Author: Joe Schafer

Strikeforce Results: Heavyweight Grand Prix Falters After Uninspiring Matchups

Now that Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum is in the books, I think we can all agree the last two quarterfinal bouts of this Heavyweight Grand Prix were duds compared to the first two back in February.Strikeforce’s goliath tournament continues to b…

Now that Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum is in the books, I think we can all agree the last two quarterfinal bouts of this Heavyweight Grand Prix were duds compared to the first two back in February.

Strikeforce’s goliath tournament continues to be an intriguing draw to MMA fans, even after Saturday’s uneventful fights between Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Josh Bartnett and Brett Rogers, but still left spectators uninspired.

The culprit here: lopsided, stylistic nightmare matches that were heavily hyped by the press.

As soon as the brackets were announced, I felt like Barnett stood alone on his side of the table as the craftier veteran and heavy favorite to make it to the final showdown, mainly due to the fact he was the only fighter with serious wrestling skills in a pool of mediocre, yet heavy handed, strikers.

Let’s not fool ourselves further by continuing to believe Brett Rogers belongs at the top half of the division. Believe me, this is not a pretentious exercise of proclaiming the correct foresight in hindsight of a fight—but I was weary of calling Roger’s a contender even after he knocked out Andre Arlovski way back when.

Needless to say, if Strikeforce’s heavyweight division was well established with a healthy number of legitimate contenders to challenge newly signed Fedor Emelianenko back then, Rogers would have never been picked to be the “up and coming” knockout artist the promotion needed at the time.

Rogers should have never been in a position to fight Fedor or Overeem—at least not at that or this point in his career—and it showed when he lost both fights. Barnett out classing him last night was just icing on my point.

I’m not unjustly tearing Rogers a new one, but like it or not, he was thrown to the sharks. Strikeforce took a gamble on trying to legitimize a fresh face who was coming off an explosive knockout win over an ex-UFC heavyweight champ with a glass jaw.

After looking at Roger’s record leading up to the Arlovski fight—stopping his first ten opponents by either KO or TKO all in the first or second rounds—excitement surrounding his potential was justified to the extent that fans had to realize he was fighting unknowns. Unfortunately for his development, Strikeforce catapulted Rogers into the spotlight against their two best heavyweights after beating Arlovski

Since then, Rogers has been exposed as the unpolished, heavy handed amateur he was coming into Strikeforce, now losing three of his last four—barely getting by Hunt’s poster boy Ruben Villareal back in October.

As I was watching Barnett smother Rogers for a round and a half, the outcome was far from surprising. Rogers was never given a chance to land his “one-hitter quitter” and never had a chance once the fight hit the ground.

In fact, after the night concluded, you could make a convincing case for Barnett to be the new favorite to win the whole tournament.

Moving on to the last Grand Prix bout of the night between Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum.

Stylistically, this was like watching a tango between oil and water or two one-legged dancers. Neither man had any intentions of playing with fire, Overeem stayed as far away from Werdum’s guard as possible and Werdum only stood toe-to-toe with his foe long enough to set up his failed take down attempts.

The tone was set straight out of the gate when Overeem completely stuffed all of Werdum’s shots, using his power and strength to effectively sprawl to safety. Werdoomsday started taking on a whole new meaning once it became evident the he could not take Overeem down by conventional means.

To Werdum’s credit, he did take enough risks to set up his take downs by trading strikes with his K-1 Grand Prix champion opponent—which surprisingly he landed a good amount of his strikes.

Once he clinched with Overeem, Werdum immediately pulled guard in hopes of keeping the powerful Dutchman on the ground, trying to give himself a realistic chance of winning.

This strategy failed too, proving a broader principle that heavily relying on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to get guys to the ground, without any sufficient wrestling skills, is not an effective approach, even against opponents who are primarily strikers.

Werdum ran out of ways of getting Overeem to the ground and more importantly, he had no answer for keeping him there. The few seconds Overeem was in Werdum’s guard, it took just as quick for him to stand back to his feet.

Witnessing both fighters egging each other to play into the other’s strength was exhausting to watch for three rounds. It took the competitiveness and importance out of the fight for me.

Strategically, this all made perfect sense. What didn’t make too much sense to me was how two of the best heavyweights in MMA could make a quarterfinal matchup—a grudge rematch of sorts—look so one dimensional.

