Shields and Rogers Moved To October Event (CBS?). Vitor In Talks With Strikeforce?

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 6:28 AM EDT Comment 42 comments

Former Rumble on the Rock, EliteXC and Shooto world champion mixed martial artist Jake Shields will not fight Olympic wrestling silver medallist Matt Lindland at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on Aug. 15, says a source close to the fighter.

Despite the card featuring four title fights, including a superfight women's showdown between the #1 and #2 fighters in the world, Gina Carano and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Shields will likely wait until October for his next fight, looking for a spot on a less crowded card.

Shields, 30, was in talks to face Lindland or Brazilian former UFC champ Vitor Belfort, but Showtime TV executives wanted to give him more prominent billing.

Very interesting to point out here that if the Lindland fight fell through, Vitor Belfort was in negotiations to fight Shields. Could Vitor land on Strikeforce next?

Another participant that has also recently announced his desire to fight on the October card is Brett Rogers.

Reilly added that he was always planning on having Rogers fight again in October, and that he would like to have him compete two more times this year.

Yes, I have another interesting quote from another less reliable source, but still, very intriguing.

"I'm in negotiations right now with Strikeforce and working with CBS and Showtime, so all three of us are going back and forth to make a contract that makes sense to me," he told MMAWeekly.com recently.

"Hopefully by October I'll be competing. We're finishing the contract I'd say with CBS, Showtime, and Strikeforce and making a deal that UFC can't match."

Rumored Card after the jump...

Rumored Strikeforce October Event:

Babalu vs TBA (Tito Ortiz for LHW Title)

Jake Shields vs TBA (MW Title, MW Interim Title, or if leaving SF, Superfight)

Brett Rogers vs TBA

Frank Shamrock vs TBA

There is a potential here to also put place Matt Lindland, Vitor Belfort, and/or a Robbie Lawler vs Joey Villasenor 2 bout on this card.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Read More: strikeforce, shields, rogers, babalu, tito ortiz

Comments

Vitor bit is nonsense since he is under and exclusive contract with Affliction. Until he completes that contract, no talks can occur.

by Lynchman on Jul 7, 2009 10:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Affliction already has shown to be co-working with SF, so it is far from nonsense.

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Jul 7, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe the Santiago fight is the last fight of Vitor’s Affliction contract, it would make him hard to lend out. My guess is that Vitor’s UFC-bound right after he beats Santiago.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Beer Monster on Jul 7, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You sound so sure. I have it 50/50 between Vitor and Jorge.

by Jmend255 on Jul 7, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is ONE reason, and one reason only, that Arlovski fought on the Strikeforce card.
His contract was set to expire prior to Affliction 3. His contract dictated that he be paid regardless of his actually fighting.

Affliction approached Strikeforce because of this. Strikeforce got AA at a fraction of his contracted amount and Affliction got free publicity and paid a little less than they would have had to.

While no opponent was set, Vitor was slated for Affliction 3 even before Jake fought Lawler.

The only way Shields/Vitor was going to happen was if Affliction decided they wanted to pay part of Vitor’s fee and give away the final bout on his contract.

Is Strikeforce interested in signing Vitor when his Affliciton contract expires? Likely, but I think we all know where Vitor is going next.

Bottom Line: Strikeforce and Affliction do not have a working relationship.

by Lynchman on Jul 7, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But, I’ve heard that many Affliction contracts have that clause where they will have to pay people whether they fight or not. That, plus the fact that they worked together before means that it really isn’t that big of a leap that they will work together again to finish off the Affliction contracts.

by Phildo on Jul 7, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They do have a relationship and they are on friendly terms.

Affliction lets Strikeforce use their fighters, and in return they get to promote their events on their shows. Also, what you are overlooking at is that THEY HAVE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP because they both work with Showtime, and Showtime influences them.

It was actually Showtime who got Affliction to lend Strikeforce Arlovski.
Food for though. =D

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, that is simply not correct.

I know for a fact that Affliction was looking to lessen their financial burden in terms of the Arlovski contract. Showtime may have suggested Strikeforce as an option, but Affliction was already trying to figure out how to get out of paying AA between one and two million for not even fighting.

Scott Coker was asked about working with Afflicition and other companies and he said he was not interested at this time as he wanted to focus only on the Strikeforce product.

Does Scott get along with Tom and co? Sure, but Arlovski is the only fight they have shared.

