Strikeforce Notes and Thoughts

by Michael Rome on Apr 12, 2009 3:34 AM EDT in News Comment 32 comments

I attended Strikeforce live tonight as well as the post-fight press conference, and I came away extremely optimistic about this promotion's future. Over 15,000 fans ($750k gate) packed the arena, and were enthusiastic for everything. None of the fights were super meaningful in the rankings context, but the show was a ton of fun, and Scott Smith's emotional win made it a special night.

Assorted notes:

--Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum talked up a fight at the presser, and while it is not confirmed we could see those two fight each other as soon as June. Werdum promised to take another arm with him.

--Tito Ortiz made it very clear he wants to fight for Strikeforce. He is waiting for the UFC's first right of refusal to expire (which it does in May), and then he would ideally return in the fall. He has just started weight training again, and trash talked Babalu a bit. He admitted he was depressed Frank lost because it was "money out the window."

--The Gina Carano deal is almost done, and Coker wants to main event their August show with Carano v. Cyborg for a Strikeforce women's title. No word on the weight.

--Scott Coker is open to bringing in Affliction fighters, and as of now there is no formal relationship with WAMMA.

--Strikeforce signed Kevin Randleman, who will be back in action soon. He also had the quote of the night:

I love my job, it's the best job in the world...I live in the best country in the world: America...and I live in the best world in the universe: Earth.

--Finally, back to Scott Smith. Many fighters including Smith have had serious financial problems without being able to work since Elite went down, and for him to come back and win like this tonight was really a great moment. His kids getting in the cage was great too.

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Hooray for Strikeforce

This was an extremely entertaining card. I also enjoyed the fight stats, Gus Johnson, and the gratuitous shots of Gina Carano. It made Spike TV’s replay of UFC 94 look like a real snoozer.

by steak_knife on Apr 12, 2009 3:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The card was good but the Commentating was just horrible and down right embarrassing at times, Just listen to beatdown after the bell becasue every thing Breen and TJ said was 100% right on about how ba it was.

by Shocbomb on Apr 12, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Good for Scott Smith. I kind of figure his financial struggles were reason toward resentment toward Petruzeli when he talked to Cofield

by The Bronzeville Bully on Apr 12, 2009 4:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, does Coker plan to have a relationship with WAMMA? Will he let them sanction their women’s title fight?

by The Bronzeville Bully on Apr 12, 2009 4:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still say...

I’d be SHOCKED if they got in bed with WAMMA for anything except MAYBE the women’s title. They keep talking about Overeem being their heavyweight champ. That instantly gets devalued if they start taking WAMMA seriously. Same with the fight they want between Thomson (SF champ) vs. Melendez (interim champ). They have to sell that as a rather unimportant title because WAMMA isn’t involved..etc

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

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by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 12, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One would think that to fight for an “undisputed” title that a fighter would have to have made fight in their last fight, or at least fought at that weight class before, so I think it would be tough for WAMMA to call Cyborg/Carano a title fight.

But then again, logic isn’t one of their strong points.

by Phildo on Apr 12, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, no disrespect to Benji and Scott Smith as well but....

Militich was on crack for putting them in Anderson Silva’s league. He is losing a lot of credibility

by The Bronzeville Bully on Apr 12, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe you could use these pics. :)

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Apr 12, 2009 4:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

wedum vs overeem for the title would be good..

Although i see it being a dos santos flashback for fabricio..

..and how many worlds has randleman seen? :)

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Apr 12, 2009 4:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Although Werdum has already beaten Overeem, so this would be a rematch!
=)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Apr 12, 2009 7:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you dont agree that overeem would most likely beat him up?

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Apr 12, 2009 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Think Werdum Has A Great Chance of Winning

Werdum is the type of fighter that will always cause problems for big strikers like Overeem, Lesnar, etc. And when people mention how boring he is, reference Gonzaga x 2. =)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Apr 13, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was the old Overeem who seemingly hated being tall and hunched over like Gollum, the new Hulk-sized Overeem is going to rip Werdum’s arms off and beat him to death.

by Lyrias on Apr 12, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

also if you rewatch that fight Overeem was beating the shit out of Werdum for about 12 or mins what ever it was until like always back then when he was at LHW he gassed and pretty much gave up. I see Overeem killing Werdum this time around.

by Shocbomb on Apr 12, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m thinking Overeem’s cardio has gotten worse. I’m not saying he would lose, but his cardio has got to be still worse.

by natyong on Apr 12, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Be nice to see tito back to see if the back surgery made a differance along with training with freddie roach,or if just he just doesn’t have it anymore

by RealIrish on Apr 12, 2009 6:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

tito trained with roach?

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Apr 12, 2009 6:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats what he said in an interview during the last affliction card as far as i remember

by RealIrish on Apr 13, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overeem destroys Werdum

Given their recent performances respectively.

by Pandanus on Apr 12, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

there is no formal relationship with WAMMA.

Keep it that way.

by banter on Apr 12, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mm-hmm

Miletich can commentate (if that’s your thing), but that’s it

by subo on Apr 12, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is this something that came out at the presser or was it mentioned for some reason during the broadcast?

by natyong on Apr 12, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

15000 fans?

I attended the fight last night and was shocked how packed the arena was. I noticed Royce Gracie, Anthony Johnson and James Irvin was there. All in all, it was a far more entertaining event than the UFC I attended in Sacramento.

by cyph on Apr 12, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

- The announcing was painful. Just painful. Militech should be ashamed of some the utter rubbish & hyperbole, of which he was surely aware given that he is a knowledgeable bloke, which he peppered his analysis with.

- I was never the biggest womens MMA fan, but the Santos/Akano fight just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

- Outside of Damm, did anyone even attempt a submission in anger?

- It was a fun card. Nothing more, nothing less really.

by -Sam on Apr 12, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and Carano is the epitome of ‘cute’.

by -Sam on Apr 12, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I gotta say

I had a little get together for this at my house and we were all impressed at the quality of a show (minus that mic getting stuck in the cage lol) that Showtime and Strikeforce put on last night. Gus Johnson is awesome, Renallo and Militich were also great. I can deal with Gus saying this is MMA not boxing, no biggie to me, he sounds excited thats all. Jimmy Lennon Jr has always been my fav ring announcer, the guy is straight up oldschool awesome! From the cumpustrike stats, the tale of the tape graphics, just an all around great looking show. They lighting in the cage is another great thing I noticed. On top of that it looked gorgeous in HD!!!!

All in all everything just came off looking very proffesional and IMO it even 1up’d any UFC show. Great fights all around and great set up for Carano Cyborg.

Side note.

Did Tito get a little angry at the boos? He made a motion cupping his ear like ’c’mon bring it on’ and the it seems as though he cursed from what I read off his lips lmao. Good stuff, hope he signs with Strikeforce so we dont have to hear anything else between him and Dana.

Coker/Strikeforce is smart for letting Affliction sponser fighters. Its like He’s doing everything right while Dana keeps burning bridges.

I’ll grade this show and A-, the minus is for the entrance ramp. I don’t like ramps in my American MMA.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Apr 12, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Johnson, Ranallo, and Miletich were decidedly not awesome last night. When Miletich was describing the action during the actual fights I had a good time, but other than that, I was pulling my hair out. Ranallo seemed like he was trying to be annoying and Johnson might as well have not been there. Nevermind the outrageous shilling for such an “independent” announcing booth.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Apr 12, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs