The Loss of Fedor Emelianenko: What is does for Strikeforce
By Kevin Nelson
With the stunning defeat at the hands of Antonio Silva Saturday, many people are saying that Fedor Emelianenko losing is bad for business.
Looking at it in hindsight, I can see why many MMA enthusiasts see that as the beginning of the end for Strikeforce.
As an organization, they have put on many entertaining cards but have not done a really good job of promoting their fighters. In comparison, the UFC has a countdown show that shows the fighters training and getting exposure, as well as access in which they go through a day in the life of a fighter.
Then, of course, they have “The Ultimate Fighter,” where 16 fighters spend close to two months in a house.
Even in boxing HBO has 24-7, a behind the scenes look at boxers training and family life, as well as their Pay Per View, promoting the upcoming fights.
If and when Strikeforce can figure out how to promote their fighters, they will not grow until we, the fans, can familiarize ourselves with the fighters. The growth of MMA is largely due to the viewers getting to know the fighters.
Here is how I would have done the first leg of the tournament: I would have done a behind the scenes look at each fighter and their journey to the Strikeforce Tournament in a 1 hour show.
A MMA show would be created that is similar to the Ultimate Fighter, maybe with the winner of the Strikeforce version getting a contract in Strikeforce Challengers.
I would also look into having a minor league that would have up and coming fighters in each of the divisions resulting in a promotion to Strikeforce. That way each division would have depth in it and not rely on UFC released fighters to make up their roster.
It may seem that I do not like what Strikeforce is doing, but that could not be further from the truth. The matchmaking I find to be top notch with many of their cards within the last few months outdoing the UFC in terms of excitement.
But there are some positives to Fedor losing; it represents a change in the MMA landscape as new fighters will emerge and breathe new life to the organization’s heavyweight division.
It is a division that can produce even more upsets and will only have a positive outlook on what the final outcome will be. New stars will emerge and Fedor Emelianenko and M1 will no longer have a stranglehold on the decision making in the heavyweight division.
Another positive thing to have occurred on Saturday is the emergence of undefeated heavyweight contender, Shane Del Rosario, who moved to 11-0 in the heavyweight division.
If and when the Strikeforce Grand Prix ends Del Rosario should be on his way to securing a title shot. Another positive is Chad Griggs, who six months ago was an unknown fighter thought of as a tomato can for Bobby Lashley.
He was so unknown there was no video footage of him, but his upset win over Lashley and his win on Saturday cemented him as a contender in the heavyweight division.
He’s an everyday man, a fireman, who comes to fight looking for respect. Who can’t relate to an underdog? With the next set of action scheduled for April 9, who knows what will happen next? All I know is Strikeforce is finally moving in the right direction.
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