| Revision as of 02:32, 28 June 2009 editSea888 (talk | contribs)1,346 edits →Strikeforce on Showtime← Previous edit |
Revision as of 02:39, 28 June 2009 edit undoAktsu (talk | contribs)15,548 edits →History: no source for ESPN, rm a bunch of duplicated info (3 or 4 mentions of the CBS deal etc :S) which also including a lot marketing-speak as it was a copyvio of press releasesNext edit → |
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===Origins=== |
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===Origins=== |
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Strikeforce was founded in 1985 and has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN since 1995 and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with '']'', on March 10, 2006, at the HP Pavilion in ].<ref name=sherdogevents>{{cite web|author=Sherdog.com |url=http://sherdog.com/fightfinder.php?organization_id=716 |title=Sherdog Fight Finder |publisher=Sherdog.com |date= |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> The event was California's first regulated MMA event, and broke the previous record for the largest audience at a North American MMA event, previously held by '']'', with its 18,265 in attendance.<ref name=sherdog-showtime>{{cite web|author=Sherdog.com |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/strikeforce-lands-showtime-deal-16085 |title=Strikeforce lands Showtime deal |publisher=Sherdog.com |date= |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> The record was since broken by '']'' and '']'', although ''Shamrock vs. Gracie'' retained the paid attendance record of 17,465.<ref>{{cite news |
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Strikeforce was founded in 1985 as a kickboxing promotion. On March 10, 2006, it held its first mixed martial arts series with '']'', on March 10, 2006, at the HP Pavilion in ].<ref name=sherdogevents>{{cite web|author=Sherdog.com |url=http://sherdog.com/fightfinder.php?organization_id=716 |title=Sherdog Fight Finder |publisher=Sherdog.com |date= |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> The event was California's first regulated MMA event, and broke the previous record for the largest audience at a North American MMA event, previously held by '']'', with its 18,265 in attendance.<ref name=sherdog-showtime>{{cite web|author=Sherdog.com |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/strikeforce-lands-showtime-deal-16085 |title=Strikeforce lands Showtime deal |publisher=Sherdog.com |date= |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> The record was since broken by '']'' and '']'', although ''Shamrock vs. Gracie'' retained the paid attendance record of 17,465.<ref>{{cite news |
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In March 2008, Strikeforce and NBC partnered to broadcast weekly highlight and fighter-profile series, ''Strikeforce on NBC'' from April 12. The program was the first of its kind on a major broadcast network.<ref>{{cite web|author=9:16 a.m. ET |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23816449/ |title='Strikeforce on NBC' to debut in April |publisher=nbcsports.msnbc.com |date=2008-03-27 |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> |
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===Strikeforce on NBC=== |
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===Strikeforce on NBC=== |
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The first ever weekly mixed-martial-arts program on major U.S. network television aired on Saturday, April 12, 2008 with the debut of "Strikeforce on NBC". Strikeforce took the leap from the bay area in California to national television with the organization’s new weekly televised event late on NBC.<ref>http://www.mmaontap.com/mma/entry/strikeforce-on-nbc-premieres-tonight/</ref> It was the first ever weekly mixed martial arts cage fight program on one of the four major national television networks in the U.S and topped the average ratings of both ABC;s Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, both of which air several hours earlier during weeknights, in the 18-34 year old male category of viewers during the week of May 5, 2008.<ref>http://www.themmapost.com/a311999-strikeforce-on-nbc-slams-competition.cfm</ref> |
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In March 2008, Strikeforce announced it had partnered with ] to broadcast a weekly highlight and fighter-profile series, ''Strikeforce on NBC'', from Saturday April 12.<ref>{{cite web|author=9:16 a.m. ET |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23816449/ |title='Strikeforce on NBC' to debut in April |publisher=nbcsports.msnbc.com |date=2008-03-27 |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> The program was the first of its kind on a major broadcast network in the US. It's May 5 broadcast drew a .5 rating in the 18-34 year old male category, a rating topping that week's average ratings of ABC's ] in four out of five nights (while tieing in the fifth), beating CBS's ] all five weeknights, and also tieing the Thursday and Friday night ratings of ] in the same demographic group.<ref name=postslam>http://www.themmapost.com/a311999-strikeforce-on-nbc-slams-competition.cfm</ref> Strikeforce also reported that the overall viewership of the program had increased by 197%, from 319,000 to 949,000, including a 58% spike from 602,000 to 949,000.<ref name=postslam/> |
