When World Extreme Cagefighting was on TV, it provided fans with not only free shows/fights, but also some excellent matches.
Although due largely to the exciting nature of the lighter weight classes, what made the fights better was the fact they were on free TV and were often times more exciting than some UFC pay-per-views.
Strikeforce should follow that business model and get their product on a national TV station.
I know Strikeforce and Showtime are all warm and cozy with one another now, but what does a deal with Showtime do for Strikeforce and Zuffa?
They aren’t going to get as many viewers as they would if they were on a cable channel, and Strikeforce will never make big money because it won’t sell any PPVs it attempts to put on.
If Strikeforce chose instead to focus on what the WEC tended to focus on, putting together exciting fights, they would see an increase in interest in their product.
But of course it’s inevitable that the good fighters will eventually make their way to the UFC, but that doesn’t mean Strikeforce can’t create it’s own niche in the MMA market.
Strikeforce has some of the most impressive women fighters in MMA. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Gina Carano (whenever she returns), Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey and Sarah Kaufman are just a few of the names that litter the women’s MMA landscape.
When you look at how the WEC provided a proving ground for the 145- and 135-pound divisions for the UFC, Strikeforce could do the same with women’s MMA.
If Strikeforce could get a wider audience and prove that MMA fans like to see women bouts just as much as the men, they could not only put on exciting, free events, but they could also be the experiment the UFC needs to test the waters with mainstream audience and women’s MMA.
Speaking of mainstream audiences, even if they don’t take the women’s MMA route, having Strikeforce on free TV allows for more exposure to the sport and would help accelerate the integration of non-fans into the fold.
Whatever Zuffa chooses to do with Strikeforce, they should realize it’s not going to make them millions like the UFC.
Instead they should focus on making Strikeforce the fun promotion which would balance out the serious UFC promotion.
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