Strikeforce's April Card

[Webcam ham.]

So I'm not one to usually get excited for events put on by smaller promotions like Strikeforce, but damn if their April card isn't going to be badass. They've already signed two title fights, and they're looking to do one more. Not that their titles are worth a shit because really they aren't UFC titles, but anyway...

Lightweight fight: Shinya Aoki vs Gilbert Melendez
I'm pretty excited about this. Aoki is the #2 ranked lightweight just behind BJ Penn and Melendez is 9 or 10. I'm fully expecting Aoki to win this, but Melendez should bring a good fight.

Middleweight fight: Jake Shields vs Dan Henderson
I really think Henderson left UFC to come over and embarrass everyone in Strikeforce then bail with the belt. Shields doesn't stand a chance here. He's a wrestler and that's it. Henderson's a better wrestler with good striking. Poor Shields. I like him a lot but he's gonna get killed.

Light Heavyweight fight: King Mo Lawal vs Gegard Mousasi
I hope Mousasi fucking murders this guy. Don't know if he will, but I can't stand Lawal. This should be a really damn good fight.

[The Girl Who Couldn't Remember]

In the second half of Wrestling Observer Radio this week, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez were making fun of Strikeforce for booking three title shows in their small amount of time as they are apparently in danger of running over if that's the case.

I thought it was funny that they were making fun of an MMA organization but I thought they shouldn't have diverted away from all the much more interesting talk of the upcoming Wrestlemania.

[Webcam ham.]

It's true that they run a risk here with the three title fights because there's potential all of them could go the allotted 30 minutes, then you have fighter entrances and I'm sure they have promos to do, so it really isn't the best planning. On top of that, non of the prelim fights will air, which kind of blows. I know they wanted to get Herschel Walker on the card too to pull in that extra fanbase that loves freakshows, but their planning is just horrid.

[The Girl Who Couldn't Remember]

Vinnie's interests coincide with the results of a recent Wrestling Observer poll:

--What show are you most looking forward to in March?
WrestleMania 70.5%
UFC 110 15.9%
TNA Destination X 5.1%
UFC Versus 1 2.2%
UFC Fight Night 2.2%
Dragon Gate PPV 2.2%
WEC 1.9%

[Webcam ham.]

The Undertaker loves MMA so eff you.

[The Chocolate-Covered Contest]

Strikeforce

[The Girl Who Couldn't Remember]

Strikeforce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ESBx2Ryzw&feature=related

[The Girl Who Couldn't Remember]

Strikeforce

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ESBx2Ryzw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpkIuHkqy1M&NR=1

[The Clue of the Tapping Heels]

Babality

[Webcam ham.]

[Brak]

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

You know what sucks?

Professional wrestling.

[Webcam ham.]

So it turns out UFC is going to counter program with a live card. Rumor has it they're going to put on Wanderlei vs Akiyama, and Kimbo vs someone. There's also rumors they're going to get Chuck or Forrest on the card which would crush poor Strikeforce.

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

I don't get why UFC would do that. I think if Strikeforce gets popular, it would only help UFC... unless they're competing for advertisement and live audiences, which I don't think they are.

[Webcam ham.]

How could it help the UFC? Strikeforce needs to remain a shitty b-league that feeds fighters into the UFC. We don't need Strikeforce on network TV. We need UFC on network TV. UFC is trying to show that Strikeforce can't attract shit, so they're going to look to beat them on a cable network. They're really going for a kill on this one.

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

UFC needs Strikeforce to succeed so it attracts more MMA fans. This isn't the MLB or NFL. They need a televised attraction to draw more attention to the SPORT of MMA... because, let's face it, UFC will NEVER be on national TV. There is too much money in PPV, no risk about getting advertisement.

If Strikeforce succeeds as a legitimate b-class league in MMA, it will draw fans, who will then check out UFC.

The only reason I can think of for UFC to try and crush them is fighting over advertisements. That's really it. There is too much good that can come out of spreading the sport.

[The Girl Who Couldn't Remember]

What you are saying makes no sense Jukai. They are in direct competition. Why would even a small part of them want Strikeforce to succeed? Don't you see the dangers of doing what you are describing? If you promote your B-league, perhaps they get popular, blow up to be more popular than you and run you out of business?

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

What you are saying makes no sense Jukai. They are in direct competition. Why would even a small part of them want Strikeforce to succeed? Don't you see the dangers of doing what you are describing? If you promote your B-league, perhaps they get popular, blow up to be more popular than you and run you out of business?

I'm sure the NHL really worries about the CHL. This seems like an unfounded worry and a clear view that you have no idea about anything MMA related. Go back to that homoerotic acting thing you watch.

[Webcam ham.]

What happened to Pride when UFC got big, Noah?

