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.
Strikeforce made the announcement on Monday, letting the public know that top heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko would be fighting under the Strikeforce umbrella going forward, with the expectation that his first fight will take place within the next 90 days. Both Fedor and Strikeforce stand to benefit from this arrangement.
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.
Strikeforce had everything to gain by making this deal. Every name like Fedor that it can attract scores the organization some credibility points with MMA fans. Strikeforce gets some free assistance from M-1, which should serve as a helping hand in promoting these fights.
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.
It's now in Strikeforce's hands to build around Fedor by bringing in some other competitive heavyweights. While names like Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett, and Brett Rogers all present themselves as potentially interesting opponents, but the lack of depth in the heavyweight division is somewhat concerning.
And yes, even UFC wins by this signing. Fedor will stay fresh in the public eye which will help keep him a constant question and annoyance to White and the rest of the UFC brass. And what happens when White gets annoyed? He gets angry and even more aggressive in making his product that much better.
White had some choice words for Fedor when revealing his frustrations in failing to secure the rights to his fights. To date, White has been pretty politically correct when it comes to his words about Strikeforce; expect that to change, because a war has begun.
Strikeforce made the announcement on Monday, letting the public know that top heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko would be fighting under the Strikeforce umbrella going forward, with the expectation that his first fight will take place within the next 90 days. Both Fedor and Strikeforce stand to benefit from this arrangement.
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.
Strikeforce had everything to gain by making this deal. Every name like Fedor that it can attract scores the organization some credibility points with MMA fans. Strikeforce gets some free assistance from M-1, which should serve as a helping hand in promoting these fights.
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.
It's now in Strikeforce's hands to build around Fedor by bringing in some other competitive heavyweights. While names like Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett, and Brett Rogers all present themselves as potentially interesting opponents, but the lack of depth in the heavyweight division is somewhat concerning.
And yes, even UFC wins by this signing. Fedor will stay fresh in the public eye which will help keep him a constant question and annoyance to White and the rest of the UFC brass. And what happens when White gets annoyed? He gets angry and even more aggressive in making his product that much better.
White had some choice words for Fedor when revealing his frustrations in failing to secure the rights to his fights. To date, White has been pretty politically correct when it comes to his words about Strikeforce; expect that to change, because a war has begun.
About the Author:
Artie Sullenberger is a mixed martial arts fanatic. He watches both UFC and Strikeforce, and loves nothing more than to see both entities growing as they have. He regularly contributes to his favorite sports forum at RootZoo, a leading sports community.
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