“Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy” Fighters Will Receive Pay Despite Event Cancellation
By Chris Leslie on September 28, 2012
Fighters on the doomed “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy” will receive some compensation despite the event’s cancellation after Showtime refused to air the card in the wake of lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez being injured. While terms have not been made public, sources have confirmed that the fighters will receive at least some of their expected earnings from Zuffa, who was not required to pay them anything.
MMAJunkie first reported the story with multiple sources since confirming the story.
The event’s cancellation was the second Zuffa card cancelled in the last month after having no such cancellations in the promotion’s history. The circumstances around this event were slightly different however, as broadcast partner Showtime refused to air the card without the injured Melendez. This prompted Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker to have to make the unfortunate call of canceling the card, though compensating the fighters should help soften the blow some for those on the card.
Full ticket refunds are available for fans who purchased tickets to the event.
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That’s good to hear
Most of them undercard guys need that
Still puzzled as to why the entire event was pulled. I understand 151, many people wouldn’t purchase a PPV with the championship fight being scratched, but this is Showtime. Showtime should have continued the event and allowed the fans who paid for airfare, hotel, tickets, etc to see the rest of the guys fight. Them playing this move will really damper any chance of Strikeforce renewing their contract.
Glad to see the guys making >$3k a fight getting compensated.
Because if Showtime wasn’t going to get the ratings they were looking for with a lightweight title fight featuring Strikeforce’s only other eyeball draw (Rousey being the far and away number 1), they could run something else during that time that will get the necessary views.
Yeah that’s true, but I’m guessing it was a Weeds rerun or some movie from 1982.
@will doubt Showtime wants to renew the contract, boxing is drawing better average numbers on the network and they just had a huge Emmy’s haul.
This its the least they can do. Dana White should’ve done this instead off shun responsibility and outright blame his top horse, and absolute legend lhw champion. But this is all leading to what the Ufc would prefer, the end of strike force.
Its too bad these fighters don’t have a union, they should have clauses in their contracts where they are guaranteed a percentage of pay no matter what happens, cancellation, injury, etc. They invest too much time preparing to perform in one if these events not to have some guaranteed money.
@will I’ll tell you my opinion, and that’s that mma is currently missing a vital ingredient – integrity. And its biting them over and over right now.