Again, Belfort was set for Affliction 3 before Jake fought Lawler. Strikeforce was competing with Affliction for the services of Gomi, they are not working hand and hand.

by Lynchman on Jul 7, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

Never disputed that Affliction is trying to get fights for their fighters under contract to meet their contracted number of fights.

Fighters they shared?
Rothwell, Babalu, Hieron (was going to fight Diaz), Arlovski.

Atencio has said many times that Affliction and Strikeforce share their fighters.

SD- Affliction and Strikeforce help promote each other’s event. Talk about that partnership.

TA- You know it is a great relationship. Scott Coker (Strikeforce President) is a great guy. I cannot say enough good things about him. He is good for the industry. He has been in the industry since day one. He is one of the few companies out there that is viable. We share fighters and it just seems to work. My partners and I try to build bridges and do things that are good for the industry as a whole and not just for ourselves.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Strikeforce was competing with Affliction for the services of Gomi, they are not working hand and hand.

Of course they are. Just because you have a working relationship doesn’t mean that you are the same company. They both still want the best fighters for their own promotion.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rothwell has never fought for Strikeforce.

Babalu and Buentello have contracts with both companies. Those contracts were signed prior to Strikeforce taking over Elite. Current deals are exclusive.

Regardless of all this:
Vitor has been slated to fight on Affliction 3 since long before Jake faced Robbie.

by Lynchman on Jul 7, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, meant Whitehead.
=D

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and yes, no one is disputing that, but they do have a relationship, and Atencio mentioned co-promoting in the future as well.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont understand why they would put the October card on CBS while having their big draw, Gina vs Cyborg, on Showtime.

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Jul 7, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

keep in mind that no one but supremacy and tito have mentioned cbs.

It would be foolish to put on all these big fights on showtime if the cbs deal was that close to being finalized/happening.

by Phildo on Jul 7, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Foollish?

Think again. If they get really good ratings, (in the 500K viewers area, which is the Kimbo zone), they will put on another show on CBS. This August card is sorta like a measuring stick to how many viewers and star power Strikeforce has. If they guys at Showtime/CBS are happy, the October show will be on CBS. You guys have to remember that the first CBS show is scheduled for fall of this year.

Also, if Gina vs Cyborg lives up to the billing, then the rematch could be on network TV. Or just Gina vs Kaufman or Toughill/Coenen as a champion. You guys have to remember that Showtime wants to benefit from Strikeforce and Gina. They don’t want to ship them out to CBS right away without Showtime’s subscription base gaining some numbers first.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But the first quote above indicates that it was Showtime’s idea to pull Shields from the August card. If they’re so interested in having Shields fight on their network, wouldn’t they be a bit annoyed at having him yanked for the first CBS show? Is there anyone other than Ortiz claiming there will be a CBS show in October? It just doesn’t seem like a good time to debut on CBS. December makes more sense—the biggest potential draws should be healthy by then, there’s a bigger cushion for working out a contract with Tito, and it’s still football season (which should help ratings, assuming CBS is smart about promoting the show).

by An Old Friend on Jul 7, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

EliteXC’s last event on CBS was on October, so CBS actually likes the Fall time and October.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Showtime isn’t getting 500k for mma. Strikeforce isn’t going to hit the “kimbo zone” right now without kimbo or carano.

If the plan was a fight in october on cbs, 1 it would be dumb to have carano fight in august. 2) it would be dumb to have the fight in october without using the august card as a commercial for it. There isn’t enough time between August and October for a “wait and see” approach.

by Phildo on Jul 7, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say. October, December, February are the cards which they can put on CBS. If their August card is too close, they will put a CBS show in one of these events.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think October is too close unless it’s announced and planned NOW.

One of the things that the UFC does, that works, yet no one seems to realize is very important, is that every show they put on, whether it’s unleashed, PPV, spike card, TUF, is a commercial for the next card. They need to do a huge rating on their first CBS card. One way to help that is to make sure that everyone who knows about them on Showtime and watches them on Showtime knows about the CBS card in advance. It would be stupid to have a card on CBS without having a showtime card that has about 17 million mentions/commercials for the cbs card.

by Phildo on Jul 7, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think what happens in August will determine that. If they don’t mention CBS at all in the August show, then it will be moved up. There August card is huge, so I have a feeling they will have some very nice announcements lined up.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, Carano will be on the next card, which is stacked. If they are going to hit the Kimbo zone, it will be on their next card in August, which features Gina. =D

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"We have an option to broadcast Strikeforce events on CBS, but the plan is for Showtime to be the main outlet," Chris Ender, a spokesperson for CBS Corporation, the parent company of CBS and Showtime, told Burkholder.

