Immediately following the news that Zuffa, the parent company of the #1 Mixed Martial Arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship, had purchased the #2 American based promotion Strikeforce, skepticism ran wild that the newly purchased promotion would be absorbed completely. UFC President Dana White was quick to assure that Strikeforce would be maintained as a separate promotion, but also said later that they would keep the promotion going as long as they can. With two years left on the contract between Strikeforce and their host network Showtime, many believe this sets the countdown for how long Zuffa will keep the brand going. On Wednesday, news was released that for the first time ever a reigning UFC and Strikeforce champion will meet in a super-fight on October 29 with reigning Welterweight champions Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz making MMA history. This was made possible with Diaz signing a new contract that allows him to fight both in Strikeforce and now return to the UFC. This sent media and fans wondering if this one deal is the first step in absorbing Strikeforce fighters into the UFC roster and if this would mean the end of the newly acquired product. Is that what is happening, or can this be the smooth beginning of a new method of promoting big fights with similar circumstances?
Since Strikeforce jumped into the spotlight as the #2 MMA promotion in the world, especially in the United States, fans had been playing matchmaker wanting to pit fighters in the UFC against those in Strikeforce. Dream match-ups like Mousasi vs Machida and Overeem vs Lesnar were some of the more popular demands coming from the fan community, and immediately everybody thought that these matches would be set up when Strikeforce was purchased. With this new and unprecedented dual-promotion contract that Zuffa has Nick Diaz in, skepticism is high all around wondering what this means for the future of MMA. Though this may not actually count as a dual-promotion contract since Zuffa owns both parties. With the hype behind this match alone, Zuffa can tap into a new method of promotion. Though they own both promotions and therefore both rosters of fighters, the two are still seen as totally different leagues with those in Strikeforce hoping to get into the UFC for greater recognition and much better pay. If Zuffa wants to build up hype for potential super-fights between the two rosters, both champ vs champ and regular fights, then directing new talent to the less full roster of Strikeforce would be to their benefit. The roster in Strikeforce is minimal compared to that of the UFC, with the same names always talked about and kept in title contention. With a bigger stable of talent and more entertaining prospects directed to their way, Zuffa can capitalize on fans demanding more super-fights. Most of the super-fights fans call for are match-ups between fighters with similar styles and entertaining personalities like Guillard vs Noons and Bisping vs Kennedy, Barnett vs Mir, Robbie Lawler vs Leben, "King Mo" vs "Rampage", Woodley vs Sanchez, "Cyborg" vs Kampmann, and many more.
Keeping the UFC vs Strikeforce battle going would be perfect. Like Lightweights coming in from the WEC absorption wanting to prove they are not second rate compared to the UFC, Strikeforce fighters want to prove they are not only worthy of that level, but also better than those already there who they see as overrated. This plan brings great potential for business, promotion, sorting out the ranks, and delivering entertaining fights that would please MMA fans from around the world. There are plenty of fights already on high demand, and there will be plenty more if Zuffa sticks to this strategy and keeps improving Strikeforce.
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