after hearing it from Scott Coker, Ariel helwani, and Dana White it seemed like a foregone conclusion but today brings even more news that hints at a deal. Strikeforce has resigned Bobby Voelker and Lumumba Sayers to multi fight deals. Now you may say what the hell does that mean? But think about it. Why would Zuffa sign Sayers and Voelker two guys who aren't anywhere near top ten or the top of their division to contracts that could tie them up for 2 years(Voelkers contract is for 5 fights). The only reason is if Strikeforce is going to be around.
Now I know some people hate the fact that Strikeforce is going to be Zuffas minor leagues but personally I think it's a great idea for Zuffa. This way they can build prospects in to champions, get people buzzing about how insert random SF champ could beat insert random Ufc champ and then bring them over for title fights. It also gives them a way to snatch up some of the prospects they've been losing to Bellator recently and a way to keep Womens' mma alive.
All in all it serves many purposes.
I think they should rename it to 'Feeder League'.
Good post. I really hope they not only keep SF around, but keep the challengers around as well. More opportunity for fighters on a big stage, and more for the fans as well. 
ABE FROMAN - I think they should rename it to 'Feeder League'.
Lol why not? They do most events at the "Shark Tank"!
likely keep it for the women's division and contenders
good
Im surprised people are so supportive of strikeforce surviving. The UFC alone is having an unbelievable amount of events in 2012, (I think between the first of the year and end of febuary maybe 1 or 2 weekends dont have ufc events), so that means alot of watered down cards... UNLESS you bring over the rest of the SF guys and then you could still have some pretty legit main cards for all the events. It just seems with Zuffa wanting to expand so fast, why waste the SF talent on showtime, when you could be making better UFC Events.
Keeping SF around is good for MMA. 
AmericanPsychoMMA - Keeping SF around is good for MMA. <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
How is that good for MMA? Zuffa owns both. I mean unless you want it to turn into smackdown/raw where different fighters fight on different shows (ruined wrestling), i see no benefit in it. Bring em to the ufc, that way more competition, the ufc will start cutting guys for losing 2 fights in a row (something they used to do), and we the fans will get the best fights.
the s--- just hit the nam phan -It's not going to be that way now that Zuffa owns both. There are no contract disputes that can't be worked out after a fighter has proven himself in the lower leagues. It's different than being in another org that has no connection to Zuffa. They own it and can make the rules. No way would they splinter the good talent, they will simply bring the heavy hitters to the UFC ala Overeem.
How is that good for MMA? Zuffa owns both. I mean unless you want it to turn into smackdown/raw where different fighters fight on different shows (ruined wrestling), i see no benefit in it. Bring em to the ufc, that way more competition, the ufc will start cutting guys for losing 2 fights in a row (something they used to do), and we the fans will get the best fights.
ProteinPower - Ronda & Meisha saved strikeforce.
Wrong. It had already been determined SF was gonna stick around for the medium term (1-3 years). Although WMMA had something to do with it, and by extension Ronda & Meisha, their feud had absolutely nothing to do with 'Saving Strikeforce.'
Using SF as a feeder league is probably the best idea but then Zuffa runs into the problems of people not caring about SF shows because everyone knows they're minor league. Lets just say they keep the titles around, is anyone going to think Tarec Saffiedine or Tyron Woodley is really a champion when they compete under the same banner as Georges St. Pierre? It's the same problem WEC had with their heavier divisions and why those divisions and the organization were ultimately absorbed.
Plus UFC is running like 3 million shows next year. There's already talk of over saturation in MMA, keeping SF around just saturates the market even more.
It's good for the fighters though because it allows them another date to compete and the exposure is better than what they get on HDNet. And it's good for the hardcore fans who will watch any MMA.
They can't run shows in Vegas though. The Vegas crowds have become so spoiled that they only care about big time fights. No SF Challengers event is a big event and if UFC takes all the top SF guys, no SF event will be a big event that will satisfy the Vegas crowds.
ABE FROMAN -the s--- just hit the nam phan -It's not going to be that way now that Zuffa owns both. There are no contract disputes that can't be worked out after a fighter has proven himself in the lower leagues. It's different than being in another org that has no connection to Zuffa. They own it and can make the rules. No way would they splinter the good talent, they will simply bring the heavy hitters to the UFC ala Overeem.
How is that good for MMA? Zuffa owns both. I mean unless you want it to turn into smackdown/raw where different fighters fight on different shows (ruined wrestling), i see no benefit in it. Bring em to the ufc, that way more competition, the ufc will start cutting guys for losing 2 fights in a row (something they used to do), and we the fans will get the best fights.
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Ya i get what you are saying, i just dont know how the ufc plans on fitting it into there already horrifying schedule. Maybe making strikeforce challengers into UFC challengers, and having it on friday nights. But even then, i guess i just really dont see how its gonna draw ratings when people know its bottom tier guys.
ProteinPower -taruk mak tao -ProteinPower - Ronda & Meisha saved strikeforce.
Wrong. It had already been determined SF was gonna stick around for the medium term (1-3 years). Although WMMA had something to do with it, and by extension Ronda & Meisha, their feud had absolutely nothing to do with 'Saving Strikeforce.'
Im sorry if you took my post serious.
Bro-fist You got me good, you fucker!!
the s--- just hit the nam phan - Ya i get what you are saying, i just dont know how the ufc plans on fitting it into there already horrifying schedule. Maybe making strikeforce challengers into UFC challengers, and having it on friday nights. But even then, i guess i just really dont see how its gonna draw ratings when people know its bottom tier guys.Me neither, at least not yet. It's a good thing to have a league to groom talent though. The last thing I want is for more scrubs to be fighting at the UFC level. I think overall this will be good, especially for the women. I'm one of the guys who enjoys the women fights....
I really dont think they will do a feeder league either. I think we as hardcore mma fans will like it, but the average public wont. I mean how often have you seen a minor league baseball game on TV? Showtime wont make any money that way. I say bring all the SF guys into the ufc, that way people start getting cut for losing 2 fights in a row again, and we as fans get the best possible cards and everyone gets a fair chance.