Surely each fighter knew the other wouldn’t willingly engage in their strongest attribute. Where’s the Plan-B? As unfortunately predictable as the back and forth charades were, it was caused more because of one-dimensional stylistic difficulties than poor matchmaking.

But, to make matters worse, both Overeem and Werdum were noticeably gassed by the end of the second round, trying to make their V8’s run on Prius gas tanks.

Then again, it’s mixed martial arts, a sport that forces all types of competitors into adapting numerous skill sets, not just to rely on one.

Overeem needed the break out performance he didn’t get and Werdum was never able to execute his newly refined game plan he had promised in interviews leading up to the fight. Neither guy really strengthened their cause to fight the UFC’s best—namely Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

Unlike Werdum, Overeem has kept his chances of winning the tournament alive and he still has the opportunity to prove why he should be considered a top five heavyweight in the world.

But, that has become a much taller order after the last 48 hours, with Antonio Silva and possibly Josh Barnett waiting in line to strip Overeem of his belt. Silva’s strikes are more powerful than Werdum’s and Barnett won’t have the same problems getting Overeem to the mat.

At best, it was a shaky entrance into the tournament’s for Strikeforce’s heavyweight champion.

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Strikeforce Overeem vs. Werdum: Heavyweight Grand Prix Brackets of Tomorrow

Fight fans are a day away from being treated to Strikeforce’s second installment of their Heavyweight Grand Prix at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.After first round match-ups between Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio “Big Foot” Si…

Fight fans are a day away from being treated to Strikeforce’s second installment of their Heavyweight Grand Prix at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

After first round match-ups between Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio “Big Foot” Silva and Andre Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov back in February, Saturday night’s heavyweight tournament competitors will want to mimic fellow opening round victors straight into the semifinals.

The rest of this tournament will ultimately produce not only a heavyweight champion, but a divisional pound-for-pound fighter gearing for a shot at the UFC’s heavyweight best.

With numerous implications for future bouts, how will the Heavyweight Grand Prix brackets break down once all the leathers has been thrown, all the blood and sweat has been absorbed into the canvas and the winners’ arms have been raised into the air?

What was once considered the weaker half of the bracket, it’s now being looked upon by fans and pundits as the half that will produce the tournament’s undisputed No. 1 challenger, Josh Barnett.

The other side of the tournament has already been impacted, putting aside speculation and outlining one half of the semifinals after Silva shocked the world by evacuating one of the early favorites from the tournament.

Now Fedor is out of the picture, many find it hard to believe in a finals without Overeem, who recently participated in K-1’s 2010 Grand Prix and won the whole thing.

As a result, Silva and Kharitonov will be sidelined until an unknown date later this year, eagerly preparing for their eventual clashes with tomorrow night’s winners to become the deserving challenger to the belt and have the bragging accolades that await the overall winner of the tournament.

Obviously both the Brazilian and Russian will be watching Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers and Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum with vested interest, waiting for the cards to fall as they will.

To Strikeforce’s (pre-Zuffa) credit, their Heavyweight Grand Prix has become the most talent-rich tournament since Pride’s Open Weight tournament back in 2006.

So consider this a prediction of sorts, let’s glance into the future and see how the brackets will look, not only on Sunday morning, but how they will play out for the rest of the tournament.

Remember this is just one genius man’s humble opinion, who was blindsided when his beloved Fedor got stomped out of the tournament at the hands of Silva in the very first round.

So consider yourselves warned….

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UFC 131 Results: Sam Stout Is Ready to Throw Stones at Cowboy Donald Cerrone

There’s nothing like winning in impressive fashion in front of your fellow countrymen. Vancouver may be miles away from London, Ontario on the other side of Canada, but that didn’t stop 27-year-old Canadian lightweight Sam Stout from valida…

There’s nothing like winning in impressive fashion in front of your fellow countrymen. Vancouver may be miles away from London, Ontario on the other side of Canada, but that didn’t stop 27-year-old Canadian lightweight Sam Stout from validating his nickname “Hands of Stone” after dropping a vicious overhand left hook square on Yves Edward’s chin.

The fight was over in an instant; Stout’s punch landed hard and Edwards entered the realm of unconsciousness, falling back with no effort and smacking his head hard on the mat. By far, that knockout was immediately thrown on the “Top 10 Knockout” list on about 20 different sites around the Internet—and well-deserving.

