Rich Davie
07-01-2010, 11:19 PM
MMA: How the promotion Strikeforce is in danger of losing some of the best fighters
by Tyson Abaroa (http://www.helium.com/users/503300/show_articles)
Strikeforce is a legitimate organization that adds value to fighters. However, it will most likely never get out the shadow of the UFC. The majority of the elite Mixed Martial Artists fight under Dana White’s banner. Strikeforce is facing the same challenge that Major League Soccer (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) faces. Once an athlete comes of age and proves their worth, the bigger organizations will snatch them up with bigger contracts.
There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that UFChttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) scouts watch all the Strikeforce bouts and wait for contracts to expire. I could see them now in the Las Vegas headquarters with whiteboards filled with pictures and bios. Making webs of possible future fights. They have already matched up Jake Shields with Anderson Silva for a five round championship match (that alone would spawn another article). Herschel Walker and Randy Couture have a future bout at the MGM Grand. The UFC first wants to make a show that will bring in Millions in Pay-per-view, and a sold out event. They will do this by recruiting the best or most controversial from any promotion that exists.
After the UFC has brought in their millions, they will give small payouts to the men that brought in the money with their sweat and blood. Though Strikeforce is the smaller promotion it is the only bargaining chip that the fighters have. A fighter’s union, I hope, will never exist and that only leaves other promotions to use at the table for more money, the biggest and most likely being Strikeforce. This was the option Fedor Emelianenkohttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) used when the UFC couldn’t satisfy his demands. Fedor may not be getting everything he is worth, but Strikeforce is getting more money with him than without him.
The rise and fall of the promotion, Affliction, should be the biggest lesson. Affliction tried to out-grow the UFC by becoming too big, too fast with Pay-per-view events. Even the UFC’s growth was gradual, it was established on a cult following, and then when Zuffa bought the UFC they began to expand from their following into the mainstream media. Their jump in to major stardom was The Ultimate Fighter. In order to attain renowned status Strikeforcehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) needs to take their current following and expand it from a cable or network channel where the Strikeforce names can become household topics. There is little need for them to be launching out from Pay-per-view. The UFC is going to drown them out now that they have almost two events each month. Why pay another forty five dollars to Strikeforce when I have already paid ninety dollars to see the UFC?
Click Here for Source. (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce)
by Tyson Abaroa (http://www.helium.com/users/503300/show_articles)
Strikeforce is a legitimate organization that adds value to fighters. However, it will most likely never get out the shadow of the UFC. The majority of the elite Mixed Martial Artists fight under Dana White’s banner. Strikeforce is facing the same challenge that Major League Soccer (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) faces. Once an athlete comes of age and proves their worth, the bigger organizations will snatch them up with bigger contracts.
There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that UFChttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) scouts watch all the Strikeforce bouts and wait for contracts to expire. I could see them now in the Las Vegas headquarters with whiteboards filled with pictures and bios. Making webs of possible future fights. They have already matched up Jake Shields with Anderson Silva for a five round championship match (that alone would spawn another article). Herschel Walker and Randy Couture have a future bout at the MGM Grand. The UFC first wants to make a show that will bring in Millions in Pay-per-view, and a sold out event. They will do this by recruiting the best or most controversial from any promotion that exists.
After the UFC has brought in their millions, they will give small payouts to the men that brought in the money with their sweat and blood. Though Strikeforce is the smaller promotion it is the only bargaining chip that the fighters have. A fighter’s union, I hope, will never exist and that only leaves other promotions to use at the table for more money, the biggest and most likely being Strikeforce. This was the option Fedor Emelianenkohttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) used when the UFC couldn’t satisfy his demands. Fedor may not be getting everything he is worth, but Strikeforce is getting more money with him than without him.
The rise and fall of the promotion, Affliction, should be the biggest lesson. Affliction tried to out-grow the UFC by becoming too big, too fast with Pay-per-view events. Even the UFC’s growth was gradual, it was established on a cult following, and then when Zuffa bought the UFC they began to expand from their following into the mainstream media. Their jump in to major stardom was The Ultimate Fighter. In order to attain renowned status Strikeforcehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce#) needs to take their current following and expand it from a cable or network channel where the Strikeforce names can become household topics. There is little need for them to be launching out from Pay-per-view. The UFC is going to drown them out now that they have almost two events each month. Why pay another forty five dollars to Strikeforce when I have already paid ninety dollars to see the UFC?
Click Here for Source. (http://www.helium.com/items/1878144-how-to-grow-strikeforce)