Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Zuffa purchase Strikeforce?

This entire deal makes no sense to me, while I was excited when I first heard it Im more and more believing that its meaningless. Dana says that Coker and Strikeforce will have their own budgets and revenue streams, so what exactly does Dana have to gain from this? Strikeforce is going to continue with the same business model, same commentators, same fighters and Dana will still compete with Coker for contracts of fighters when they become free agents so I really need someone to explain to me what Dana is gaining with this move. From everything Ive heard so far this sounds like an insanely stupid decision but Im hopeful that Im just missing something.

Wait they're still gonna be competing for free agents? Where did you read that

From everything I've read it just seems like SF is the new WEC, but eventually [when Showtime's contract is up?] the best SF fighters will go over to UFC.. and SF might be a minor league promotion...

I'm just a bit confused about Coker at this point and going forward. Dana made WEC's former owners the co-general managers, and still had them match make.

I'm interested/confused about the meat of it all, i.e. how and when the big names will come over to the UFC.

[The Chef]

Re: Zuffa purchase Strikeforce?

Wait they're still gonna be competing for free agents? Where did you read that

From everything I've read it just seems like SF is the new WEC, but eventually [when Showtime's contract is up?] the best SF fighters will go over to UFC.. and SF might be a minor league promotion...

I'm just a bit confused about Coker at this point and going forward. Dana made WEC's former owners the co-general managers, and still had them match make.

I'm interested/confused about the meat of it all, i.e. how and when the big names will come over to the UFC.

Here is a link to a 22 minute interview he does with Ariel Helwani that talks more about it all....

http://www.mmamania.com/2011/3/12/2046492/the-ufc-purchases-strikeforce

EDIT- SidVish posted this earlier so I got the info from him, not sure if Dana specifically mentioned it in the interview or not though..

Yes. They are still 2 separate entities that will run like they normally do. For example, Dana said that Paul Daley will never fight in the UFC again. However, if Coker wants to sign him to Strikeforce then it'll happen. Dana kept saying in the interview that it'll be business as usual.

He did say when the fighters' contracts are up they're free to negotiate with Strikeforce or the UFC. It's pretty wild.

[The Chef]

Re: Zuffa purchase Strikeforce?

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[CaptainZombie]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

Holy crap at the news!!!!! Damn!

[bkfount]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

The bit about SF and the UFC competing for contracts and no crossover of talent is laughable BS, as the UFC talked up a bunch of plans for Pride too when they first got them. When Strikeforce's contract with Showtime runs out, the UFC will pick what they want off that corpse.

[p_rushing]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

UFC most likely could do a co-promotion or just loan the UFC fighters to Strikeforce for 1 fight deals. Those fights would have to be on Showtime though as I don't think they allow the SF fighters to fight in the UFC unless they are getting something back. Now if the UFC wants to, I'm sure Showtime would be glad to allow the SF fighters to fight in the UFC if those fights were on Showtime.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

Thanks for posting the interview, that cleared some things up but yeah still a bit hazy on some things big picture wise.

I agree, once the contracts are up, if SF still exists as SF, I can't imagine it being more than a minor league/farm promotion. Dana said it himself, once fighters are free agents, he's going to go balls out for them if he wants them. So that means we'll probably see the big name fighters come over eventually, just not in the immediate future.

So I don't think what he's saying is BS at all, he's saying as of now he's going to honor whatever contracts SF fighters have with Coker. Therefore he isn't going to have them come over to fight in the UFC until their contracts with SF are up.

Anyone have a listing of the big name SF fighter's contracts?

And Dana isn't going to do any co promoting LOL. Well at least I don't think he will.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

This definitely is a bad thing for the fighters because it limits their options, but at the same time for the fans it's great because it's one less roadblock in getting certain fights done.

Also I think since MMA is still a relatively new sport that this isn't the end all, be all. I think there will be another upstart league sometime down the line.