Once the excitement wore off, seeing Edwards still crumpled, slightly shaking in the same position he fell in, was nothing to cheer about. A vicious knockout always produces a dichotomy of reactions: an absolute appreciation that a trained athlete has enough skill and might to pull off such a result and instant concern for the guy lying on the ground.

Regardless if fans experienced either of those emotions, pundits became fixated with where such a brutal knockout victory put Stout on the lightweight totem pole. The UFC’s 155-pound division is not for the lighthearted, leaving very little room for error due to its deep talent pool.

Now that Stout has made a splash at UFC 131, will matchmaker Joe Silva reward the young Canadian a chance to elevate his career by facing the next level of competition?

He certainly deserves the shot after holding his own in the octagon for 11 matches, garnering five “Fight of the Night” honors and defeating notable guys like Spencer Fisher, Matt Wiman, Joe Lauzon and Paul Taylor.

Needless to say, Stout’s experience at this level, at his age, is an advantage that rarely goes equally matched.

After debuting in the UFC at the age of 22, his five-year ride has produced a seesaw of results, a rough lesson in how to deal with the highs and lows of competing in a sport filled with hungry, talented fighters willing to do whatever it takes to become a permanent fixture on the grandest roster in the game.

As it stands today, Stout has barely stayed afloat in the win column, tallying up nearly as many losses as he has wins. The tides have changed though. Two days after blasting a crafty veteran like Edwards into an out-of-body experience, the lightweight standings got juggled and have shifted in Stout’s favor.

It was exactly what he needed to built enough momentum to snap out of his predictable win-loss cycle, a chance to prove he belongs at the next level.

The prefect test for his next fight would be fellow striker Donald Cerrone, who consequentially clocked in at UFC 131 for a win as well. Timing should not be an issue and both guys have the chins and stand up skills to produce a “Fight of the Night” performance.

Plus, each guy’s sails are being backed by the same large gust of momentum. Somebody is bound to get derailed if they collide, which would created that exciting sense of importance leading up to a potential fight.

“The Cowboy” Cerrone put on a leg kick clinic against his opponent Vagner Rocha at UFC 131, the fourth consecutive victim after Jamie Varner, Chris Horodecki and Paul Kelly. While Cerrone has the physical tools to be a constant threat at the top of the table, his mental strength wanes from time to time.

Despite being on a solid win-streak, he has the tendency to be unjustly hard on his performances, stating a common complaint of not pulling the trigger enough on his feet, as if he has something to prove to himself. A win against Stout would help Cerrone clear his mind, enhance his confidence and help him discover his rightful place in the UFC’s lightweight division.

Even though Cerrone will eventually have to overcome a strong wrestler in the UFC and Stout will have to prove he has enough consistency to remain at the top, this would be a very intriguing fight loaded with fireworks that could be a platform jump into those future challenges for the winner.

For each competitor, this would be their respective fight to win or lose, a step towards top-five competition or a step back into the middle of the pack.

It’s a good fight for both guys and a fun fight for the fans…what could go wrong? Dana White and Joe Silva not reading this article and injury, to think of a few things….

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UFC’s Dana White Makes All Main Event Fights 5 Rounds

As reported by MMAWeekly.com, UFC president and company figurehead Dana White announced Thursday that all freshly inked main event bouts from this day forward will be five rounds, not the traditional three. Here’s a snippet of his quote from MMAW…

As reported by MMAWeekly.com, UFC president and company figurehead Dana White announced Thursday that all freshly inked main event bouts from this day forward will be five rounds, not the traditional three. Here’s a snippet of his quote from MMAWeekly.com:

“From this day forward, as we speak right here, right now today, every fight that is a main event that is not a title fight will be a five-round fight,” said White. “For Spike and everything else.”

Let me start off by saying: I was in full support of something being done to avoid main event draws. There is nothing worse for fans, who are shelling out hard earned cash to watch the pay-per-view, than having the two biggest draws on the card fight to a draw. (I’ll let you decide if the pun was intended).

Part of the fun of being a fight fan—or just a sports fan in general—is getting immersed in all the pre-fight hype leading up to an event. For diehards, weeks prior to fight nights are excoriating reminders of what it must be like for junkies during the dry times.

