Strikeforce should counter-program WEC

by klown on Sep 11, 2009 1:39 PM EDT

David Wolf of MMA Payout lays out another strategy by which Strikeforce can wage guerilla warfare against Zuffa. Strikeforce should time its shows to coincide with the WEC, hurting Zuffa's where it is vulnerable by attracting a portion of the potential viewership of Zuffa's lesser-known promotion. This would also force Zuffa into a bind. To counter-program Strikeforce events, the UFC would have to essentially cannibalize its own WEC audience.

According to Wolf, Scott Coker has no reason to fear a UFC counter-programming effort on October 10 stating:

[It] hurts Zuffa because there already is a WEC show scheduled for October 10 airing live on Versus, so Zuffa would not only compete against Strikeforce, but would also counter itself — a grand strategy, indeed.

Wolf advises Coker on mounting some kind of resistance against the Zuffa machine:

Seriously, Coker, what you should be doing is scheduling EVERY major Strikeforce show against WEC, just to fight back a bit. Let Dana counter himself, or let Zuffa keep changing WEC dates. Either way, at least you’d be an irritant.

The case for another strategy for Strikeforce - to counter-program the UFC's next Lesnar PPV with a free fight featuring Fedor - has already been made excellently by Michael Rome (here and here), and again in a recent fanpost by some random asshole. Both ideas show that there are options for Scott Coker and Strikeforce when it comes to resisting Zuffa's open determination to eliminate Strikeforce or reduce it to an appendage of the UFC. It is too hasty to assume that Zuffa is guaranteed a total victory in this fight.

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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LOL, I like how all this analysis is being done by a random_asshole and a klown.
=p

Yeah, according to the rumored Oct. 10th show, this is exactly what will happen.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 11, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

There’s only one problem with this strategy-Zuffa could really care less about what happens with the WEC at this point and will probably be absorbing them into the UFC within a year.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 11, 2009 2:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yup, thats it is not for sure. To tell you the truth, Strikeforce has a show planned for Sept. 25 and Nov 6th, so, they have a lot of shows coming up. Not sure if they are in such a hurry, as many have said to announce a venue yet.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 11, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Tick-tock.

Be the 15th person to follow me on Twitter: @EugeneSchelfaut

by Eugene Schelfaut on Sep 11, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Considering Versus was dropped by Direct TV...

Strikeforce could benefit greatly by countering a WEC show because as a Direct TV subscriber…. I’d definitely be tuning in mainly because I no longer have a choice.

He was like 'You hit like a bitch.' I'm like all right. And I stood up and slapped him. I go 'Now you just got hit like one.'" - Kurt Pellegrino.

by Gunslinger20 on Sep 11, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions

LOL!

Yeah… real smart strategy.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Sep 11, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

Care to elaborate?

by klown on Sep 11, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

NJACB Legal Counsel Nick Lembo says he hasn’t gotten any confirmation or paperwork for rumored Strikeforce card in New Jersey on Oct. 10

-MMA Weekly’s Twitter

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 11, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

Pfft…. I’ve been emailing Lembo all day about this judging stuff. I should have asked

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Sep 11, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

This definately is their best strategy but in the end Dana is kind of a dick and would have no problem hurting the WEC which will only have a set number of eyes to watch each show. If it means that he gets to hurt SF at the same time, it’s part of the reason why this is a no win situation for SF because Dana will do anything to win meaining that Coker is fucked either way.

by Raker on Sep 11, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

It would make Coker a very popular guy with the WEC fighters because I can promise you Zuffa would start dumping millions into promoting the WEC and go to war with Strikeforce.

Honestly, it would give the WEC a much needed boost. Right now, Zuffa is willing to let the WEC slowly evolve with plans to start running shows in Mexico. If attacked, they would almost certainly offer the kind of support Reed and co currently only dream about.

by Lynchman on Sep 11, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

damn OS (ubuntu)

I lost a full post. Here’s the short version. then/

1) Does the Zuffa-Versus contract prevent counter-programs?

If not, it’s creates an interesting situation for WEC. Will the WEC viewers offset those who would watch a Zuffa counter-program? If not, then UFC should counter-program on Spike.

2) Otherwise, is Zuffa planning to fold WEC into UFC?

(Assuming UFC can counter-program WEC with UFC on Spike), then there’s no reason not to put an opposing event on Spike. The short-run loss is worth it in the long-run, as WEC champions are folded into UFC. I see this as win-win for Zuffa and already expect it without Strikeforce counter-programming.

3) Weight classes

The current weight class division – except maybe for the LHW (205) versus HW (265) – is accepted in MMA now. But heavier weights are more interesting to casual fans, i.e. Brown and Torres or Bowles isn’t as popular as Nick Diaz. Strikeforce has sub-par heavier weights, and I suspect that beats out better – and lighter – fighter when it comes to viewers.

4) After Versus got dropped from DirecTV, does WEC mean as much
to Zuffa?

If not – and assuming counter-programming is allowed by UFC – expect a counter-program.
If UFC won’t

by random_asshole on Sep 11, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

WEC runs on Sundays, Strikeforce runs on Saturdays. I seriously doubt Showtime would be cool with Strikeforce moving their events to primetime on Sundays considering that’s when a lot of their original programs premier, and don’t even think about CBS or another broadcast network. I wouldn’t consider this a great strategy anyway, but this whole argument is kind of moot.

by Chromium on Sep 11, 2009 8:13 PM EDT reply actions

interesting response

especially since I didn’t know original Showtime shows run on Sunday. Very good reason why counter-programming WEC won’t work. And I do think UFC would counter WEC/Strikeforce, so this isn’t a good idea to begin with… but you bring up good reasons why it’s really bad.

by random_asshole on Sep 11, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions