Showtime close to ending Strikeforce deal, promotion could fold soon

[Thom]

It's been a rough month for Strikeforce and its fans.
In September, Strikeforce [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] champion [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] made the decision to withdraw from his main event match opposite number one contender [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
The loss of the headlining bout prompted Showtime, Strikeforce's cable broadcasting partner, to cancel the event, stating a lack of interest in airing the card without the marquee match up.
That's not all.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] when [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (UFC) [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] was forced to withdraw from his one-off "crossover" fight with Strikeforce heavyweight [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], which was scheduled to take place in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Nov. 3, 2012.
Cormier is still technically on the card and scheduled to fight; however, no opponent has been named with the event less than one month from today.
Sounds fishy.
To complicate matters even further, Strikeforce [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] champion, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for his fight opposite [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], which was scheduled to serve as the Nov. 3 card's co-main event.
The promotion is in turmoil. And a report surfaced the evening (courtesy of AXS TV's "Inside MMA"), claiming that reliable sources have stated a decaying relationship between Showtime and Strikeforce. If accurate, the Nov. 3 Strikeforce show is in serious danger of cancelation.
It could also mean that [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] end as a promotion may be drawing near more quickly than originally thought.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Flea Man]

I hope they close it down.

[Big T]

Like this is a shock since Zuffa got it... Knew it was going to happen since day one, and they should. It's a joke now.

[Atlanta]

Dana gutted a perfectly good opportunity.

Should have rebranded StrikeForce, "UFC on Showtime" before having it come to this.

[Bigg Panch]

Sucks to see it end like this
For a little while Strikeforce was on fire
Diaz. Overeem, Fedor etc
The announcement of the HWGP had the whole MMA world excited
They had that "big event" feel that the UFC lost once it began expanding
Wish they woulda never left San Jose
Everything was going great and they were packing the Shark Tank 4-5 times a year
Tried to go major and couldnt hang

[Ne5ville14]

Best news this year for SF

Mousasi to the UFC !!!


All aboard the Jon Jones VS Mousasi EXPRESSS !!!!

[Flea Man]

Too many contractual obstacles to do that. First and foremost, FOX wouldn't allow it.

[Ne5ville14]

Wouldn't allow what ? SF to fold and then have all the new fighter in the UFC ?

Or Jon Jones VS Mousasi ??

[Bigg Panch]

Originally Posted by Ne5ville14

Best news this year for SF

Mousasi to the UFC !!!


All aboard the Jon Jones VS Mousasi EXPRESSS !!!!

The same guy who couldnt beat Keith Jardine?
Or is this a different Mousasi because Gegard will get fuckin crumbled in the UFC

[Ne5ville14]

Originally Posted by Bigg Panch

The same guy who couldnt beat Keith Jardine?
Or is this a different Mousasi because Gegard will get fuckin crumbled in the UFC

Cmon man he got robbed in that decision.

Rules in the UFC play against him, since he KOD Jacarare he always try to do it again and always get some point deducted because of that.

Yeah his TDD is awful but everything else is top notch !

[#Tremendous]

I'm glad I got to see Strikeforce in it's prime. One of the best MMA promotions ever, the live crowds were unbelievable and most of the fights were unbelievable.

It's such a shame to see how bad it has fallen.

[achillesthegreat]

SF has to be established as a second tier organisation. Alot of UFC fighters should be in it and Cormier, Melendez etc should be in the UFC. SF could have tournaments to get into the UFC and the formula for good fights still work. It would help to establish the UFC as the NFL of MMA. Hardcore fans know that there are a number of top fighters that should and could be in the UFC but aren't.

Who gives a fuck about Showtime, move it somewhere else because at the moment it is a sideshow with no credibility. Cormier is on twitter everyday saying he doesn't know who he is going to fight.

[scurlaruntings]

Originally Posted by achillesthegreat

SF has to be established as a second tier organisation. Alot of UFC fighters should be in it and Cormier, Melendez etc should be in the UFC. SF could have tournaments to get into the UFC and the formula for good fights still work. It would help to establish the UFC as the NFL of MMA. Hardcore fans know that there are a number of top fighters that should and could be in the UFC but aren't.

Who gives a fuck about Showtime, move it somewhere else because at the moment it is a sideshow with no credibility. Cormier is on twitter everyday saying he doesn't know who he is going to fight.

No disrespect intended Achilles but you're a relative noob to this sport and a fuck most certainly needs to be given here.
MMA is in a SERIOUS decline. The Fuel card did very poor numbers. Likewise even Bellator are struggling too. The UFC has also been routinely putting on garbage cards as well as being plagued by injury's.
Now SF is literally days may be hours from closing its door.
There's a running theme here and its Dana White and Zuffa. They're killing this sport and dragging others down with them.
Prior to Zuffa Showtime and SF had an excellent relationship. The coverage was vital to the success of the brand and was the main reason why SF had such a good year off the back of the GP prior to being bought. Because of Dana's complete lack of professionalism, Showtime are now going to ditch MMA. Thats bad bad news for fans and most of all for fighters.
Only recently John Fitch was complaining how tough it is for fighters to make a living outside of MMA. And the main reason for this is not the economic down turn but simply because fighters have far fewer options now.
It pains me to see an Organisation like SF that has been around since the mid 80's get thrown to the dogs simply because Zuffa didn't give a shit about it. But alas this has always been the Zuffa way. They've never ever been interested in monetizing or cultivating any of their acquisitions.
If this downwards trend continues MMA will positively return to a niche sport as right now the casual fans are walking away from it in their 10's of thousands. Thats not anything not to give a fuck about.

[greathamza]

Who expected anything else?

[kirk]

Originally Posted by achillesthegreat

SF has to be established as a second tier organisation. Alot of UFC fighters should be in it and Cormier, Melendez etc should be in the UFC. SF could have tournaments to get into the UFC and the formula for good fights still work. It would help to establish the UFC as the NFL of MMA. Hardcore fans know that there are a number of top fighters that should and could be in the UFC but aren't.

Who gives a fuck about Showtime, move it somewhere else because at the moment it is a sideshow with no credibility. Cormier is on twitter everyday saying he doesn't know who he is going to fight.

I am a boxing fan that is by no means saddened over seeing an mma company fail, but what you put in your first paragraph would have been the thing to do, and what should have been done. People fought to get to the UFC, and youre right, would have put UFC on a bigger pedestal.