Strikeforce: Striking While the Iron is Hot
Posted by Dave Walsh on April 11th, 2009
In light of the abscence of Andrew Wallace from Northern California this weekend, we instead sent Mike Garza to report on this weekend’s Strikeforce event. With Cyborg’s fight with Akano fallen apart, as well as the injury and subsequent pull-out of Josh Thompson it is safe to say there have been a few bumps along the road, but as always, Strikeforce is endearing and enduring. Here are Mike’s impressions so far, after attending the weigh-ins.For the last several years Strikeforce has been a well known entity in California’s MMA community. They have followed a strict business plan of running quality cards in or around their San Jose base of operations. Over the last year they have taken steps outside of their comfort zone by hosting shows in Washington and Colorado. Now, with a roster bolstered by the failure of EliteXC, a deal with Showtime and a rumored CBS broadcast on the horizon, those steps are becoming leaps and bounds.
With ZUFFA putting hours of free MMA on TV each week it was only a matter of time before a real contender stepped up and went national. Much like EliteXC, Strikeforce believes they are that promotion. Unlike EliteXC, Strikeforce is built on the shoulders of an MMA pioneer and legend and not an internet side show attraction. This is not a fledgling company trying to find its place in the world. This is an established promotion with a firm, expanding fan base.
MMA as a whole needs Strikeforce. With a big name drawing card in Frank Shamrock they have the star to make people tune in. With young, rising talent like Robbie Lawler, Scott Smith, Gilbert Melendez, Jake Shields, Brett Rogers, Jorge Masvidal and Nick Diaz they have the youth and exciting fighters to make them stay tuned. All of the pieces are there. It’s a matter of how these pieces are used that will ultimately determine Strikeforce’s fate.
On paper, the April 11th card looks like a winner. The undefeated Rogers, a man many people believe is the heavyweight EliteXC should have been banking on, takes on relative unknown Ron “Abongo” Humphrey. Gilbert Melendez was originally scheduled to have a rematch with Strikeforce Lightweight champ Josh Thomson but will instead have to settle for BJJ ace Rodrigo Damm. Northern California product Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith is set to face off with former IFL vet Benji Radach. And in the main event The Legend Frank Shamrock is going head to head with a fellow Nor Cal native, the fiery Nick Diaz. The dynamic of the main event is playing out almost like a Sergio Leone spaghetti western with Diaz playing the role of the cocky, abbrasive, impatient young gun slinger to Shamrock’s calm, calculating grey beard. Diaz has done everything in his power to make Shamrock lose his composure, yet all Frank has done is smile in return. I can’t wait to see this one settled in the cage.
Strikeforce is on the path to bigger, better things. By this time tomorrow we may have a better idea of just how far down the path they are.