Do you like the buyout of Strikeforce?

LA wrote:

Bellator would be #2 with room to grow, but the "Eye" will see them

Yup Bellator is currently the clear cut #2, with plenty of room to grow, and thus is def within the UFC crosshair's. And from stuff I have read over the past year, that ownership group does sound like one that would take the first decent offer that came around.

So Meat is in the mixed emotions boat. Should we count his vote.

captain organic wrote:

So Meat is in the mixed emotions boat. Should we count his vote.

I'm sure most fighters are in that boat. Especially if they aren't in the "elite" level.

I liked what SF was doing

Watched majority of their cards on Showtime when boxing wasnt on

Nick Diaz, Brett Rogers, Melendez - a # of fighters with fan friendly styles

Who knows how UFC handles SF now with it hanging around for a few years?

The UFC isn't just going to disband Strikeforce now that they are Strikeforce and risk pissing off dozens of camps and agents that they're doing business with either way. Strikeforce will continue for at least the next two years but now with Zuffa brains and money assisting their marketing and production. near-mid term anyway, this is good for the Strikeforce fan.

OU wrote:

LA wrote:

Well maybe a top talent merger, but keeping SF as a "B" Organization would be wise, a lot of talent and up and comers to fill it.

Yeah, I'm against a full merger.

I am for it if the net number of events and fighters stays roughly the same in the now StrikeWEUForCe super organization as it was when the promotions were separate.

I'm definitely in the mixed feelings camp. There's no way I can be completely comfortable with this when there are so many unknowns. Ultimately, I liked things the way they were before the merger, especially with SF on Showtime. This merger isn't as cut and dry as the UFC/WEC merger. I'm still surprised Scott Coker sold out like this, but as has been said, the UFC has the assets to make it worth his while.

Strikeforce is basically the new WEC. Once the Strikeforce brand is dissolved in three years or so Bellator will be next. This may become the new cycle. In addition to normal growth, the UFC growing by absorbing their successful competitors.

Bigs - Coker was against the buyout and tried to stop it at first.

Bigs03 wrote:

I'm definitely in the mixed feelings camp. There's no way I can be completely comfortable with this when there are so many unknowns. Ultimately, I liked things the way they were before the merger, especially with SF on Showtime. This merger isn't as cut and dry as the UFC/WEC merger. I'm still surprised Scott Coker sold out like this, but as has been said, the UFC has the assets to make it worth his while.

Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment were the primary sell outs. Strikeforce grew too big for SVSE to want to further commit any more resources, since it would eventually lead into a war with UFC, which were brought up by three key events: the Showtime deal, the Fedor deal, and talk of heading into the PPV market. Coker was surprised and weary of the Zuffa deal initially, but is what it is when it is.

captain organic wrote:

So Meat is in the mixed emotions boat. Should we count his vote.

Can I count all the stoked fighter votes?

As I've been saying, it would be wise for the UFC to keep SF around like a very very good "B" Organization or better version of the WEC. They could have all divisions, plus WMMA mixed in. Guys then don't get cut, but moved down, and therefore guys work their way up as well. They can feed themselves fighters, and still keep many fighter employed who may not be top talent but are still entertaining to watch.

With all the noise SF was making they were still losing money. As long as the UFC is around, it'll be tough for other Orgs to find a niche in MMA. Sure some can keep their operation low profile, good fights but not trying to go too big where they are on the UFC's radar. But reality is, Pro-Elite or whoever buys out SF instead, in a couple years we're looking at the same situation.

Lastly, we are 3 months into the WEC erger, they haven't figured out yet how to showcase all fighter/fights. I'm sure they know people are like, "what Benevidez not televised?" and see where they can make imporvements. If they're as smart as I think they are, SF will be used accordingly, though mixing in that UFC name might be benefitial in the future.

Quote :

With all the noise SF was making they were still losing money.

I never saw a shred of evidence that stated this was the case. Not that it matters now. Did something come out to this effect in the last couple months?

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Quote :

With all the noise SF was making they were still losing money.

I never saw a shred of evidence that stated this was the case. Not that it matters now. Did something come out to this effect in the last couple months?

+1

Majority of their events where held in San Jose, a venue they owned, that alone cut out A TON of expenses

Not to mention they were letting the venue itself book the undercard fights, therefore Strikeforce didn't have to pay those fighters. So they were only spending on about 10 fighters per event anyway. I've seen no reports that they were losing money. Maybe your thinking about that false report about Bellator a few months back?

I've read multiple articles with reports they were losing money, even Hunt mentioned it in her interview. Reality is we don't know either way... I wrote this long post but these back and forths really don't matter now that the deal is done and Zuffa controls a huge chunk of MMA.

Incurred debt and losing money are not the same. Hunt tweeted that their financial health was moving in a positive direction but SVSE was more interested in the highball cash payday UFC offered than working in MMA.

Is that what Hunt mentioned? incurred debt? because I remember losing money. Either way I've read other articles saying losing money none the less. When you're moving in a postive direction and future sales look to be forecasting increases, jump ship? It costs a lot to run an Organization, potential loses or limited gains don't seem so surprising to me here.

Said something like potential to hit a payday via sale was more enticing then operating at that rate of revenue gain. The 40 million paid into old debt and fattened SVSE's stack on the way out.

But brings me back to why was a $40 mill payday more enticing then future potential? Neither of us will ever really know, who cares we thinking differently at this point. Glad it was Zuffa in the end.

Hunt broke that story about UFC barring all fighter managers and agents from the arena on fight days, got White in trouble with the gay and women rights groups for his video berating of her for it. I think she does all of her reporting on twitter now, she used to have that show on Sherdog. Hard to say what she or anyone knows. Ariel Helwani is UFC's only official scoop man.

I'm not putting too much value into what she said, just brought her up cause she also mentioned about the selling price. I've heard it in enough articles whether they really know or not to semi believe it, kind of always thought they weren't cashing in that well myself. Tough to go big while going up against the UFC in N. America.

Loretta Hunt works for the LA Times guys. Strikeforce was making a small return, but the investors were interested in selling high and playing Hockey. Smart play.

Could have sold higher after letting the Prix playout, but we were speaking of their actual fiscal health as a company.

Or lower if the Prix didn't pan out like they wanted. They were really wary of taking on the UFC head to head when MMA was their side business. Anyway, the UFC swooped in when they did because Pro-Elite was ready to buy and this forced the UFC's hand.

OT - weird that a reformed Pro-Elite was ready to buy Strikeforce when it was Strikeforce who bought the remains of EliteXC not that long ago. I am glad this happened instead. Pro-Elite has left a permanent sour taste in my mouth, though the current PE has little to do with the fiasco that was EliteXC.

LA wrote:

I'm not putting too much value into what she said, just brought her up cause she also mentioned about the selling price. I've heard it in enough articles whether they really know or not to semi believe it, kind of always thought they weren't cashing in that well myself. Tough to go big while going up against the UFC in N. America.

I'm pretty interested in reading some of these numerous articles. Can't seem to find them.