Strikeforce Gets Showtime Deal

Four months after EliteXC's final event, the San Jose-based Strikeforce promotion announced this week that they have purchased certain assets from EliteXC's debt-laden parent company, Pro Elite Inc. The deal includes a three-year television contract with the Showtime network, which broadcast the first EliteXC event in February 2007. The first show under Strikeforce ownership will take place April 11. It will be headlined by Frank Shamrock and also include a fight between middleweights Scott Smith and Benji Radach, according to an interview with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on the Sherdog Radio Network’s "Beatdown" show. The deal calls for up to 16 events per year. Coker said four events would be broadcast on CBS and 12 on Showtime; half of the Showtime cards would be smaller-scale shows highlighting up-and-coming prospects, much like EliteXC and Showtime’s "ShoXC" brand.

Coker said Strikeforce has obtained 42 of the 150-plus fighter contracts Pro Elite had, including those of Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson, Gina Carano, Robbie Lawler and Jake Shields. Coker said he believes he has the legal right to the fighters' next bouts, though it appears some agents will be seeking to negotiate higher compensation before stepping into the Strikeforce arena.

Strikeforce has a deal with NBC, which airs archived fights from the promotion in the wee hours of Saturday night and Sunday morning, as well as a television deal with HDNet. Coker said he expects the NBC deal to remain intact through the summer and plans to remain on the network while also doing live fight specials on CBS. Considering the timeslot, Strikeforce scores impressive ratings on NBC.

Coker said it was his impression that Pro Elite would continue to exist, using the assets he didn't acquire to run shows under the King of the Cage banner. Pro Elite purchased several established MMA leagues in the U.S. and Europe, but Coker said he did not acquire those in the asset sale. He said he plans to grow slowly and add staff when needed to help with the increased workload of putting on more shows. Strikeforce purchased the rights to the EliteXC video library.

Coker, who began promoting kickboxing cards in 1985 and has earned respect across the industry, including from UFC President Dana White. Branching into MMA in 2006, Strikeforce promoted the first state-regulated card in California, headlined by Frank Shamrock vs. Cesar Gracie. The show, which drew 18,265 spectators, earned the largest paid attendance (17,465) the sport has ever had in the U.S. In addition to Coker, Strikeforce is also owned by Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment, which operates the HP Pavilion in San Jose, making the venue a stable base for the promotion.