Strikeforce revving up but can wait to go global
Posted 2h 57m ago
By Beau Dure, USA TODAY
In Strikeforce's second year as the primary challenger to the UFC in the mixed martial arts marketplace, the California-based company is getting more ambitious.
The UFC has been on a pace of roughly 20 shows a year and is going global, announcing this week an April 10 show in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, that is to feature title defenses by Anderson Silva and BJ Penn.
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UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta say the company will work with new co-owner Flash Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government, with an eye toward expansion into Asia. Strikeforce, which has its 2010 premiere Saturday on Showtime (10 p.m. ET), isn't in a rush to get overseas, and the company promoted 10 cards in 2009. CEO Scott Coker says Strikeforce is planning to step up to 20 cards a year in the second year of its Showtime contract, which begins in March, with some on Showtime and some on CBS and pay-per-view.
"We want to get into the pay-per-view business with Fedor (Emelianenko)," Coker says.
Strikeforce also is signing international TV deals and might look to promote a card overseas if ratings show an interest in a particular place, Coker says.
Meanwhile, Strikeforce plans to continue to exchange fighters with Japanese promoter Dream, which is loaning welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis and veteran Melvin Manhoef for Saturday's card.
Saturday's card also features a couple of U.S. veterans (Nick Diaz, Robbie Lawler) and a women's bout (Cris "Cyborg" Santos, last seen beating Gina Carano), plus football legend Herschel Walker and professional wrestler Bobby Lashley.
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