UFC to buy Strikeforce

[Captain America]

I've read that StrikeForce has two years left on their Shotime deal, so the two will merge then. But that's just speculation. The way Dana's talking, it sounds like it'll me a minor-league of the UFC. StikeForce's top guys move up, UFC's bottom guys move down. As long as it stays free, I really don't care. I like the idea of one strong commission to make fighters fight, make ducking top opponents difficult to impossible. If the UFC runs a PPV every month and a Fight Night/Live on Versus each month, while StrikeForce runs a Shotime/CBS show each month and Challengers card each month, there'll be plenty of fights for all their guys.

[therealremi]

I absolutely loved the first episode of Strikeforce heavyweight tournament more than any UFC event since Lesnar-Velasquez (and there has been a few). I prefer Jimmy Lennon Jr over Bruce Buffer, Showtime/Strikeforce commentators over those from UFC. Even the Strikeforce ring card girls are better looking. So it's not all that obvious to me that UFC is the more attractive spouse here.

[VictorCharlie]

Well I gotta say I pay no attention to buffer/lennon jr, the commentators or the ring girls. SF has had some good cards lately b/c they stack them but they don't have a deep enough roster to do this continually. Its no so much that the UFC isn't making good cards either its that the fights themselves haven't been super exciting.

[mattboxingfan]

This would be much better if they just merge into the UFC they would just have to put on a lot more fight cards. Wont this just make it harder for the fighters who want to go into the UFC from strikeforce to do so? So we wont get to see some of the fights we want to. I want Hendo and Daley back...

[bzkfn]

From what I've rtead Hendo is open to coming back, but Daley is utterly pissed and is considering pulling out of the Diaz fight. I prefer Strikeforce, I just think they have fighters that are more open to the standup, and being a massive boxing fan that is what I look for. The likes of Diaz/Daley/Fedor/Hendo and even someone like Melendez always try and close the show with a stoppage. I just hope it doesn't become too UFC like, because like Therealremi said, in my eyes almost everything about the way Strikeforce present a show is better. By this what I mean is that Strikeforce seems to lead towards a boxing presentation, where as UFC is more like WWE.


Just a couple of things to add. Scott Coker has signed a deal with Zuffa that will keep him on with Strikeforce.

Dana says the entire Strikeforce roster will be kept on, with contracts honoured.

Dana also says some UFC guys could end up in Strikeforce.