Not to mention, combine all the pre-fight interviews, video blogs, articles, Countdown specials on Spike, the occasional Georges St-Pierre Primetime, pressers and weigh-ins; by the time the final bell rings, every type of fight fan is craving for that climatic conclusion, the closing chapter to the main event.

Needless to say, when that closure is compromised by some indecisive judging and neither fighters’ hand is raise after the scores are spewed out of Bruce Buffer’s pie-hole, my inner Joe is sprinting around in my head like a zombie from 28 Days Later while I have to calmly starve my wallet by ordering another overpriced beer.

Point being, nobody wants draws in main events. There is a place and time for the inconclusive decision in MMA; it should be utilized during times where two guys never really had an advantage over the other. A good draw is acceptable, but when it occurs during the last fight—even during an incredible one like Edgar vs. Maynard 2—fans wake up the next day with a sour taste in their mouths.

On those mornings, I can barely find the energy to download such a hot mess, knowing the gratifying ending was omitted, devaluing all the time and energy spend on the internet leading up to the event. So, that last statement is both sad and pathetic, but equal parts true. You can sympathize with me even those there are far worse tragedies in the world, right?

Edgar vs. Maynard was bearable, almost acceptable, because it still stands as one of the best fights of the year, five months later. But after Penn vs. Fitch went to a draw, something had to be done.

That fight needed, at the most, an extra round, not two.

Good intentions and effort aside, extending all headliners to five rounds is not the best solution the UFC think-tank could have mustered up.

Even though regulation allows for an additional 10 minutes for fighters to duke it out after three rounds, it doesn’t mean it has to be that way—more is not always better, just ask Meg Ryan’s upper lip or the Octomom’s uterus. While you’re at it, ask the Octomom’s lips too.

Firstly, having your key fighters do battle for an extra two rounds will increase the likelihood of injury and general wear-and-tear on the body, which in turn will give match maker Joe Silva an aneurysm. The UFC already has a hard enough time replacing guys at the last minute to preserve a card’s momentum to keep casual fans intrigued—the cash cow of the equation.

As long as none of my readers have amnesia, please refer to two weekends ago at UFC 130 and think about tomorrow at UFC 131. Top guys had to relinquish prime slots on main cards due to injury and the alternate matchups that were improvised, as a result, made the event less appealing. Shaking up main events like a game of Boggle is risking business if the end product has less impact or meaning as the fight it was meant to replace.

Plus some fights are so static during the first three rounds, there’s no reason why fans would want to watch another two. Since UFC 131 was already referenced: Who was dying for 10 more minutes of Rampage not finishing Hamill?

Furthermore, the verdict is not quite out on whether or not these extra rounds will facilitate more finishes. That debate requires a certain level of empirical evidence and a fight mathematician—we’ve got neither here.

You’re stuck with me, but what I will do is link you to an article by Josh Nason, who diligently interjected previously recorded statistics on the percentage of finishes during non-title and title fights.

Basically, over the last year or so, there have been more finishes during three-round non-title fights than five-round championship bouts.

To put that into perspective, we’ve seen fighters who excel in the pressure cooker during those final minutes in the final round with their backs up against a wall. With two more rounds to consider, those types of fighters lose the urgency to make things happen.

On the flipside, there are guys who have made a successful living by grinding away the clock, dominating their will (usually through wrestling) in order to out point their opponents. What will two extra rounds do for that kind of competitor? I’m guessing more of the same.

The only advantage of a 25-minute lay-and-pray clinic over a 15-minute one is getting to see those beautiful little numbers take extra laps around the Octagon. But even then, there’s the internet. We’re watching for the fights.

Plan and simple: mandating five rounds for non-title headliners is a game changer for fighters, not only to the action in the Octagon, but also to all the extra preparation that has to happen in the gym. For example, guys will have to work on their cardio that much harder to survive longer fights, making training camps longer and possibly lessen the amount of bouts a fighter can take in a given year.

A lot of points of contention are up for debate at the moment until we see how it actually pans out, but rest assured, it is a historic shift in UFC policy that will likely alter the landscape of MMA as a whole.

I’ve always been a proponent for logically progressive change, whether in sports, politics or in society. Many calculated gambles thrive or die on a trial and error basis, hands-on test for those involved. This may be no different; time will tell the tale.

