Report: UFC to Increase Number of Fights on Cards to Accommodate Strikeforce Transfers

http://www.cagepotato.com/report-ufc-to-increase-number-of-fights-on-cards-to-accommodate-strikeforce-transfers/

Report: UFC to Increase Number of Fights on Cards to Accommodate Strikeforce Transfers

By Elias Cepeda

In a move that will likely make both fans and former Strikeforce fighters quite happy, CagePotato has learned from multiple sources close to the UFC that the promotion intends to increase the average number of fights per event in order to accommodate former Strikeforce fighters.

The UFC currently plans to feature twelve fights at UFC 160, their May 25th card in Las Vegas (main event TBA). From then on out, we are told, the organization plans to regularly produce twelve- and thirteen-fight cards in order to create more spots for former Strikeforce fighters. This would be a 1-2 fight per card increase over what the promotion has been doing lately. Most of the UFC’s recent cards — including UFC 156, UFC on FOX 6, and UFC on FX 7 — have each featured 11 fights.

Over the last month, transfers of fighters from Strikeforce to the UFC have been announced individually or a few at a time, but the complete scope of just how many former Strikeforce fighters would keep their jobs fighting for Zuffa was unknown. While we still do not have an exact number, this development seems to suggest that a significant number of Strikeforce fighters have been picked up by the UFC, with more announcements potentially to come.

Either Zuffa is legally obligated to provide contracted former Strikeforce fighters with these spots or they are choosing to make use of the talent pool available to them in order to expand their cards. In any case, it means more opportunity for lesser-known fighters and a bigger bang for fans’ bucks. At least that’s the theory. Will you make use of the extra one to two bouts per UFC card, or will they just get in the way of your pre-game drinking?

They might as well make it 15. 5 on PPV, 5 on TV and 5 on facebook.