The Ultimate Fighting Championship?s acquisition of Strikeforce left women?s MMA at a murky crossroads. Once safely ensconced under the Strikeforce umbrella -- a quickly-growing brand that survived as other upstart promotions fizzled en masse -- it faces an uncertain future.
Ironically, the brief history of women?s MMA closely mimics the origins of the sport itself. Initially relegated as a sideshow attraction, the emergence of talent and marquee performers helped build a degree of credibility and momentum. Women?s MMA also helped nascent-if-ambitious promotions like EliteXC tap into that talent base, with stars like Gina Carano pulling new demographics into viewership.
However, in today?s promotional climate, essentially a one-horse race, with the UFC holding unprecedented promotional heft, female fighters competing in Strikeforce may fall victim to the numbers game if and when that organization folds into the UFC -- a move most industry insiders view as a given once Strikeforce?s contract with Showtime expires in 2012; already fresh off the additions of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions, and with the addition of the flyweight class expected later this year, the UFC thus far has shown little to no interest in bringing women?s MMA into its promotional fold. With a burgeoning roster of fighters and a swelling schedule of television and pay-per-view dates, the UFC?s ambitious expansion plans figure to be complex and challenging enough in lieu of adding women?s MMA to the mix.
To discuss the future of women?s MMA, Sherdog spoke with Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney, trainer Greg Jackson and Miesha Tate, who challenges Marloes Coenen for the Strikeforce women?s 135-pound title on July 30.
After the March acquisition of Strikeforce by UFC parent company Zuffa LLC, Bellator suddenly found itself as the second-biggest promotion in MMA. With an ambitious schedule on MTV2, the organization will air 25 shows in 2011, 27 in 2012 and 29 in 2013.
According to Rebney, the promotion will continue to showcase women?s MMA, hoping to build on the good fighters and memorable fights and helping cement its legacy, this despite a somewhat dubious approach by other organizations in pushing it. For Rebney, presenting top female fighters and fights was ultimately a better long-term strategy.
Ironically, the brief history of women?s MMA closely mimics the origins of the sport itself. Initially relegated as a sideshow attraction, the emergence of talent and marquee performers helped build a degree of credibility and momentum. Women?s MMA also helped nascent-if-ambitious promotions like EliteXC tap into that talent base, with stars like Gina Carano pulling new demographics into viewership.
However, in today?s promotional climate, essentially a one-horse race, with the UFC holding unprecedented promotional heft, female fighters competing in Strikeforce may fall victim to the numbers game if and when that organization folds into the UFC -- a move most industry insiders view as a given once Strikeforce?s contract with Showtime expires in 2012; already fresh off the additions of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions, and with the addition of the flyweight class expected later this year, the UFC thus far has shown little to no interest in bringing women?s MMA into its promotional fold. With a burgeoning roster of fighters and a swelling schedule of television and pay-per-view dates, the UFC?s ambitious expansion plans figure to be complex and challenging enough in lieu of adding women?s MMA to the mix.
To discuss the future of women?s MMA, Sherdog spoke with Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney, trainer Greg Jackson and Miesha Tate, who challenges Marloes Coenen for the Strikeforce women?s 135-pound title on July 30.
After the March acquisition of Strikeforce by UFC parent company Zuffa LLC, Bellator suddenly found itself as the second-biggest promotion in MMA. With an ambitious schedule on MTV2, the organization will air 25 shows in 2011, 27 in 2012 and 29 in 2013.
According to Rebney, the promotion will continue to showcase women?s MMA, hoping to build on the good fighters and memorable fights and helping cement its legacy, this despite a somewhat dubious approach by other organizations in pushing it. For Rebney, presenting top female fighters and fights was ultimately a better long-term strategy.
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