The conversation nobody wants to have sometimes is the one that needs to be had. Breaking up is never easy, look what happened to the NWO when they went separate ways: Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) turned into a junkie and got his own ESPN special, Hulk Hogan was forced to do reality shows on VH1 and support an ungrateful wife, Kevin Nash has ping ponged thru many circuits but not finding the flame that once fueled Big Daddy Diesel. Point being is this – there will come a time when something we once loved will run out of life and things need to naturally happen.
Ever since the Zuffa purchase in March 2011, Strikeforce has kind of limped around MMA like a run down labrador; it looks good some days and has given us glimpses of hope for a thriving lifespan (Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett; Ronda Rousey) but then somedays, well we may need to take her around back and do the right thing: end the suffering.
People have been murmuring since the cancellation of the Nov. 3rd card (second consecutive cancellation from the promoter) that the end was near; Strikeforce would indeed be done after their scheduled January 12th card. Hearing such things, the San Jose company announced a line up that would signal one more fight in this animal: three world championship fights and Daniel Cormier’s last bout under contract. Well since then, Luke Rockhold pulled out due to injury (again) and out went one title fight; Gilbert Melendez also had to pull out from defending his lightweight title because of injury (second consecutive time for himself as well). This had the MMA community rolling with groans and questions; how could this promotion survive anything more like this?
Was it a ploy for fighters just trying to get in the UFC? What could they possibly do to salvage their name? Is January 12th the end of the road for Strikeforce? Well, our correspondent, Marcos Villegas caught up with Vice President of Showtime Sports, Stephen Espinoza to set the record straight on the matter.
“A lot of those stoires (about Strikeforce being done) are written without any input from our side and are false…Nothing has been determined yet. I am not saying it won’t go that way but it is false; the ship has not sailed either way…Showtime will continue with MMA.”
Check out the full interview below! And remember fellas, if you ask your lady a question and her reply starts with a long silence and pondering gaze – you already know you are single.
