BJ Penn, Gray Maynard, Jon Fitch, Jake Shields, Josh Koscheck, Brock Lesnar, Shogun Rua, Kenny Florian, etc. Guys who are top fighters but maybe aren't going to get a title shot in any division any time soon. It seems the UFC are going to keep Strikeforce, what with their failure to sign Gilbert Melendez, their decision to keep the HW Grand Prix going, and their desire to keep womens MMA in Strikeforce. Should the UFC move some bodies over, give these guys something to fight for? :huh
Because the UFC will fold SF. They have no intention of keeping it indefinitely as a feeder league of any sort. Economically it makes no sense.
It'll be WEC'd It just adds confusion to casual fans if there is two organizations. They'll absorb the good talent and the rest will end up in Bellator, Shark Fights etc.
i dont think strikeforce has a long term future. eventually any one that is worth having will be in the UFC. its already happening.
I wouldn't even call it confusing. Ultimately the fans don't really care. It's not like the PRIDE merger which had far more significance. SF represents additional talent but historically the UFC has absorbed every org it has merged. Fighters have already moved across. That lets you know already what the UFC's intentions are. Much like PRIDE they'll take what they want and scatter teh rest to the wind. Additionally why incur the extra cost running an additional org indefinitely when there's simply no need to.
The only reason its around is because they have TV slots, only reason i could think of it sticking around is for the women. I dont think Dana would want women in the UFC
Ego factors into it aswell, imagine if Dana had turned around to someone like Tito Ortiz or BJ Penn and suggested fighting at a smaller event at a smaller value; he may of got a two word answer from both.
Strikeforce is doing away with their heavyweight division shortly after the tournament ends. Zuffa is currently keeping Strikeforce running, and have renewed the Showtime deal. There will be 6-8 Showtime cards in 2012. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkSbaGswzLY&feature=player_embedded[/ame] http://bleacherreport.com/articles/984933-strikeforce-to-dissolve-heavyweight-division-in-2012 http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/7357452/strikeforce-showtime-reach-new-broadcast-deal
Alot of the guys mentioned are top fighters who want to be in the top org, I think SF is a great place for guys like Jardine,Hardy and other up and comers. Guys need a place to fight and SF is another good place to get fights in.
The value of SF I thought was their ability to do co-promos and feature fighters that are committed to other orgs.
Would be nice to see fighters like koscheck-florian-maia etc go to strikeforce and compete against their champion.
