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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"I see a lot of s*** on the internet and stuff, 'they bought it to bury it,' and all that stuff. Any of you guys who were around me during that time, that was absolutely not the plan. I was pumped up about it and looking forward to get into it, but, it's over, man. I'm just happy it's over... What has happened to the fighters in Strikeforce is horrible. The way that this thing went down, and what's happened with these guys, these guys have been very patient, and I'm sorry for them, and I'm happy that they're coming over to the UFC now. ... What's happened over there has been completely s***."
-Dana White opines on the end of Strikeforce in a conversation with reporters after the pre-fight press conference for Saturday's UFC 155 event (transcribed by MMAFighting.com).
Penick's Analysis: We'll never know just what White had in mind for Strikeforce when the UFC purchased them early last year, if it ever truly was anything legitimate, but he's not wrong that the fighters have suffered the most from this. Be it from lack of bookings, canceled events, not enough spots on fight cards, etc., the fighters on the Strikeforce roster have had a rough 18 months. Many of them will now get an opportunity to fight in the UFC, and for those at the top of each division, it's going to be huge because they'll have a chance to insert themselves into the title picture in short order. White saying he's happy it's over is a feeling that many have already expressed, and ultimately, it's for the best that the shell of Strikeforce seen in 2012 is no more.
[Dana White art by Travis Beaven (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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