All I can say and have been saying for a solution is this: Why not the sudden victory round instead? It does wonders in avoiding draws for The Ultimate Fighter. Then again, that’s a whole other article for a whole other day. I’m sure your eyes are just as tired as mine.

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Could Alistair Overeem Fighting in the UFC Signal the Death of Strikeforce?

Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 Grand Prix champion, Alistair Overeem expressed interest in fighting the UFC heavyweight champion, assuming he rises above all his fellow competitors in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix this year, duri…

Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 Grand Prix champion, Alistair Overeem expressed interest in fighting the UFC heavyweight champion, assuming he rises above all his fellow competitors in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix this year, during Tuesday’s press conference.

“That definitely is my plan, but let’s take it one step at a time,” Overeem told reporters. “I’m taking this fight very serious, if you look at both of our papers, this is a very exciting fight. Fabricio has been incredible the last couple years, and me myself I’ve not been sitting still. It’s going to be an incredible fight.”

After Zuffa purchased Strikeforce, the floodgates of opportunity presented itself to the hungry fighters and fans, only to dry up after UFC president Dana White declared his infamous statement: “Business as usual.”

But now, the dam suffered serious cracks to its wall in the last week after White made an equally intriguing declaration about who would be next in line for welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s gold strap.

The quick search went beyond the UFC’s organic 170-pound line up, recruiting from their parent company’s newly acquired roster. A deal was struck with Strikeforce’s welterweight title holder Nick Diaz to challenge GSP in a champ vs. champ showdown this October.

You can bet Alistair Overeem is not the only high profiled, non-UFC competitor aiming to break into the big leagues to prove their worth. In fact, this hybrid mixture between the premiere MMA companies seems to be in full stride.

Another intriguing development was brought to headlines after the UFC announced Jason “Mayhem” Miller as an opposing coach to Michael Bisping in the next installment of The Ultimate Fighter.

Big things are happening across boundaries that were once deeply ingrained in the isolated MMA world of yesteryear. The future is wide open for fighters and fans, alike, who should embrace the crossover battles we wouldn’t have normally seen.

As long as the UFC is dedicated to orchestrating the fights people want to see, them posing as a monopoly-driving entity should not scare people.

Then again, only when man has tasted absolute power, does his true intentions surface. But, as the empirical evidence suggests—despite the haters’ protest—Dana White has done incredible things for the sport and will continue to do so.

Everybody can’t be a winner as a result of these crossover headlines, though. Now that the GSP vs. Diaz contract is official, keep your eyes peeled for the “Great Migration” into the UFC by all the top guys from Strikeforce (or from anywhere really), the only ones with selling power left.

Eventually, the San Jose-based organization will be on its deathbed once all its talent has been extracted by the glamorous lure of the big stage, the only viable opportunity to make serious money and get proper exposure.

Maybe in hindsight, this will serve as a blueprint the UFC will use to slowly fold Strikeforce to fill the slots surely created by the vast expansion they are now experiencing.

Is there any real reason to keep Strikeforce afloat if it starts becoming an obstacle in the UFC’s plans to put on big fights?

Putting them down like the old beloved family golden retriever riddled with arthritis and tumors, when the time is right, seems like a no-brainer.

If the buyout signaled the beginning of the end, GSP vs. Diaz was the first nail in the coffin, signing Mayhem Miller to coach TUF was the varnish and having either Overeem and/or Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez vacate their respective titles to flock to the octagon would be the last breath before flat lining.

Basically, losing one more star—whether that is a remaining champion or Fedor Emelianenko—would be it for Strikeforce, for all practical terms.

The domino effect may very well be in full swing as you’re reading this article, but as fans of the sport and great fights are watching, the UFC taking over the driver’s seat in the MMA market is not necessarily a bad thing.

Unless you have qualms about watching champions fight at the highest stage, dream fights unfold in a timely manner, having consecutive stacked cards monthly, the death of Strikeforce should be an event to celebrate rather than mourn.

Here’s to the future and the hope it brings fighters like Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Big Foot Silva, Junior Dos Santos, Gilbert Melendez, Frankie Edgar, Jacare Souza, Demian Maia, Jason Miller, Chael Sonnen, Jon Jones, Dan Henderson, King Mo Lawal and Rampage Jackson together under the same banner and cage, to blow the minds of fans memorable bouts for years to come.  

