A year ago, the relationship between new Strikeforce owners Zuffa and Showtime was just about as rocky as it gets.
To those of us who dealt with Zuffa and Showtime on a daily basis, it seemed as though Strikeforce was living on borrowed time. As the summer months wore on, that feeling was validated as Strikeforce’s biggest stars left for the greener pastures of the UFC.
Nick Diaz was shifted over by Zuffa brass for the purpose of creating a superfight with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Alistair Overeem was suspiciously injured, removed from the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, cut from the company and then re-signed weeks later to a sparkling new UFC contract.
The end of the Showtime relationship and the disbanding of Strikeforce seemed like a certainty. We would miss Strikeforce, but we looked forward to seeing fighters like Gilbert Melendez and King Mo Lawal test their skills in the Octagon.
But, in the fall months, everything changed.
Dana White personally handled negotiations for a new deal with Showtime, signing a two-year extension to the contract and ensuring the company would live to see another day. All of the fighters who looked forward to making the jump to the UFC, to bigger fame and more money, were told they’d have to be happy sticking around Strikeforce.
And so here we are, in May 2012, and Strikeforce endures. But for how long?
The happy new relationship between White and Showtime executives didn’t last long, with White ultimately washing his hands of the promotion. Strikeforce is still running shows, but they receive far less promotion then their UFC counterparts. Melendez is still toiling in Strikeforce’s lightweight division, with few intriguing opponents remaining on the horizon.
Despite all of that, former Strikeforce owner Scott Coker believes Strikeforce will be on Showtime for years to come:
“The heavyweight division, they all agreed that there wasn’t going to be enough athletes to support both [UFC and Strikeforce] and they wanted to bring some of the fights over there at that time,” Coker shared during Thursday’s conference call. “But now that the Showtime relationship has been renewed and it’s been solid, I think you’re going to see those great fights on the lighter weights – starting with light heavyweight on down in Strikeforce.”
“We have a great relationship with Showtime, I think we have provided great fights with great ratings. I think you’ll continue to see Strikeforce on Showtime for many years to come.”
I think this is just one of those things Coker says to divert attention from those who believe we’re watching his beloved company die a slow, painful death.
And make no mistake about it: Strikeforce is dying. When Dana White loses interest in promoting you and working with you, your days are numbered. They may reach the end of their current contract, or they may not. But mark my words: Strikeforce, as we currently know it, will not exist in two years.
The ascension of Ronda Rousey will accelerate the death of Strikeforce. Why? Because she’s becoming a true superstar, one with the ability to become a mainstream star who draws millions of new fans from around the world.
If Rousey continues winning and fans continue to latch onto her, White and the UFC will eventually bring her to the UFC. They currently don’t have female fighters on the roster, but Rousey is promotional gold and could be the catalyst for the start of a women’s division in the UFC.
I understand why Coker said what he did. It’s never a smart business idea to admit that you’re a lame-duck product. But there is absolutely no chance that Strikeforce stays on Showtime for “many years to come.”
In fact, there’s very little chance Strikeforce sticks around at all.
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