Strikeforce Targeting Jan. 7 Event at Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas
Zuffa, LLC, has requested permission from the Nevada State Athletic
Commission to hold a Strikeforce
event on Jan. 7 at the
Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.
Sherdog.com learned of the request from NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer late Monday.
Participants have yet to be announced for the event, which is
slated to be broadcast on premium cable network Showtime. The event
will follow
Strikeforce’s Dec. 17 offering in San Diego, which is headlined
by a lightweight title fight between champion Gilbert
Melendez and challenger Jorge
Masvidal.
Strikeforce’s future remains uncertain following UFC parent company Zuffa’s acquisition of the brand in March. The organization’s contract with Showtime is rumored to expire at the end of February and it is currently unclear if the two sides will reach an extension agreement.
Since the Zuffa acquisition, three of Strikeforce’s five champions have joined or rejoined the UFC, leaving only lightweight ace Melendez and middleweight titlist Luke Rockhold to represent the Strikeforce brand. Melendez’s time in the promotion appears to be limited, however, as UFC President Dana White previously expressed interest in signing “El Nino” to a UFC deal sooner rather than later.
Strikeforce last held a “major” event on Sept. 10 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show saw Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier advance to the finals of the promotion’s heavyweight grand prix by finishing Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva, respectively. Rockhold also emerged victorious that night, capturing the promotion’s 185-pound title by outpointing Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Sherdog.com learned of the request from NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer late Monday.
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Strikeforce’s future remains uncertain following UFC parent company Zuffa’s acquisition of the brand in March. The organization’s contract with Showtime is rumored to expire at the end of February and it is currently unclear if the two sides will reach an extension agreement.
Since the Zuffa acquisition, three of Strikeforce’s five champions have joined or rejoined the UFC, leaving only lightweight ace Melendez and middleweight titlist Luke Rockhold to represent the Strikeforce brand. Melendez’s time in the promotion appears to be limited, however, as UFC President Dana White previously expressed interest in signing “El Nino” to a UFC deal sooner rather than later.
Strikeforce last held a “major” event on Sept. 10 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show saw Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier advance to the finals of the promotion’s heavyweight grand prix by finishing Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva, respectively. Rockhold also emerged victorious that night, capturing the promotion’s 185-pound title by outpointing Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
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