UFC Purchases Strikeforce

Wow. did not expect this one.

tons of total possible ramifications here. Who knows where the heck this goes.

but the obvious #1 hope is that these guys are now open to fight across promotions.

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN IN SPORTS! CAIN VS REEM, CUNG VS SPIDER, NICK VS BJ, FEDOR VS BROCK, FEDOR VS, RANDY, FEDOR VS THE UFC.


HOLY SHIT GUYS! I CANNOT BELEIVE THIS! BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!!!

Damn, definetly left field.

Here are some details of Zuffa's purchase (Paraphrased from interview with DW):

-Scott Coker has signed a deal and will still be the face of Strikeforce, much like Reed Harris

-Showtime still has control of production. Lorenzo might be the one who deals with Showtime.

-Strikeforce fighters will remain Strikeforce fighters. UFC fighters that are cut may end up in Strikeforce.

-Zuffa will honor contracts with fighters and Showtime.

-Showtime is happy with the ratings and will remain for the time being.

-There will not be any superfights or co-pro's for the time being.

-DW feels the Pride deal was a bigger purchase then Strikeforce.

-For time being all Strikeforce employs will continue as business as usual, with growth help and international help from Zuffa.

-Coker is the key in road maybe to doing UFC in Japan.

-Zuffa plans on going to Japan, China, Korea, and India

-Strikeforce has two years left on their Showtime contract.

-Once SF contracts are finished Zuffa/UFC can sign those fighters.

-Josh Barnett, Frank Shamrock, Dan Henderson, and Paul Daley all have contracts and they will be honored.

-DW will not have direct control over operations with SF. You may see Joe Silva and Lorenzo Ferttita, but it will be headed by Scott Coker.

-Scott Coker is excited about the deal.

-Showtime could possibly end contract since Zuffa purchase, but there are no indication of that happening.

This probably still does not mean Fedor in UFC though since he's still an M-1 Fighter and by the sound of it...UFC is not touching any of SF's fighters until the contracts with showtime or indivudal contracts are up...which includes the M-1 co-promotion deal but not much else to go after that with Japan pretty much dead.

I wonder what the deal was though. It sounded as though SF had been doing well financially. Zuffa must of just came with some huge money and nice details for Coker. I guess since SF wa not in need of assistance was that it's still a pretty cool deal for Scott Coker. They'll probably dissolve SF after the Showtime deal is up in 2 years but Coker will probably get a huge role in UFC even after that because of his influence in Japan which is bigger than DW's.

Strikeforce is no longer the UFC’s biggest competitor.

In a video interview with Ariel Helwani posted to MMAFighting.com on Saturday morning, UFC President Dana White announced that Zuffa has purchased the San Jose, Calif.-based fight promotion.

“It's literally official right now. We literally just purchased Strikeforce,” said White. “I don't want to disclose any of the details on how the deal was done, but the reality is that we now own Strikeforce.”

White explained the reasons behind the purchase in the interview, stating that expanding Zuffa's talent pool was a necessary step to take as the promotion ventures into more international endeavors.

“As we go out and [continue to expand], we need more fights. Let's face facts. Strikeforce is a brand that fans have come to like and [the fans] enjoy the fights that they're putting on. So it made sense to us,” said White. “Our job is to put on the big fights that fans want to see, and as we continue to travel [abroad], we have to put on the right fights in these other countries.”

While White would not disclose the exact length of the negotiation period, the UFC boss did confirm that the buyout “happened quickly,” when asked if the talks lasted less than six months.

White then revealed that while Strikeforce is now the property of Zuffa, Scott Coker's promotion would not be dissolved. Rather, Strikeforce will continue to operate independently under the supervision of its new parent company.

“Strikeforce is going to continue to run -- business as usual. There are contracts in place, and we honor contracts. These guys pull good ratings on Showtime, and all of those contracts are going to be honored. These guys are going to remain Strikeforce fighters.”

White then elaborated on that concept, asserting that Coker would continue in his role as Strikeforce head, maintaining the promotion's operations and managing the talent. According to White, this means that Coker will have license to re-sign fighters at his discretion, including talents with whom White takes issue, such as Paul Daley and Josh Barnett.

“We've signed a deal with Scott Coker. He's staying on. You've seen me battle with guys over the years, but I’ve never had a bad thing to say about Scott Coker. I’ve known Scott since the K-1 days. Scott is a good guy.”

As soon as a great fighter from SF has his contract expire he will be signed by Zuffa. What happens to the women in a few years?

bigbeastcardinal12 wrote:

As soon as a great fighter from SF has his contract expire he will be signed by Zuffa. What happens to the women in a few years?

That is awhile for some guys though. They'll probably be some buy outs if they absolutely positively need to get somebody in the UFC.

What i wonder is what if somebody saves FEG or buys out K-1 and DREAM. Then Overeem, Mousasi, and a few others have contracts outside the UFC confusing things again...this is looking a few years down the road.

