Dana White was 'pumped up' when Zuffa bought Strikeforce, now just 'happy it's over'

It came as little surprise when Strikeforce announced they were closing their doors in November. They cancelled their first event when Lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez was forced from headlining their September event. Lightning struck again when both UFC Heavyweight Frank Mir and Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold pulled out of their respective matches due to injury. It just didn't seem like much blood was pumping through the old beast.

There were multiple reasons for the company's downfall. The injury curse that plagued 2012 was only the final nail in the coffin. A year before that, Strikeforce was stripped of it's biggest names in Dan Henderson, Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem and the entirety of the Heavyweight division in the wake of the purchase by Zuffa.

Because of that last bit, UFC president Dana White has taken a heap of criticism for the demise of Strikeforce. Thursday, Dana addressed those accusations to media members (via MMA Fighting):

I see a lot of s-- on the internet and stuff, 'they bought it to bury it,' and all that stuff. Any of you guys who were around me during that time, that was absolutely not the plan. I was pumped up about it and looking forward to get into it, but, it's over, man. I'm just happy it's over.

Following that, White confirmed that not everyone on the Strikeforce roster will be moving to the UFC. Although he does feel for how difficult their situation has been over the last several months:

What has happened to the fighters in Strikeforce is horrible," White said. "The way that this thing went down, and what's happened with these guys, these guys have been very patient, and I'm sorry for them, and I'm happy that they're coming over to the UFC now. ... What's happened over there has been completely s--

The final event will be Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine on January 12 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. The show will feature some of the biggest stars left in the company in Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, Ronaldo Souza, and more.