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Build Exciting Fights, Bring UFC Fighters To Strikeforce Not The Other Way Around

Despite a shallow talent pool from which to draw challenging opponents for it’s champions, Strikeforce proved once again that they can build exciting events.
Saturday night we saw an emotional Shinya Aoki celebrate his first victory on US soil, we watched a battered and bloody Keith Jardine gut it out for three rounds against Gegard Mousasi, […]

Despite a shallow talent pool from which to draw challenging opponents for it’s champions, Strikeforce proved once again that they can build exciting events.

Saturday night we saw an emotional Shinya Aoki celebrate his first victory on US soil, we watched a battered and bloody Keith Jardine gut it out for three rounds against Gegard Mousasi, and we saw two champions defend their titles in spectacular fashion.

Lightweight title holder Gilbert Melendez showed the world why he holds a legitimate claim to the No. 1 ranking While welterweight champ Nick Diaz slugged it out for almost five minutes against Paul Daley, to earn his tenth straight win.

To touch on Diaz’ win even further, he did it by fighting Daley where he was the strongest instead of taking the fight to the mat where the Brit is weakest. Even UFC President Dana White Tweeted “Holy fuckin shit!!” in response to the action in the cage.

So if Strikeforce is putting on good shows like this, why should their fighters move to the UFC to fight the best? Maybe the UFC should move their fighters to Strikeforce instead.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship certainly pits some of the best against the best, but fans can never be sure of an exciting match, let alone four standout fights in one telecast.

Diaz last two fights have been exciting to watch, as he’s refused to shy away from either Daley or Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, despite the Brazilian’s ranking outside of the top 20 he came to fight, and he’s come away the winner both times bringing fans to their feet.

While UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre has ground out four unanimous decision wins in his last five fights, and would have likely done the same against BJ Penn if his corner hadn’t thrown in the towel.

Fans are currently waiting for the next 170 lb contender in either Jon Fitch, widely regarded as a boring fighter, or BJ Penn, who looks to rebuild a sagging record after back-to-back title losses. With both men on the injured list fans and fighters are forced to wait for the rematch, leaving fighters like Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, and Thiago Alves waiting on the sidelines for their turn.

Why not throw them into the Strikeforce cage and give them an immediate shot at a title? Condit is certainly deserving of a top fight, he’s only been begging for a shot for months now.

You can also apply this reasoning to other UFC divisions like heavyweight and lightweight, were fighters are being kept in limbo over Cain Velasquez injury and the impending rematch between Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard.

I’m sure fighters like Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis, Melvin Guillard, and Clay Guida would jump at a chance to meet Melendez, and not just for the Strikeforce title, but to prove that they are the best.

So again, why not bring some of the UFC’s best to Strikeforce instead of the other way around?

Jon Jones Versus Rashad Evans: News, Opinion, Rumors and All the Pre-Fight Hype

After Jon Jones defeated Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on Saturday, March 19th at UFC 128, the UFC brought Jones’ next opponent into the Octagon to meet him. The man that Jones will face in his first title defense is “Suga” Rashad…

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Jon Jones Versus Rashad Evans: News, Opinion, Rumors and All the Pre-Fight Hype

The Curious Case Of Jon “Bones” Jones

(photo by Ethan Miller_Getty Images)
With the meteoric rise of UFC light heavyweight Jon “Bones” Jones (12-1) through the 205 lb division, it’s a wonder just how far he’ll be able to go.
This Saturday he’ll face one of his toughest tests in current UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua when the two meet in Newark, New Jersey […]

(photo by Ethan Miller_Getty Images)

With the meteoric rise of UFC light heavyweight Jon “Bones” Jones (12-1) through the 205 lb division, it’s a wonder just how far he’ll be able to go.

This Saturday he’ll face one of his toughest tests in current UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua when the two meet in Newark, New Jersey at UFC 128. Rua presents the wily veteran to Jones zealous youth, fans will have to wait a few more days to see which will prove victorious.

During this past week, Jones has been brimming with his confidence as well as his personal belief that he can be crowned champion on March 19. This was very evident during Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference when Jones talked to the media about his abilities, joking occasionally about the fight. It’s his bravado that it is his destiny to become a world title holder.

Another interpretation of all of Jones talk might be one of overconfidence after listening to the media media and odds makers name him the favorite over the past month. Could it be that despite his statements saying otherwise, that he’s fallen for his own hype? Youth and the energy can certainly overcome many obstacles, but will it be enough to defeat a top fighter like Rua?

While Jones wooed the media with his talk at the pre-fight press conference, Rua sat passively answering questions calmly like the experienced fighter he is, letting his opponent take the stage. “Shogun” has been here before, rising to stardom at the same age of 23 as Jones, by winning the 2005 PRIDE middleweight Grand Prix. So the Brazilian is keenly aware of Jones situation, and knows that despite all the talk that a champion will only be declared after the dust settles Saturday night.

So then, in keeping with most media outlets, what is next for “Bones” Jones? It’s a curious case indeed.

A win over “Shogun” seemingly points to an upcoming title defense against teammate former champ Rashad Evans, for a belt that has only been successfully defended one time by only two of the last four champions. Should the title change hands again, then what for Jon Jones?

