The UFC's quest to secure the rights to Fedor Emelianenko was a failed one, as indicated just days ago by UFC president Dana White. Strikeforce saw an opportunity to take advantage of such a situation, and succeeded in doing so.
The organization announced Monday that Emelianenko is now part of their organization and is expected to debut on Showtime later this fall. For all parties involved, this is a no-brainer deal.
Strikeforce scores major points in the credibility department with the addition of Fedor (one of the world's greatest fighters) to its lineup. Additionally, securing the involvement of M-1 opens up an entirely new book of possibilities for the organization.
By aligning with M-1, there is nothing to lose. Strikeforce is up against a goliath in the UFC and has successfully worked on co-promotion deals in the past, so this should be no different. I'm guessing they really wanted to get something finalized with Affliction, but after UFC took that option away, they decided to take a chance with aligning with M-1.
For Fedor, he has the opportunity to ply his trade in front of a national pay-channel audience, not just a PPV crowd that is wary of plunking down $40 just to see him. The opportunity for exposure - especially if Strikeforce can work the CBS angle - has certainly increased for him. Not as much potentially as if he inked with the UFC but still better than a few months ago.
From here, it's in Strikeforce's hands to use Fedor as a building block. If the organization can successfully recruit more top heavyweights to fight with Fedor (otherwise his matches may be boring), Strikeforce could easily gain a leg up on UFC in its quest to match the behemoth. While there are already a few talented fighters enlisted with Strikeforce (i.e. Brett Rogers and Alistair Overeem), Strikeforce still needs to add to the depth of its heavyweight division.
As for UFC? You can be sure they've got something up their sleeve. Dana White is a fighter, and is likely plotting his counterattack as we speak. White will never back down to a threat, and this is no exception here.
If you thought his rant on Fedor Friday was a bit much, just wait until about what you're going to hear now. White has publicly said good things about Strikeforce, but that is about to change. The war is coming and casualties should be expected.
The organization announced Monday that Emelianenko is now part of their organization and is expected to debut on Showtime later this fall. For all parties involved, this is a no-brainer deal.
Strikeforce scores major points in the credibility department with the addition of Fedor (one of the world's greatest fighters) to its lineup. Additionally, securing the involvement of M-1 opens up an entirely new book of possibilities for the organization.
By aligning with M-1, there is nothing to lose. Strikeforce is up against a goliath in the UFC and has successfully worked on co-promotion deals in the past, so this should be no different. I'm guessing they really wanted to get something finalized with Affliction, but after UFC took that option away, they decided to take a chance with aligning with M-1.
For Fedor, he has the opportunity to ply his trade in front of a national pay-channel audience, not just a PPV crowd that is wary of plunking down $40 just to see him. The opportunity for exposure - especially if Strikeforce can work the CBS angle - has certainly increased for him. Not as much potentially as if he inked with the UFC but still better than a few months ago.
From here, it's in Strikeforce's hands to use Fedor as a building block. If the organization can successfully recruit more top heavyweights to fight with Fedor (otherwise his matches may be boring), Strikeforce could easily gain a leg up on UFC in its quest to match the behemoth. While there are already a few talented fighters enlisted with Strikeforce (i.e. Brett Rogers and Alistair Overeem), Strikeforce still needs to add to the depth of its heavyweight division.
As for UFC? You can be sure they've got something up their sleeve. Dana White is a fighter, and is likely plotting his counterattack as we speak. White will never back down to a threat, and this is no exception here.
If you thought his rant on Fedor Friday was a bit much, just wait until about what you're going to hear now. White has publicly said good things about Strikeforce, but that is about to change. The war is coming and casualties should be expected.
About the Author:
Artie Sullenberger is an MMA fanatic. He immerses himself in both UFC and Strikeforce, and loves nothing more than to see both organizations growing as they have. He regularly contributes to his favorite sports forum at RootZoo, a top sports community.
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