Strikeforce – UFC Deal: The Beginning of the End
With the shocking announcement that the UFC has purchased Strikefoce, we look at the effect that purchase has on the MMA landscape and weigh the pros and cons of the purchase.
While the purchase is being deemed as “business as usual,” by UFC President Dana White, we look at how Strikeforce will flourish or decline.
What are the possible outcomes?
Why the purchase is good for the sport.
With most MMA fans in agreement that Strikeforce has the superior heavyweights, we could see some salivating matchups down the road with Alistair Overeem vs. Cain Velasquez or Nick Diaz vs. GSP or Frankie Edgar VS. Gilbert Melendez.
How about Robbie Lawler vs. Wanderlei Silva?
Now we know and have been told that Strikeforce will continue to be operated separately and that the UFC will help out the organization in their production department.
The fact remains that Strikeforce has two years left on there TV deal with Showtime and most of us assume that the UFC will fold the organization afterward creating even more exciting matchups to their pay per view cards.
Having that many fighters under one contract will mean a bolster to another organization promotion such as Bellator or Shark Fights. Also pay per view cards will definitely see a spike in viewership and will provide further distance between the UFC and its rival, boxing.
Why the purchase is bad for the sport
With the purchase of Pride, WEC and now Strikeforce, we know that, at some point, the UFC will merge the talent and Strikeforce will cease to exist.
The reason this is bad for the sport is that fighters released will have limited organizations to go to that will pay them decent wages. The market will only have one strong organization that can pay fighters and provide regular work for its fighters.
Bellator is an organization that may benefit as we seen when Elite XC folded Strikeforce gained a lot of quality fighters that firmly entrenched the organization as number two.
But Bellator does not operate year round and the fact remains that other organizations are only in the beginning stages as relevant promotions. Also what does this say about a sport where IFL, Pride, Strikeforce, soon to be Dream and Elite XC have all folded or been bought?
Is MMA as strong as we think? Does this mean that MMA is only relevant in one organization?
The Future of the MMA
Like any corporation, we all have our doubts about how business is run. The Dana Whites of the world are simply too controlling to stay out of Strikeforce’s business.
As we’ve seen the change in rules with allowing elbows to the head, can we honestly believe that Scott Coker will run his organization the way he sees fit without Dana White interference?
One of the reasons I liked Strikeforce is the matchups. I have written before that the MMA has not evolved enough to have a wrestler vs. striker type matchup. What ends up happening is a boring one sided fight. Now Strikeforce matches striker vs. striker wrestler vs. wrestler and I feel because of the UFC influence, we will not see those type of matchups. We will see the UFC matchmaking.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love the UFC, but I am not going to say that it is the be all end all of MMA because it is simply not true.
Where would Pepsi be without Coke, WWE without WCW?
Competition forces companies to put out their best efforts and the UFC does not have to compete with anyone anymore. So I see a rise in MMA viewership but, in the long run, MMA will reach a plateau unless another company with resolve can offer something different.
Can Bellator be that competition for the sake of MMA?
Let’s hope so!