Penick's Take
PENICK: Examining updated rumors for April 17th Fight Night event on Spike
Mar 5, 2010 - 12:28:36 AM PENICK: Examining updated rumors for April 17th Fight Night event on Spike

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With the official reporting today of the UFC's decision to go head to head with Strikeforce's CBS card, there's a lot that is still unknown about what the UFC will be putting together for that night. With Strikeforce putting on three Title fights on April 17th the UFC, to do what they want to do with this counter-programming move and that is hurt Strikeforce, will need to come out with some big guns for this card. Well, if one person's information is to be believed, that's just what they're looking to do.

A poster on The Underground forum, Timmy B, who had posted this event was coming per his sources, has now updated with more information that he's hearing on the event.

Running down a number of things about the event, Timmy B wrote:

"1. Kimbo Slice will be fighting on it.

2. [Chuck] Liddell or [Forrest] Griffin are still a maybe. Depends on if Strikeforce decides to go with Walker or Canseco for the card. SF is in full on negotiations with both fighters. Neither come cheap.

3. White & Co are expecting to take away between 33% to 50% of the key male demographic (18-34), which will either cancel SF from CBS or force them to pay money they don't have to get Fedor, their ratings draw.

4. James Toney is not fighting on the card no matter what the speculation is.

5. Coker is semi-bluffing about moving the date. As discussed by a few others, they share the same crew as the Showtime Boxing team. It can be done, however highly unlikely. Moving the date would also cost Coker money and piss off ticketholders.

6. Akiyama vs. Silva is still happening on the card. Just not the main event. Things have blown up in 2 days. White is going for the jugular."

Now obviously nothing's been confirmed for the card at this point, but as was said Timmy B was correct about this Fight Night event coming to Spike so I'll take these comments as very much possible. But what do these points bring to this head to head battle? Let's take a look:

"1. Kimbo Slice will be fighting on it."- This one is huge from a ratings standpoint. Like I suggested earlier the doubly whammy would be to have him face off with Toney, but if Timmy B is correct Toney will not be on this card. That said, considering the numbers Kimbo has already proven to draw in the past, that will be enough to bring eyeballs to Spike. Him against anyone is not a better fight than anything on Strikeforce's card, but in the grand scheme of getting people to watch your event that won't matter, especially with a couple of the other possibilities coming here.

"2. Liddell or Griffin are still a maybe. Depends on if Strikeforce decides to go with Walker or Canseco for the card. SF is in full on negotiations with both fighters. Neither come cheap." - If the UFC gets Liddell or Griffin onto this card against legitimate opposition on Spike TV, both fighters have legitimately larger fanbases with mainstream fans than anyone on the Strikeforce card and it will bring viewers again to Spike. With regard to Strikeforce looking to put on a Herschel Walker vs. Jose Canseco fight, it's a desperation move. If they pull the trigger on this fight they will get massive publicity, but for all the wrong reasons. They will essentially be saying, "We've got three Title fights but more people will tune in for this freak show." It demeans them as a promotion and it insults the fighters competing for their Titles if they need that fight to bring in viewers.

"3. White & Co are expecting to take away between 33% to 50% of the key male demographic (18-34), which will either cancel SF from CBS or force them to pay money they don't have to get Fedor, their ratings draw." - The reason CBS is putting on fights from any organization is to get a piece of the "holy grail" advertising demo that is young adult men. That's why they will put up with lower overall numbers than reruns in Saturdays in primetime to air these shows. It's here that Dana and the UFC can do the most damage, because even if they can't outright beat them in the numbers, if they're able to steal away a sizable chunk of that demo they may do enough to where CBS might say it's not worth it.

"5. Coker is semi-bluffing about moving the date. As discussed by a few others, they share the same crew as the Showtime Boxing team. It can be done, however highly unlikely. Moving the date would also cost Coker money and piss off ticketholders." - Moving this show for Strikeforce cannot be a viable option right now. Fans have bought tickets, the event has already been announced and, most importantly, to move it head to head against the WEC on the 24th would put them head to head with Showtime's own Super Six boxing tournament. No, that train has likely already left the station.

"6. Akiyama vs. Silva is still happening on the card. Just not the main event. Things have blown up in 2 days. White is going for the jugular." - This is big on as well, as this could be a great fight. With this in the co-main slot, along with either Liddell or Forrest in the main event and Kimbo bringing viewers to the card, the UFC can outright win this battle. Many fans will simply DVR both events and only watch one live, but with the hold the UFC has on the casual fanbase there's no reason to believe the UFC can't outdraw Strikeforce, despite the national availability of CBS.

Strikeforce could very well be in trouble here with these developments. It'll ultimately come down to what level of loss is acceptable to CBS. As much as they may need it for the ratings, I sincerely hope they don't put together a fight between Walker and Canseco. It would just tarnish a really good card with world class talent by making a mockery of the sport with Canseco's involvement. They may need to figure some other draw before the event, but please don't let it be that fight.

Dana White and the UFC are once again trying to snuff out competition, and the kid gloves are certainly off now as far as White's handling of Strikeforce. This news is an opening salvo, and the UFC is going right for the killshot on April 17th. Things could get very interesting, stay tuned.

MORE ON THIS STORY: To read the original report with Penick's initial analysis, click here.