (including undercards) are being shown on TV, they need stop putting 2 or 3 no name fights on every card and instead fill the cards with more established talent.

Bring the name Strikeforce talent to the UFC and have young guys come up through Strikeforce before making their UFC debuts (unless it is a name like Alvarez or Fedor). There is simply no reason for 4-1 guys to be fighting on UFC televised undercards when they could fight on Strikeforce and be replaced on the card by guys like Woodley or Del Rosario.

Strikeforce should also add 125 and 115 pound women's divisions and solidify itself as the women's MMA org. That way it would have main event's with the name ladies to go along with the young guys on the cards.

Nemesis21 · Post #7 » by **Nemesis21** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:49 am

Cammo101 wrote:All they need to do is turn Strikeforce into a feeder league. Now that every UFC fight (including undercards) are being shown on TV, they need stop putting 2 or 3 no name fights on every card and instead fill the cards with more established talent.

Bring the name Strikeforce talent to the UFC and have young guys come up through Strikeforce before making their UFC debuts (unless it is a name like Alvarez or Fedor). There is simply no reason for 4-1 guys to be fighting on UFC televised undercards when they could fight on Strikeforce and be replaced on the card by guys like Woodley or Del Rosario.

Strikeforce should also add 125 and 115 pound women's divisions and solidify itself as the women's MMA org. That way it would have main event's with the name ladies to go along with the young guys on the cards.

Good ideas.

Post #8 » by **CPT** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:29 am

I like the idea of Strikeforce being a feeder system, but there has to be something that makes it seem legit and worth watching. Personally I think they should abandon the men's titles, because more often than not, a guy who reaches that point is going to be heading to the UFC.

I agree with the general idea that the women's division should be at the forefront, and have the men's divisions be a feeder system. Even be dead honest about it and say, 3 wins in a row and you get to the UFC or something like that. Or winner gets to the UFC kind of fights. Showtime wouldn't be thrilled about that though.

I think with enough up and coming guys and some UFC wash outs trying to get their spot back, along with world class women's divisions, they could have a decent product.

REDDzone · Post #9 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:07 pm

Cammo101 wrote:All they need to do is turn Strikeforce into a feeder league. Now that every UFC fight (including undercards) are being shown on TV, they need stop putting 2 or 3 no name fights on every card and instead fill the cards with more established talent.

Bring the name Strikeforce talent to the UFC and have young guys come up through Strikeforce before making their UFC debuts (unless it is a name like Alvarez or Fedor). There is simply no reason for 4-1 guys to be fighting on UFC televised undercards when they could fight on Strikeforce and be replaced on the card by guys like Woodley or Del Rosario.

The only thing I can think of is that those no name ufc fights are cheap fillers the ufc can put in to lower its financial investment for the event.

Cammo101 · Post #10 » by **Cammo101** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:30 pm

REDDzone wrote:
Cammo101 wrote:All they need to do is turn Strikeforce into a feeder league. Now that every UFC fight (including undercards) are being shown on TV, they need stop putting 2 or 3 no name fights on every card and instead fill the cards with more established talent.

Bring the name Strikeforce talent to the UFC and have young guys come up through Strikeforce before making their UFC debuts (unless it is a name like Alvarez or Fedor). There is simply no reason for 4-1 guys to be fighting on UFC televised undercards when they could fight on Strikeforce and be replaced on the card by guys like Woodley or Del Rosario.

The only thing I can think of is that those no name ufc fights are cheap fillers the ufc can put in to lower its financial investment for the event.

Maybe, but Zuffa owns both orgs, so the cost should even out.

REDDzone · Post #11 » by **REDDzone** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:35 pm

Yea but if the ufc is traveling all over the world sometimes its easier to let a few local guys fight for less money since their overhead is already so high in those situations. As opposed to replacing those 4-1 guys with bigger names and paying even more money (not to mention increased travel costs if the named guy isn't local, etc.).

Cammo101 · Post #12 » by **Cammo101** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:47 pm

REDDzone wrote:Yea but if the ufc is traveling all over the world sometimes its easier to let a few local guys fight for less money since their overhead is already so high in those situations. As opposed to replacing those 4-1 guys with bigger names and paying even more money (not to mention increased travel costs if the named guy isn't local, etc.).

For international fights this makes sense. But, for fights in the states I don't think they have local fights like Bellator or Strikeforce does.