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

If I remember correctly (which I do, because I just f'in checked), Pride collapsed when a newspaper announced that Dream Stage Entertainment was a front for the Yakuza, and Pride was pulled off the air. Before this happened, UFC and Pride were planning on co-hosting tournaments to spread both their respected organizations (shock!!!).

Now whether you believe that White actually caused the demise of Pride by spreading that rumor or not, UFC was planning on having joint ventures with Pride to get a greater audience.

So, you know, suck a dick, Vinnie. If Strikeforce ever got big enough that it would actually take money away from UFC, Zuffa will just buy it like they did WEC.


edit: and going back to the original topic, so far I'd much rather watch Strikeforce than UFC's card. Aoki vs Melendez may actually be a fantastic bout.

[Webcam ham.]

You are incorrect. Pride was not purchased by Zuffa until a year after that happened. Pride moved to PPV and still put on several events. Re-check your sources and then swallow a cup of semen, faggot. As far as WEC goes, that purchase was made 4 years ago with the intent of having it be a minor league promotion to feed into the UFC, but they ended up eliminating the higher weight rankings. There was never any threat of revenue loss.

Now Strikeforce already has a network deal, has stupid fucking Fedor, and any shitty fighters that the UFC needs to let go (Bonnar, Jardine, etc) they can't because they will take their popular name right over to Strikeforce for a paycheck. It's not good business practice to let a competitor grow and thrive. You're a Jew, you should understand this.

Now for the last point, yeah, I'd probably rather watch the Strikeforce card too, but we aren't casual MMA fans that don't care about these "no-name" fighters like Aoki or Mousasi. If UFC puts on some names, they're going to dominate the night.

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

I'm incorrect? What? Pride was kicked off national television then lasted nine months before they were bought out. They lasted ten years and put on some of the most gigantic MMA events in the history of the sport. If you don't see any correlation to getting kicked off national television and selling themselves to UFC, I don't know how I can explain the concept any simpler without hand puppets. Their disappearance had NOTHING to do with UFC, who wanted to spread their influence with joint ventures with Pride. You can twist it however you want by putting in a time scale that proves absolutely nothing, I'm still right about this.

If Strikeforce succeeds on national television, it will open up the gate for UFC to do the same. They will never go out of PPV unless it proves to be viable. Hence, I still don't get UFC trying to ruin Strikeforce here. You have a great point about having to keep shitty fighters so they don't waltz over to Strikeforce, but that certainly wasn't a priority when Affliction was taking every washed up fighter they could.

Who exactly could UFC put up for that night? Kimbo Slice is so awful, it wouldn't really convince me to switch the channel. All the big name fighters in UFC, outside of Lesnar, are lined up for fights in the future. So I don't really see who they could put up.

Lesnar vs Velasquez? Hey, I'd watch that!

[Webcam ham.]

Your last point ignores the fact that no one outside of hardcore fans gives two shits about Jake Shields, Gegard Mousasi, or Shinya Aoki. Kimbo, Chuck, and Forrest are household names. How many people don't know who Chuck or Randy are? Any of them on the card means the casual spectator (who probably hasn't even heard of Strikeforce) is going to tune in. Wanderlei and Akiyama alone will pull in more hardcore fans than any of the Strikeforce fights will.

I disagree with your point about Strikeforce opening the door to be on network TV. From what I understand, UFC would already be on network television, but they don't want to give up any creative control to the networks. Since Strikeforce has a network deal, if UFC absolutely crushes them with a free card on Spike, obviously the network is going to know that Strikeforce is a waste of time.

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

I'll accept a theory that UFC is gearing to take Strikeforce's network spot, I'll accept that, but I'd say Strikeforce existing gets more acclaim to UFC by widening the appeal of MMA. If some dude flips to Strikeforce and likes it, he's more likely to check out UFC, which has superior competition.

Also, is UFC planning on doing this on Spike or PPV?

[Webcam ham.]

Spike

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

Hmm.... toughie. I definitely wont watch spike if Kimbo's fighting, but hmm....

[Webcam ham.]

If it's Kimbo and James Toney, I'm in.

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

I'll stick with the Henderson and Aoki, thanks. Call me when Forrest fights.

[Webcam ham.]

The Hendo-Shields fight is going to be so one sided. Shields doesn't have a single tool in his arsenal that matches up with any of Henderson's. Same with Aoki and Melendez. Aoki's freakish jiu jitsu is too dominant. King Mo and Mousasi is actually really the only fight I'm looking forward to. Those guys are both legit great fighters.

[sexual tyrannosaurus]

I think you're underrating Melendez, I actually think that will be a good fight, though Aoki will win.

I know Henderson will dominate the shit out of shields, I don't even know who the dude is. But I just want to see some UFC guy go in there and fuck shit up.

[Webcam ham.]

Well, I think we can agree Strikeforce is officially done on CBS.