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Feb 3, 2010 - 8:54:42 PM



By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With the UFC counter-programming Strikeforce just about every time they put on an event, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker may be getting a bit of that killer instinct rubbing off on him. According to a post from SI.com's Josh Gross, Coker stated that Strikeforce's return to CBS in April is now "highly possible" for the 24th of the month.

The event had been rumored for the 17th, and the date change would now put the return of Fedor Emelianenko to CBS on the same night as Zuffa-owned WEC's first foray into pay-per-view. The WEC had picked a night that was not conflicting with any other events, but with the announcement coming earlier today of that show, it has given Strikeforce the opportunity to respond in kind.

The WEC event is already being heavily criticized for what is perceived to be too expensive a price in a very over-saturated pay-per-view market in April and May, and going head to head with a free event on network television featuring the number one heavyweight in the world and a Title bout between Dan Henderson and Jake Shields would have an incredibly negative affect on the prospects of this WEC event being a success.

Link to Josh Gross' Twitter page

Penick's Analysis: This is a brilliant strike back by Scott Coker and Strikeforce if they pull the trigger on this date change. The UFC has done what they can to counter-program and take viewers away from Strikeforce events with replays, but this is a chance for Strikeforce to really do some damage to Zuffa, which is something they have not been able to do thus far. The WEC card is going to be stacked, and that's going to make an unsuccessful pay-per-view event sting even more. If MMA fans are given a choice between spending $45 for the WEC card and seeing Fedor and Dan Henderson on CBS, they're going to go with the free choice. This isn't picking between Spike and Showtime or Versus and Showtime with the ability to DVR both events, this is asking fans to spend an extra $45 after UFC 112 earlier in the month and UFC 113 and 114 in May. Again, Strikeforce absolutely needs to follow through on this, as it is their first real chance to legitimately affect the bottom line of a Zuffa owned property and really boost their stock in the MMA world. They wouldn't necessarily have the same affect against a UFC pay-per-view, but against this first time pay-per-view for the WEC they absolutely will affect the type of business they're able to do.

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