Rumour:Plug pulled on Strikeforce

dave1982

Sources close to BJPENN.com informed us just moments ago that Strikeforce operations are set to cease and that the promotion is going out of business.

The rumor comes shortly after news broke that Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 9-0 SF) was forced to pull out of his title fight with Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 4-0 SF) due to a wrist injury.

The middleweight title fight was the second key loss to a scheduled November 3rd card, following the loss of a heavyweight main event bout between Frank Mir and Daniel Cormier.

Stay tuned to BJPENN.com for further updates

No surprise really, did they even get a replacement for Mir?

I know its up to showtime when Strikeforce ends and not Zuffa

scudzilla

dave1982 wrote: »

No surprise really, did they even get a replacement for Mir?

I know its up to showtime when Strikeforce ends and not Zuffa

I think Matt Mitrione turned it down.

As for being up to Showtime, if Zuffa say it's finished then it's finished

dave1982

scudzilla wrote: »

I think Matt Mitrione turned it down.

As for being up to Showtime, if Zuffa say it's finished then it's finished

They are contracted to provide another card to Showtime this year and if Showtime want they can extend for 1 more year and Zuffa must provide it.

Zuffa have no say whatsoever on this one

Richy06

That is unless it was Showtime who pulled the plug. They can recognise a dead end when they see one.

I for one am pretty excited if this does turn out to be true - Melendez to the UFC alone should provide some great fights.

DrPhilG

dave1982 wrote: »

scudzilla wrote: »

I think Matt Mitrione turned it down.

As for being up to Showtime, if Zuffa say it's finished then it's finished

They are contracted to provide another card to Showtime this year and if Showtime want they can extend for 1 more year and Zuffa must provide it.

Zuffa have no say whatsoever on this one

Yeah that was my understanding. Zuffa must provide a card for Showtime but I doubt that there are sufficient limits on the quality of the card they must provide. So SF keeps offering sub par events and Showtime will eventually pull out leaving Zuffa free to wrap it up.

Niall0

If Strikeforce folds will they bring a womens division into the UFC? Cant see Dana letting go of Ronda Rousey.

preddy

Does the contract not include that certain fighters that must remain and fight in strikeforce?

Xlami

Long overdue tbh, Cormier, Melendez, Marquart and Rockhold probably co-main event guys then Masvidal, Mousassi, Woodely and Barnett etc Fuel and Fx card fighters for the minute IMO. Also i think Bellator has moved into a reasonable position in the market to be considered a legitamate number 2 promotion for fighters who have fallen on ill terms with the UFC. But like Strikeforce will probably never mount a serious challenge to the market leader.

Mellor

preddy wrote: »

Does the contract not include that certain fighters that must remain and fight in strikeforce?

Yeah but only a few guys. Cormier, Rickholf and Melandez.
Plus that is only in effect under the current contract. Which means it could be up after the next event, if it even happens

califano

Why pull the plug?. Would the franchise name not be sold on to the highest bidder like a smaller promotion buying it and changing its name to strikeforce?.

dave1982

Dana don't like competition

unknown13

This was one of the worst things to happen in mma in recent years. Strikeforce were actually putting on decent shows under Scott Coker than Zuffa came in a sapped their talent now they are going to be folding and have a seriously thin roster.

unknown13

This apparently is breaking but it was kind of inevitable this week it was happening when the commission in Oklahoma said that it hadn't received a sanctioning request from Strikeforce. They claim that they are planning another show in January, very hard to believe though.

Article from Sherdog