5 Moments that Brought About the Decline of StrikeForce

With the Zuffa buyout having taken place a good time ago, I think it is time to reflect and look back on the moments that brought about the decline of StrikeForce (other than Zuffa buying them out). Because as much as I still enjoy SF events, it is clear that this is not even the same promotion that it was 2 years ago. Hell not even 1 year ago. The talent poo;l has all but evaporated and the production has not improved. So here it is, the 5 moments that helped bring about the decline of StrikeForce.

5. Jacare Souza Loses Title - remember when StrikeForce had a champion that people actually thought could challenge Anderson Silva? I do, it wasn't that long ago, but since Rockhold beat Jacare, the Middleweight division in SF has seemed like a waste of time. Sure we were all wrong, Jacare would have been steam rolled, but at least he put on exciting fights and kept the hype train going. With Rockhold as champion it seems like they have Jake Shields 2.0.

4. Dan Henderson Loses to Jake Shields - Dan Henderson was a huge acquisition for SF and while he did eventually win the promotions Light Heavyweight title, no one in their right minds can claim that having Hendo show up and lose to the snoozer Shields was good. To make matters worst, UFC signed Shields after beating Henderson for a lot cheaper than what Henderson was paid by StrikeForce.

3. Gina Carano gets Hulk Smashed - Had Gina Carano survived against He-Woman, StrikeForce would have had a huge star to continue building around. this fight was one of the highest rated StrikeForce shows ever, it was also the last time Carano stepped inside of a cage, can't say that I blame her, but having perhaps the scariest, ugliest woman on earth beat the ever loving shit out of baby faced Gina was horrible for business. To make matters worst, all of our suspicions were confirmed when Cyborg finally fucked up her cycle (no not that cycle, her roid cycle). Effectively ending the division that Gina Carano had helped make.

2. These THings Happen in MMA - well no, they actually don't, StrikeForce had probably the worst night in the companies history in Nashville, Shinya Aoki and Milendez had a pretty boring fight, then Jake Shields shocked everyone by out wrestling Henderson and to top it all off, they decided to have a brawl with Gus Johnson standing their with his lip stick looking mortified. All he could muster to say was, "these things happen in MMA". In actuality, aside from Tank Abbot and Cabbage getting into it after a fight, they really are pretty rare (especially in big time promotions). StrikeForce has not been on regular t.v. since this incident.

1. Fedor is Human - StrikeForce did the exact opposite of EliteXC, instead of going after a ratings bonanza like Kimbo Slice, they went after the most respected and accomplished mms fighter not on Zuffas roster. It didn't matter that Fedor was not a PPV success, he led credibility to SF when they badly needed it. Unfortunately, Fedor was no longer the PRIDE beast as was evidenced by his Brett Rogers bout. Still he won that so all was fine, tough first round be damned, but then it happened. Fedor fell into Fabricio Werdums web and the decade of the Emperor was over. Still, everyone loses in life so it was understandable. StrikeForce did the smartest thing they ever did by making the Pride GP and if Fedor could get deep in the tournament perhaps all would be well. We all know that didn't happen, Fedor was smashed by BigFoot Silva and Zuffa purchased SF shortly after.

I am not attempting to bash SF or Zuffa, all I am saying is had these 5 events played out differently, perhaps SF would not be in the state they are in today.

Thoughts?

As for why SF is in it's current state...it's simply because UFC bought them and poached most of their best fighters

I think it's just because its hard to be profitable right away and Strikeforce was backed by a company that did not have the money or the patience to take the hits that come with growing. So when they got a deal for probably more than Strikeforce was valued at, they took it in a heartbeat. People forget even Zuffa lost tons of money before the UFC became profitable...SF would have benefitted with better backing.

Fact is, despite all those things happening. Strikeforce ratings were only getting better. It really had nothing to do with what happened in the cage with Fedor, Gina, Hendo, Jacare etc.

The only thing on the list that really hurt Strikeforce was "These things happen in MMA". That blew the CBS connection and made SF less valuble in the eyes of their parent company.

KingsOwn19 wrote:

As for why SF is in it's current state...it's simply because UFC bought them and poached most of their best fighters

I think it's just because its hard to be profitable right away and Strikeforce was backed by a company that did not have the money or the patience to take the hits that come with growing. So when they got a deal for probably more than Strikeforce was valued at, they took it in a heartbeat. People forget even Zuffa lost tons of money before the UFC became profitable...SF would have benefitted with better backing.

