Yesterday the UFC purchased their top competitor, Strikeforce. UFC President Dana White insists nothing will change, there will be no cross promotion and it will all be “business as usual”. But after two years Strikeforce’s contracts with Showtime will expire.
It’s not going to happen yet, but according to Josh Gross:
“The UFC/Strikeforce split is all about contracts. Once they’re fulfilled with Showtime … A WEC type merger is planned.”
How long until that happens is anyone’s guess, but as contracts expire the UFC will be in a position to negotiate away all of Strikeforce’s young talent and top fighters.
Within 2 years the best in the world will complete under one banner.
What fights are you most excited to see?
Nick Diaz vs. Georges St. Pierre Gilbert Melendez vs. Frankie Edgar
Alistair Overeem vs. Cain Velasquez Jason Miller vs. Michael Bisping
King Mo Lawal vs. Rampage Jackson Ronaldo Souza vs. Chael Sonnen
Strikeforce: Diaz vs Daley coverage
Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum coverage
Antonio Silva vs. Junior dos Santos Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couture
Gegard Mousasi vs. Lyoto Machida Fabricio Werdum vs. Brock Lesnar
Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua Paul Daley vs. Thiago Alves
Daniel Cormier vs. Matt Mitrione Shinya Aoki vs. Jim Miller
Sergei Kharitonov vs. Shane Carwin Roger Gracie vs. Phil Davis
Rafael Cavalcante vs. Jon Jones Tim Kennedy vs. Rousimar Palhares
Tyron Woodley vs. Diego Sanchez Jorge Masvidal vs. Gray Maynard