And in a recent interview with CBSSports.com, Strikeforce Founder and CEO Scott Coker also confirmed that the promotion will be airing shows on CBS.

Well, I can tell you this," Coker began to respond, "Obviously there is confidentiality in all of the contracts we’ve signed so I can’t tell you the details. But I can tell you that there is a CBS contract in place."

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cung Le has already announced that he is not fighting in 2009.

by subo on Jul 7, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That means that fight could be for the interim MW title.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

jake new mw champ!

by Baki_hanma on Jul 8, 2009 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coker does not have anything lined up with CBS.

CBS was less than pleased with some of the aspects of the Elite CBS shows. They are staying out of the MMA game for a while.

Gina/Cyborg is loaded up, in part, because Scott Coker wants to show CBS what kind of product he can offer them.

Will Strikeforce end up on CBS? Yes, but I don’t think it will be the next card.

by Lynchman on Jul 7, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not next card (August) followed by a Septermber’s Challenger Card.
They said late this year (fall), early next year.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From Meltzer

Regarding CBS, right now they are hopeful of getting the first show sometime in the first quarter of 2010. There is nothing signed or official in that regard. The reason Gina Carano vs. Cris Cyborg wasn’t saved was because they didn’t feel they could wait that long, particularly since both women wanted the fight now. CBS got a very bad taste in its mouth from the 10/4 show, between Ken Shamrock holding them up for money at the last minute, the entire debacle that evening, and Seth Petruzelli’s radio interview. They went in one fell swoop from wanting to buy an MMA promotion, particularly when the third show ratings came in, to not wanting anything to do with MMA for a long time.

by The Bronzeville Bully on Jul 7, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly.

Meltzer is not the only one to say this.

Right now, Scott and co are looking to put on well-run, exciting shows and convince CBS to use them sooner rather than later.

Early 2010 is what I have heard from folks in and out of Strikeforce. Unless something awful happens, I think we will see a Feb show. They will likely wait until after the UFC superbowl card so they are not competing for publicity.

by Lynchman on Jul 7, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where does Supremacy get this stuff.?

by The Bronzeville Bully on Jul 7, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Read my post just above:

Not next card (August) followed by a Septermber’s Challenger Card.
They said late this year (fall), early next year.

How is that much different? I just got some info they were looking at Oct, although that could easily change.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 7, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again, is there any source for this other than Tito?

by An Old Friend on Jul 8, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think what he was trying to say was that there was no way it was going to happen in October. Even Strikeforce is not expecting that. CBS still needs convincing. As of June, they still had no plans to use Strikeforce.

I think everyone feels that Coker runs a great org and that CBS will become more comfortable with each card they see. It will still take a few more shows.

The best case is the first quarter of 2010. Tito is simply doing one of the things he does best: Generating publicity.

by Lynchman on Jul 8, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I completely agree. If Coker and Strikeforce don’t need CBS, its great on their part. Once Showtime sees some great numbers on Showtime though, you know CBS will come calling.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 8, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blind optimism and an agenda to push anything not UFC.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Jul 8, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL…yes, that is why I am always wrong with my posts, huh?
=D

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 8, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s more that every post pushes something non-UFC.

Until you tell me that you aren’t paid by anyone to post here, I’ll believe you are.

by subo on Jul 8, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I tell you all the time…LOL.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 9, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope that Robbie Lawler gets the Matt Lindland fight, because it would be a solid path to getting him back into the contenders’ ranks.

As for Jake Shields, I think that his next fight should be for the Interim Middleweight Championship, and at the moment, Joey Villasenor seems like the most deserving candidate.

by madiq on Jul 8, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What, I was right? Thats Crazy...

http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/14/jake-shields-to-fight-for-interim-strikeforce-middleweight-title/

I mean how could Jake Shields fight for the interim belt and sign with EA Sports when he is heading to the UFC? Hmmm…

Jake Shields, the former EliteXC welterweight champion, will fight for the interim Strikeforce middleweight title in October. Strikeforce founder and CEO Scott Coker informed FanHouse of the news at Tuesday’s Gina Carano-Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos press conference in New York City.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 14, 2009 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs