Dana White: Strikeforce will be fine, sit and watch what I do
Posted on December 8, 2011, 06:19 PM by Trent Reinsmith
Speculation has been running rampant as to exactly what is going to become of Strikeforce once its current contract with Showtime runs its course. The promotion has seen several of its champions move over to the UFC, leaving what many see as a shell of an organization.
Gone are Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem and when Luke Rockhold defends his Strikeforce Middleweight title in January it will be against Keith Jardine, a fighter that has zero Middleweight fights to his name. In short, the concerns about Strikeforce as a viable MMA promotion are not unfounded.
With that being said, it should be noted that one person seems very confident that Strikeforce will continue on and that person is none other than UFC President Dana White. White speaking to media after Thursday’s UFC 140 press conference had the following to say about the fate of Strikeforce, “Just sit and wait and watch what I do. Trust me, it's going to be just fine. Like I said last time I talked to you guys about this, I'm getting into this and I'm going to handle it. Watch and see." - for more see MMAFighting.com
White added that an announcement on the status of the organization would be coming soon, perhaps as early as Monday.
UFC President Dana White at the Ultimate Fighting Champion Championship UFC 66 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 30, 2006. Photo credit: Francis Specker
Comments
The plan has to be to use StrikeForce like a minor league that will feed the UFC with higher level fighters. Fighters not keeping up will be shipped down. This will meet the needs of smaller markets much like the NHL (only there is more fights in the NHL).
That's what I've been hoping all along. Would be nice to be able to still see favorites even if they can't hang in the UFC anymore, and allow them an easier platform to work their way back to the UFC.
This is what I would do if I was zuffa they should really take advantage of the connection with showtime, and turn strikeforce in to a tournament just like bellatore and have showtime on there side they could make a great show the go in to the fighters life and all that shit and the winner get 100k and a 3 fight ufc contract
I was thinking the exact same thing, up and coming fighters and those not making the cut can enter sort of bellator style tournaments and the winner (and maybe other finalist if they prove themselves enough) earn UFC contracts. I definitely see this as being viable, people can see their old favorites and you can hype up future talent - I think that's enough motivation for fans to tune into a "minor league" organization.
Man I just saved the ufc 235 million If they do that they won't have to purchase bellatore. And let's be honest TUF is all about the money this season gave us great fighters but other season not so much
I'll but that for a dollar!
Strikeforce WON'T be fine. its top talent (Dias / Overeem/ Hendo / Cung Le/ Jake Shields and very soon Daniel Cormier, Josh Barnett, and others) are being enlisted by the UFC. That once rival organization to the UFC is so depleted that Jardine has a shot at the Middle Weight belt...Strikeforce will keep going for a few years, though...I hope we'll still be able to see some great fights there...
This is good.
Womens MMA have a home under ZUFFA.
Minor Leauges is a good idea, build up new upcoming fighters and have them fight UFC fighters on a bad run. Should get rid of the belts (except the womens) and hold annual tournaments. Would be a good title to capture.
Womens MMA is still growing...slowly but it is.
Maybe one day it will make bigger steps.
I just hate seeing the fine chicks get messed up. They need to require that the chicks are ugly before they fight lol....sorry that was wrong.
Lets all pretend this was OUR idea to make Strikeforce the minor leagues and ask Dana for cash and fre tickets.
I love the idea.
Don't you fools relaize that StrikeForce is going bye bye?
"realize"
I said it once & i'll say it again. They should've left SF fighters where they were & built up that organization. Then Zuffa could have had champion vs champion events every so often.
In Dana we trust.