Well of course, if Jon Jones wins, and keeps on winning, there is no need to discuss this further as he’ll rise to status of greatest ever and ranked among the pound-for-pound best in the world.

But a loss, a loss is something very few want to discuss, and that puts Jones where? Should the UFC give him a chance to fight for the belt again if he can beat another highly ranked opponent, or will they string him along further giving the young fighter more time to mature.

One proposal, which might make sense on paper but not in the UFC pocket books, would be to move him into the Strikeforce promotion to cut his teeth against some of the veterans there, as well as age under lights not quite so bright as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Of course that would mean that Jones would have to lose Saturday night, and who believes that? Quite a curious case indeed.

UFC Buys Strikeforce: Reaction, Analysis, Opinion on the Purchase

UFC president Dana White, speaking to MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani, dropped a bomb on the mixed martial arts world on Saturday. Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, has purchased Strikeforce, their largest competitor. Bleacher Report will provide ongoing coverage as news breaks on this event. Check back often for news, opinion, analysis and opinion on what […]

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UFC Buys Strikeforce: Reaction, Analysis, Opinion on the Purchase

A Quick Look At Zuffa’s Purchase Of Strikeforce

That Tweet from the official UFC Twitter account (@UFC) says it all, doesn’t it?
On the weekend you decide to work because the biggest news items were the Shark Fights 14 and Bellator 36 events, you check your smart phone at lunch to find out the internet has blown up over the biggest news in North […]

That Tweet from the official UFC Twitter account (@UFC) says it all, doesn’t it?

On the weekend you decide to work because the biggest news items were the Shark Fights 14 and Bellator 36 events, you check your smart phone at lunch to find out the internet has blown up over the biggest news in North American mixed martial arts history.

So The MMA News is behind the eight ball this afternoon, so we’ll do our best to catch everyone up.

UFC President Dana White made the official announcement today that Zuffa, the parent company to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has purchased rival promotion Strikeforce and it will be “business as usual” for both companies.

Sorry folks no “Super Fights” are going to be scheduled between the two promotions, so you won’t get to see Alistair Overeem vs. Cain Velasquez, or Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre….right now.

White made it very plain during an interview with Arien Helwani, that the UFC does not “co-promote” and that includes Strikeforce even though it’s owned by the same company. The UFC President did say that all Strikeforce contracts would be honored and the company would be run much like the WEC was.

White noted that Showtime and Strikeforce have about two years left on their broadcasting contract, so I would expect the promotion to have that much of a lifetime left before it’s wholly absorbed by the UFC. Also, it’s likely that once fighters have completed their current contract with Strikeforce, they would be free to make the move to the UFC. So it’s likely that we’ll only see a few of Strikeforce’s best move over to the UFC, but as more contracts are completed more of the top fighters will find a new home with the top promotion.

This is also excellent news for some fighters who find themselves being released from the UFC, as we could see some very good fighters find new homes in Strikeforce. Once there, they’ll have the chance to prove themselves to show they deserve to be moved back into the UFC. With Strikeforce they will have fights against tough opponents and a guaranteed paycheck from an established promotion backed by money from a billion dollar company.

Much more to get through, but this is certainly one interesting day.

Bellator Banking On Fans Making Saturdays ‘Fight Night’

Bellator Fighting Championship has worked out a broadcast deal with MTV2 to bring you their brand of mixed martial arts on Saturday nights starting next month.
Shows will begin a few hours before the normal scheduled times for UFC pay per views, ending just as the live UFC event begins. They are hoping that you’ll […]

Bellator Fighting Championship has worked out a broadcast deal with MTV2 to bring you their brand of mixed martial arts on Saturday nights starting next month.

Shows will begin a few hours before the normal scheduled times for UFC pay per views, ending just as the live UFC event begins. They are hoping that you’ll use the remote control to switch between Spike TV (those occasions when the UFC puts prelims on Spike that is) and MTV 2. Making Saturday nights ‘Fight Night.’

But what I’d like to know is, will you be tuning in?

A normal pay per view runs for about three hours, and for many can be a way for groups to gather to watch the live show at home or at their local watering hole. Adding another two hours to that evening may be a little much for the average Joe to spend tuning in to a Bellator event and then having friends pile in for the live UFC event, or to quickly run out to the local pub for a seat in front of the big screen.

For shut ins like myself who live by the flicker of multiple computer screens and televisions, were probably the ideal demographic for Bellator, plus it will keep us busy while we wait for the pay per view.

Certainly the bars and pubs would like you to come in early, spend some extra cash while your watching Bellator on their screens, but how many of these places would actually bother tuning in? With other sports events like basketball or hockey how many normal fans can tune in for five hours?

I would expect most places to carry the live UFC prelim specials, but who wins the argument between featuring the Bellator main event against a prelim bout from the UFC. With some fans simply associating the words mixed martial arts to mean the Ultimate Fighting Championship I’d put my money on Bellator fans losing out.

Bellator will put on some great events with their upcoming fourth season. I hope they can find their niche on Saturday nights. I don’t think they will ever do outstanding ratings over two hours but I can definitely see them doing well enough to satisfy MTV 2 execs into signing them for another stint. I mean what man with a remote control will just watch one channel when there are multiple sports events on.