When it was announced that former two-time UFC Champion Frank Mir would be moving to the UFC’s sister company to face off with Strikeforce Chamapion Daniel Cormier in the promotion’s final heavyweight bout, it brought a glimmer of hope to MMA fans who have long dreamed of crossover fights. Lorenzo Fertitta, ZUFFA CEO, quickly put the kibosh that idea earlier today.
Strikeforce champions Gilbert Melendez and Luke Rockhold have begged for some UFC talent to prove themselves against, but their pleas will ostensibly continue to fall on deaf ears as Fertitta assured ESPN that this crossover fight is a “one-time situation… you’re not going to see more of it”.
With the Strikeforce Heavyweight division dissolved and only tournament finalists Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett remaining, Cormier already dispatching of Barnett, and Showtime being promised one more fight from the tournament finalists, Fertitta said, “We wanted to put on a very relevant fight that is credible. We had to talk to Fox about it and because Cormier is coming to the UFC after this last fight, we could go ahead and give him that fight.”
The broadcasting deals of both companies are proving to be a hinderance in getting these “dream matches” made. It seems MMA fans will have to sit back and wait for the time being. It’s already public knowledge that Showtime won’t allow Strikeforce fighters to compete inside the octagon, and given Fertitta’s comments, it would seem that any UFC talent crossing over would have to be cleared with Fox first, further making cross-promotion a pipe dream.
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one time deal my @ss. they can do it whenever and for whatever reason they want. it wasnt to long ago, it was said there was no chance that it would ever happen for a UFC fighter to fight a SF fighter ..then low and behold it happens. i can see how it would be easier to just say its a 1 time deal and avoid all the questions and crap that goes with it, but we all know if the Brass wants it to happen again, it will. im sure something of the sorts had to be said to shut Gil and Luke up about bringing someone over to fight them.
Difference here is that the heavyweight division was already being folded into the UFC. I agree that if they want it, they COULD do it, but the cost would be much higher for divisions not being scrapped.
I think they will def try and get Eddie Alvarez to sign with strikeforce for this reason. What other options do they actually have. Of course he will have to agree to it, but I’m sure they’ll try.
monopolizers care not about the sport and will buy out, divide and conquer. They also allow TRT abuse force stand up by pressuring fighters and refs to favor haymakers over positioning. I’m sure they’re happy about the extra cash, but the true spirit of pitting all techniques against each other to really see who’s the best gets pushed aside by the big formula!