The Showtime/Strikeforce relationship appears to be over. After a year plus of an uneasy relationship between Zuffa and Showtime over their Strikeforce brand the UFC appears to be folding the company as Showtime is not renewing the contract.
The event in January, scheduled for Oklahoma City, will feature the following headliners per the Strikeforce website:
• Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez (champion) vs. Pat Healy for the STRIKEFORCE lightweight title
• Luke Rockhold (champion) vs. Lorenz Larkin for the STRIKEFORCE middleweight title
• Nate Marquardt (champion) vs. Tarec Saffiedine for the STRIKEFORCE welterweight title
• Daniel Cormier (Grand Prix champion, OSU All-American) vs. Dion Staring
TMZ is reporting that Ronda Rousey is officially on the UFC roster, as well.
SO far we have not had official word from Zuffa, Strikeforce or Showtime about the closing of Strikeforce. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani is confirming TMZ’s story with sources apparently close to the situation.
