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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=435379" target="_blank">
Strikeforce final event more of a funeral?
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=435379" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=60&q=75&x=11&y=20&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=strikeforce-01-09-13-18-26-0-987.jpg" /></a>
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Part of the fun of watching an event is wondering what comes next. Is that heavyweight prospect weaving his way into title contention? Would that middleweight be better off competing as a welterweight? Is that struggling lightweight even worthy of a job? Those are the types of questions we ask ourselves, because the fight itself isn't the be-all and end-all. It's just part of the path each athlete travels in his fighting journey.
As a general rule, that path at the big-league level is supposed to have a somewhat logical direction to it. Winners keep advancing, and losers face the pink slip. Simple. But what then of Saturday night's Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine?
Taken at face value, the event has upward mobility as a sub-plot. A golden ticket to the UFC beckons for the winners, after all, and that's no small thing. But it also appears to be no guarantee.
It would be a shame if UFC automatically cut all the losers. There is plenty of talent even with those fighters who don't walk away with the W that night.
I wouldn't call it a funeral since the fans will get a bunch of fresh and exciting new match ups in several divisions.
It's a new beginning, a chapter leading them to next big stage in their careers. For half of the men who compete January 12th, it spells glory. For the less fortunate, it spells a longer journey to the "big show."
We're going to see Cormier showcasing his talents on full blast, giving the casual fans a more in-depth look at the potential next #1 Contender. We'll see Barnett fight his heart out to prove he belongs back home in the UFC after almost a 10 year absence. We'll see the younger fighters, putting on some of the best performances of their lives, just to get the call that they've made it to the UFC.
And for one man, we'll see just how "Great" he truly is, when he defends his belt against a formidable opponent in Saffiedine.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but we just a easily could also end up with a bunch of "safe" fights. Not that's what I want to see, but the stakes are high for these fighters.
Il Duce - Not to be a Debbie Downer, but we just a easily could also end up with a bunch of "safe" fights. Not that's what I want to see, but the stakes are high for these fighters.
Safe fights are a definite possibility but I would like to think that fighters that go out there and lay it all on the line will be recognized for it, win, lose or draw.
This card feels weird in a sense that there isn't much to gain for the fighters from it, but there's much to lose for some of them.
It's somewhat treated like an UFC card, which it isn't. That's where the weirdness comes from.
We can only assume what's gonna happen to certain fighters, depending on their performance and there's a possibility that some of this talent will be left behind and not get into the UFC, which would be a pity.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but we just a easily could also end up with a bunch of "safe" fights. Not that's what I want to see, but the stakes are high for these fighters.
Especially Gurgel. He always take the safe route to an easy win.