[bkfount]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

Also I think since MMA is still a relatively new sport that this isn't the end all, be all. I think there will be another upstart league sometime down the line.

Sure, Bellator is doing it's thing well, but it's pretty low rent and just needs to keep building slowly.

I'm curious if Showtime backs yet another MMA organization though. They pushed EliteXC to primetime network TV on CBS, and signed on with Strikeforce after EliteXC folded. They just had their largest audience for an MMA event, and may want to keep going back to that well.

[aholbert32]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

Sure, Bellator is doing it's thing well, but it's pretty low rent and just needs to keep building slowly.

I'm curious if Showtime backs yet another MMA organization though. They pushed EliteXC to primetime network TV on CBS, and signed on with Strikeforce after EliteXC folded. They just had their largest audience for an MMA event, and may want to keep going back to that well.

Showtime is already backing another promotion, M-1 Global. In the last Fedor deal, they promised to air 4 M--1 Global specials in the next year. Showtime will just make M-1 a bigger priority.

[aholbert32]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

Anyone have a listing of the big name SF fighter's contracts?

And Dana isn't going to do any co promoting LOL. Well at least I don't think he will.

Overeem, Fedor, Nick Diaz, Melendez, Werdum, King Mo, Mousasi (co owned by M-1), Mayhem Miller,Tim Kennedy, Babalu (who will never fight in the UFC again), Daley (Ditto), Barnett (Ditto), Big foot Silva, KJ Noons and Henderson.

I think Dana would also want guys like Woodley, Del Rosario, Feijao, JZ Calvacante.

[The Chef]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

Overeem, Fedor, Nick Diaz, Melendez, Werdum, King Mo, Mousasi (co owned by M-1), Mayhem Miller,Tim Kennedy, Babalu (who will never fight in the UFC again), Daley (Ditto), Barnett (Ditto), Big foot Silva, KJ Noons and Henderson.

I think Dana would also want guys like Woodley, Del Rosario, Feijao, JZ Calvacante.

I havent been able to find any contract info on anyone outside of Hendo. Whats the deal with Babalu not ever fighting in the UFC again? I thought when he left that he left on good terms but maybe Im not remembering it correctly.

[SidVish]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

If I remember correctly didn't Babalu hold on to a choke for too long?

EDIT: From wiki

UFC 74 controversy

Sobral's next fight was at UFC 74 against David Heath. The first round consisted of Sobral ground and pounding Heath. In the second round, he opened a cut on Heath's forehead which bled profusely. Sobral secured another takedown and then worked to an anaconda choke. Heath quickly tapped out, but Sobral continued to hold the anaconda choke, ignoring referee Steve Mazzagatti's commands and resisting his attempts to break the hold. Sobral did not release the choke until Heath passed out from hypoxia.[4] During his post-fight interview, Sobral told UFC color analyst Joe Rogan that he was aware that Heath had tapped, but "he (Heath) has to learn respect. He deserved that. He called me mother-****er."[4] In his dressing room after the fight, Sobral spoke to Las Vegas Journal-Review columnist Ed Graney. Sobral then mocked the crowd for booing him, saying "The crowd didn't like it? Who cares? At least they had a reaction."[4]

On August 30, 2007, Sobral was released from his contractual obligations by the UFC due to his actions at UFC 74.[5] UFC President Dana White called Sobral's actions "completely unacceptable. This is the fight game and **** happens. But no way can you do what he did."[4] White also supported the fans attitude towards Sobral after the fight. "I think you saw the response from the fans. Babalu was a fan favorite. They turned on him immediately."[5] Additionally, the Nevada State Athletic Commission withheld $25,000 of Sobral's $50,000 fight purse and convened a hearing to deal with both his holding the choke and ignoring Mazzagatti's orders.

[The Chef]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

Well that takes care of that, lol. I guess I completely forgot about that so thanks for posting Sid.

[goh]

Re: Zuffa purchases Strikeforce!

So now when the riot happens after Diaz/Daley instead of Dana will tweet D:?