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Could Alistair Overeem Fighting in the UFC Signal the Death of Strikeforce?

Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 Grand Prix champion, Alistair Overeem expressed interest in fighting the UFC heavyweight champion, assuming he rises above all his fellow competitors in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix this year, duri…

Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 Grand Prix champion, Alistair Overeem expressed interest in fighting the UFC heavyweight champion, assuming he rises above all his fellow competitors in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix this year, during Tuesday’s press conference.

“That definitely is my plan, but let’s take it one step at a time,” Overeem told reporters. “I’m taking this fight very serious, if you look at both of our papers, this is a very exciting fight. Fabricio has been incredible the last couple years, and me myself I’ve not been sitting still. It’s going to be an incredible fight.”

After Zuffa purchased Strikeforce, the floodgates of opportunity presented itself to the hungry fighters and fans, only to dry up after UFC president Dana White declared his infamous statement: “Business as usual.”

But now, the dam suffered serious cracks to its wall in the last week after White made an equally intriguing declaration about who would be next in line for welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s gold strap.

The quick search went beyond the UFC’s organic 170-pound line up, recruiting from their parent company’s newly acquired roster. A deal was struck with Strikeforce’s welterweight title holder Nick Diaz to challenge GSP in a champ vs. champ showdown this October.

You can bet Alistair Overeem is not the only high profiled, non-UFC competitor aiming to break into the big leagues to prove their worth. In fact, this hybrid mixture between the premiere MMA companies seems to be in full stride.

Another intriguing development was brought to headlines after the UFC announced Jason “Mayhem” Miller as an opposing coach to Michael Bisping in the next installment of The Ultimate Fighter.

Big things are happening across boundaries that were once deeply ingrained in the isolated MMA world of yesteryear. The future is wide open for fighters and fans, alike, who should embrace the crossover battles we wouldn’t have normally seen.

As long as the UFC is dedicated to orchestrating the fights people want to see, them posing as a monopoly-driving entity should not scare people.

Then again, only when man has tasted absolute power, does his true intentions surface. But, as the empirical evidence suggests—despite the haters’ protest—Dana White has done incredible things for the sport and will continue to do so.

Everybody can’t be a winner as a result of these crossover headlines, though. Now that the GSP vs. Diaz contract is official, keep your eyes peeled for the “Great Migration” into the UFC by all the top guys from Strikeforce (or from anywhere really), the only ones with selling power left.

Eventually, the San Jose-based organization will be on its deathbed once all its talent has been extracted by the glamorous lure of the big stage, the only viable opportunity to make serious money and get proper exposure.

Maybe in hindsight, this will serve as a blueprint the UFC will use to slowly fold Strikeforce to fill the slots surely created by the vast expansion they are now experiencing.

Is there any real reason to keep Strikeforce afloat if it starts becoming an obstacle in the UFC’s plans to put on big fights?

Putting them down like the old beloved family golden retriever riddled with arthritis and tumors, when the time is right, seems like a no-brainer.

If the buyout signaled the beginning of the end, GSP vs. Diaz was the first nail in the coffin, signing Mayhem Miller to coach TUF was the varnish and having either Overeem and/or Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez vacate their respective titles to flock to the octagon would be the last breath before flat lining.

Basically, losing one more star—whether that is a remaining champion or Fedor Emelianenko—would be it for Strikeforce, for all practical terms.

The domino effect may very well be in full swing as you’re reading this article, but as fans of the sport and great fights are watching, the UFC taking over the driver’s seat in the MMA market is not necessarily a bad thing.

Unless you have qualms about watching champions fight at the highest stage, dream fights unfold in a timely manner, having consecutive stacked cards monthly, the death of Strikeforce should be an event to celebrate rather than mourn.

Here’s to the future and the hope it brings fighters like Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Big Foot Silva, Junior Dos Santos, Gilbert Melendez, Frankie Edgar, Jacare Souza, Demian Maia, Jason Miller, Chael Sonnen, Jon Jones, Dan Henderson, King Mo Lawal and Rampage Jackson together under the same banner and cage, to blow the minds of fans memorable bouts for years to come.  

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com