Hyden's Take
HYDEN BLOG: The End For Strikeforce Draws Near; thoughts on Quinton Jackson's Retirement Plans
May 25, 2011 - 9:00:22 AM HYDEN BLOG: The End For Strikeforce Draws Near; thoughts on Quinton Jackson's Retirement Plans

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By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch contributor

It's fairly obvious that the end of Strikeforce is coming in the near future. We all knew that it would end like this. We all knew that the UFC would shut them as soon as they could. With Dana White's recent comments, it makes it seem very likely the end of the new sister promotion could be on its way; there's only one reason why it hasn't happened already, and that's the Showtime deal. That's the only strategical advantage to keeping the Strikeforce brand around.

I feel bad for some of the fighters currently in Strikeforce who probably won't make the journey over to the UFC. I suppose they can just go back to fighting locally, at smaller venues, but when it happens this will be a step back for them. The UFC is going to take certain guys and fold them into their divisions, and it's only a matter of time before the Strikeforce name becomes like the WEC name, a thing of the past.

One thing I'll be interested in seeing is how the UFC handles the tape library for Strikeforce. Do they create a "Best of Strikeforce" series? I assume that's what they'll do. I also assume that Spike would be happy to show said series. There's a lot of high-quality fights that took place in a Strikeforce venue that need to be shown to a wide audience.

I think the time is right for a series of UFC vs. Strikeforce fights involving the champions. Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem vs. UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez would be a great fight that I'd love to see. Or, if there's an issue with Overeem, the winner of Junior Dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin can fight Velasquez, with the winner of that fighting Overeem to unify the Heavyweight Title.

Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson is scheduled to fight Fedor Emelianenko on July 30th. That actually works out well since UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones is currently on the shelf with an injury. Rashad Evans was supposed to get the first shot at Jones, but if the UFC doesn't want to give the shot to Rampage Jackson or Lyoto Machida, they could schedule a Henderson vs. Jones unification fight for the fall, with Evans receiving a shot at the winner.

UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva is scheduled to fight Yushin Okami on August 27. I can't see any way Okami beats Silva, but either way the winner of that fight can take on Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza towards the end of the year. That's assuming, of course, that Souza gets past his next opponent. Strikeforce General Manager Scott Coker has said that Souza is scheduled to defend his title in July, but no opponent has been named. If Souza loses, whoever beat him can fight the winner of Silva vs. Okami in a Middleweight unification fight.

It's already looking likely that Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz will fight UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre next so that's pretty much set. The Lightweight Title unification bout is where things get dicey. Gilbert Melendez is the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion. However, UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard are scheduled to have their title fight sometime this year after having it be postponed from UFC 130 due to injuries. To add to that, Anthony Pettis was already promised a title shot at the winner of Edgar vs. Maynard II before that went to a draw, forcing a third fight between the two to be scheduled. Pettis, not wanting to wait for his title shot, took a fight against Clay Guida that's scheduled for June 4.

If Pettis loses to Guida this all becomes void. However, what I think should happen is that Pettis is matched against Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce Lightweight title. Then the winner of that fight goes on to face the winner of Edgar vs. Maynard III to unify the Lightweight title.

Regardless of whether any of this comes to pass or not, it may be safe to say that Strikeforce will likely cease to exist as a separate brand by the end of this year.

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I don't understand why some people have a problem with the way Quinton "Rampage" Jackson goes about his business. They have a problem with him talking about his MMA career like it's a job. Well, to him, it is a job. He wants to make the most money he can so he can support his family the way he wants. If Rampage wants to retire by the time he's 35, that's good for him. Not everyone is Randy Couture and can fight well into their 40's.

I think it's wrong for people to question Rampage's commitment to MMA. All he's said is that he doesn't enjoy the grind, that he doesn't get excited for fights. That's not saying that he doesn't put the work in. Rampage has had 40 MMA fights, he's like a 15 year veteran in the NFL. Those guys don't need OTA's, and it's ok if they don't want to bust their asses at the beginning of training camp. Rampage knows the playbook, so to speak. He knows what he's doing.

I appreciate Rampage's honesty. He's saying the things that I'm sure lots of other fighters are thinking. What's wrong with wanting as much money as you can get? Rampage has done a lot for MMA. He's earned his money. He also would like to make more movies. I say more power to him. Whatever makes him happy.


Comments and suggestions can be e-mailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com