I can see them doing a co-pro though...i mean, it's all the same thing anyway and UFC can only gain from promoting SF now. I wonder if they'll do any promotion for Diaz-Daley on the next PPV.

Oh yeah, Paul Daley is pissed about the purchase and does not want to put money in their pockets by doing the Diaz-Daley fight.

Basically have to wait 2 years before there could be merger.

I see going after free agents being a smoother thing. No bidding wars and shit talking.

Dana said he won't re-sign Barnett after his contract is up with SF...i assume there will be a merge after the showtime deal runs out and UFC will take over the slot but this shows why a monopoly is bad...that a figter like Barnett can't fight at his level and make the living at his level in MMA he should make for a fighter of his caliber because the promoter does not like him. There will be no where else for him to go. I hope DW has a change of heart on that.

Fighters should not be forced out of the sport or not get the money that they should because a promoter who runs all the big shows has a personal vendetta against him.

HOLLY SHIT!!!! OMFG!!!

I think getting busted for roids 3 times is more than enough reason to not sign him.

Look at baseball's rules.

As of 2008, the suspension for testing positive for steroids was 50 games. Players will be suspended for 100 games if they test positive for steroids a second time. A third positive test, like a third strike, means the player will be out, suspended from Major League Baseball forever.

Read more: MLB Rules on Steroids | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4793242_mlb-rules-steroids.html#ixzz1GPzSWoVA

Farmer1906 wrote:

I think getting busted for roids 3 times is more than enough reason to not sign him.

Look at baseball's rules.

As of 2008, the suspension for testing positive for steroids was 50 games. Players will be suspended for 100 games if they test positive for steroids a second time. A third positive test, like a third strike, means the player will be out, suspended from Major League Baseball forever.

Read more: MLB Rules on Steroids | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4793242_mlb-rules-steroids.html#ixzz1GPzSWoVA

but thats not the reason he won't sign Barnett and it won't stop him from signing other multiple time offenders in the future that he does not have personal problems with. Plus, this isnt the MLB. MLB is a the commision of baseball. UFC is not the commission of MMA..it's just a very powerful promoter. If the commision does not ban Barnett for life, then he's still eligible to make a living in MMA.

Dana need seperate business from pleause or displeasure.

If it's UFC's job to bring all the best fighters in the world and if a monopoly is good for that reason, then it should be easy not to show the ugly side of a monopoly by black balling some of the best fighters in the world from making money against some of the best guys in the world.

I pissed myself when I read this a little while ago. Crazy shit.

hope they keep SF around for awhile for woman's mma, maybe they could
try out flyweight division? Dana did say you could see UFC fighters in
SF. Have Lil Joe vs Mighty Mouse for the first SF Flyweight
Championship.

Best thing for the Sport ever, maybe tops pride, SF was unneeded anyways lets be real here.

Front page of ESPN
Sources: UFC parent agrees to buy Strikeforce

OU wrote:

hope they keep SF around for awhile for woman's mma, maybe they could
try out flyweight division? Dana did say you could see UFC fighters in
SF. Have Lil Joe vs Mighty Mouse for the first SF Flyweight
Championship.

More so like a guy loses some fights, they bring down to SF before cutting him IMO, doubt you see any top 10 guys in any division going to SF, probably the other way around, but I'm still pissing myself.

Does the "Prix" still get completed?

Yeah we're in the UFC now

Showtime is getting kick to the curb eventually, no way they continue that relationship.

Daley might not be fighting Diaz.
http://www.mmamania.com/2011/3/12/2046843/paul-daley-not-sure-if-he-wants-to-fight-for-strikeforce-after-ufc

Quote :

"Business as usual, what if i dont wanna fight for DANA
WHITE/ZUFFA?......Dana white bans me for life from the UFC, Then buys
STRIKEFORCE, and thinks im still gonna be EASY and fight on one of the
most anticipated fights of the year (vs Diaz)? Which will no doubt make
ZUFFA/Dana White money. Daley vs Diaz still on?.....Someone better holla
at my manager real quick.""Not sure what im gonna do right now, honestly...fight for the Strikeforce
and be Strikeforce champ, put money in ZUFFA/Dana Whites pockets? Or
fight here in the UK for BAMMA, who appreciate my brand, and have my
loyal fans, family and media support me. For real."

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/3/12/2046824/dan-henderson-has-one-fight-left-with-strikeforce-ready-to-return-to
Dan Henderson has one fight left with Strikeforce, ready to return to the UFC (via MMAWeekly.com)


"I’ve never said anything bad about (the UFC). I always appreciated
everything they’ve done for me and for the sport. It’s just I was paid
more money to go elsewhere, and that’s what I did. Dana’s the type that
needs to talk a little smack if he doesn’t get his way, but I’ve got no
hard feelings about anything."


"I had no plans of leaving, ... but I have one fight left on my deal and we’ll see what happens."