Fact is, despite all those things happening. Strikeforce ratings were only getting better. It really had nothing to do with what happened in the cage with Fedor, Gina, Hendo, Jacare etc.

The only thing on the list that really hurt Strikeforce was "These things happen in MMA". That blew the CBS connection and made SF less valuble in the eyes of their parent company.

I completely agree on the Zuffa buyout is why, but I feel these 5 events led to the Zuffa buyout, if SF had a dominant Fedor, a Gina and a Hendo looking great, things may have played out different, especially if they don't lose CBS

You forgot about the epic brawl on CBS.

Ali wrote:

You forgot about the epic brawl on CBS.

No that was under "these things happen".

KingsOwn19 wrote:

As for why SF is in it's current state...it's simply because UFC bought them and poached most of their best fighters

I think it's just because its hard to be profitable right away and Strikeforce was backed by a company that did not have the money or the patience to take the hits that come with growing. So when they got a deal for probably more than Strikeforce was valued at, they took it in a heartbeat. People forget even Zuffa lost tons of money before the UFC became profitable...SF would have benefitted with better backing.

Fact is, despite all those things happening. Strikeforce ratings were only getting better. It really had nothing to do with what happened in the cage with Fedor, Gina, Hendo, Jacare etc.

The only thing on the list that really hurt Strikeforce was "These things happen in MMA". That blew the CBS connection and made SF less valuble in the eyes of their parent company.

Kings got it dead on. This was to be my post exactly till the bold. And though i didn't see it right away, he's right on that as well.

Yeah some guys(and gal) were losing, but Ubereem mania was just in blossom, Rousey was just around the corner, they still had a dominant champ in Gil who ranks right up there with any UFC lw, they still had Diaz who is as entertaining a fighter as there is in the sport, and they still had Hendo, who despite the loss to Shields came back strong in the next couple fights.

SF was at it's highest peak when it was bought out. Hard to say anything prior to the peak was it's downfall.

captain organic wrote:

Ali wrote:

You forgot about the epic brawl on CBS.

No that was under "these things happen".

Aww yeah missed that at first glance, thanks.

without a doubt, the brawl brought about the end of CBS contract, that was a rally big deal.

Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, JDS, Jose Aldo, & GSP are in the UFC. That's the biggie. SF doesn't have the best fighters. They could never truly match up.

remember a time, not so long ago, when SF had Alistair Overeem, Fedor, Fabricio Werdum, Big Foot Silva, Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier all roaming HW?

Nick Diaz, Gil Milendez, Jacare, Cyborg, Carano (if she ever came back), they had enough stars to become the clear challenger to the UFC. Had some things gone different maybe they are more successful today, thats all I am saying.

Birdofthad wrote:

remember a time, not so long ago, when SF had Alistair Overeem, Fedor, Fabricio Werdum, Big Foot Silva, Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier all roaming HW?

Nick Diaz, Gil Milendez, Jacare, Cyborg, Carano (if she ever came back), they had enough stars to become the clear challenger to the UFC. Had some things gone different maybe they are more successful today, thats all I am saying.

I will give you credit for the HWs.

They had 1 top 10 LW, 1 10 WW, 1-2 top 10 MW (before Rockholt blew up), and 1 (maybe 2 if you count Mousasi), at LHW.

That's 5-7 guys vs the UFC's 30+ in the top 10 in those 4 divisions.

honestly I would add in King Mo, Mousasi, even Calvancante is top 20, Hendo.
This was a pretty damn good company not even a year ago.

Now its relegated to about 3 people.

The #1 factor in the decline of SF? The purchase by Zuffa. It's been all downhill since then.

agree OU

Farmer1906 wrote:

Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, JDS, Jose Aldo, & GSP are in the UFC. That's the biggie. SF doesn't have the best fighters. They could never truly match up.

Nah, they had Gil, Reem, bunch of other hwy's quite arguably as good as the UFC's, Nick D, Hendo. They had fighters. They were getting ratings. They were growing.

The Zuffa buyout was the end of the rise.

I'm still hoping to see Rockhold vs Jacare 2 and Jorge Santiago vs Nate Marquardt.