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The .5 rating drawn by "Strikeforce on NBC" in the 18-34 year old male category beat the ratings of Jimmy Kimmel Live on four of the five weeknights that the ABC show airs, and tied Kimmel's ratings on the fifth night. The Strikeforce program bested the ratings of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson on all five weeknights and tied the Thursday and Friday night ratings of CBS's The Late Show With David Letterman that week, in the same demographic group.<ref>http://www.themmapost.com/a311999-strikeforce-on-nbc-slams-competition.cfm</ref> |
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===Purchase of ProElite assets and broadcast deal with Showtime and CBS=== |
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The overall viewership of Strikeforce on NBC, which airs immediately following ] on Saturday nights has increased by 197%, from 319,000 to 949,000, including a 58% spike from 602,000 to 949,000.<ref>http://www.themmapost.com/a311999-strikeforce-on-nbc-slams-competition.cfm</ref> |
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On February 5, 2009 Strikeforce announced its purchase of several assets, including the video library and the contracts of 42 fighters, from ], owner of the defunct ]. Strikeforce also obtains licensing of the ShoXC brand name.<ref>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/mma/02/04/strikeforce.buying.proelite/index.html</ref> Days later it also announced it had agreed to a three-year broadcast deal with ] for up to 16 events per year, as well as a deal with ] for an option to produce up to four events.<ref name=mmaweekly-showtime>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=8127&zoneid=13 |title=Strikeforce Wins The ProElite Sweepstakes |publisher=Mma Weekly |date= |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> In addition to big events on Showtime, Strikeforce would also produce ], a concept similar to ] with shows highlighting up-and-coming fighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/blog/2009/03/strikeforce-ceo-outlines-rough-events.asp |title=Strikeforce CEO Outlines Rough Events Schedule for 2009 |publisher=Mmaweekly |date=March 14, 2009 |accessdate=March 14, 2009}}</ref> |
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===Purchase of ProElite assets=== |
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===First female MMA championship=== |
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On February 5, 2009 Strikeforce announced its purchase of several assets, including the video library and the contracts of 42 fighters, from ], owner of the defunct ]. Strikeforce also obtains licensing of the ShoXC brand name.<ref>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/mma/02/04/strikeforce.buying.proelite/index.html</ref> Days later it also announced it had agreed to a three-year broadcast deal with ] for up to 16 events per year, as well as a deal with ] for an option to produce up to four events.<ref name=mmaweekly-showtime>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=8127&zoneid=13 |title=Strikeforce Wins The ProElite Sweepstakes |publisher=Mma Weekly |date= |accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> In addition to big events on Showtime, Strikeforce will produce ], a concept similar to ] with shows highlighting up-and-coming fighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/blog/2009/03/strikeforce-ceo-outlines-rough-events.asp |title=Strikeforce CEO Outlines Rough Events Schedule for 2009 |publisher=Mmaweekly |date=March 14, 2009 |accessdate=March 14, 2009}}</ref> |
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===Strikeforce on Showtime=== |
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] Networks Inc. and Strikeforce have joined forces to create an all-new series of MMA events that will air live on ] as part of theSHOWTIME Sports franchise. The news was jointly announced by Ken Hershman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks, and Strikeforce Founder and CEO Scott Coker on February 5, 2009.<ref>http://www.mmaconvert.com/2009/02/05/strikeforce-showtime-announce-new-deal/</ref> The agreement is to have a three-year broadcast deal in which will see mixed martial arts return to the premium pay channel. The much-coveted deal, which has been quietly negotiated since December of 2008, proposes up to 16 live events per year. |
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The agreement reunites ] and Strikeforce following their successful "]" telecast, presented by SHOWTIME PPV® in 2007. In the main event, ] submitted ] in the second round giving Shamrock the Strikeforce Middleweight championship title.<ref>http://www.mmaconvert.com/2009/02/05/strikeforce-showtime-announce-new-deal/</ref> The historic event was followed live on ] by one of the sport’s most anticipated showdowns of all time at. ] featured ] versus the undefeated world kickboxing champion ] on March 29, 2008. In a fight that has since been proclaimed “Fight Of The Year”<ref>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/03/31/shamrock-vs-le-fight-of-the-year/</ref> by industry experts and the like, Le won the Strikeforce middleweight championship title by putting on a relentless offensive and fending off Shamrock’s counter attacks before breaking the defending champion’s arm with a hard roundhouse kick late in the third round. The kick forced Shamrock to retire from the fight in between rounds three and four.<ref>http://www.mmaconvert.com/2009/02/05/strikeforce-showtime-announce-new-deal/</ref> On June 6th 2009 with the purchase of ProElite assets finalized, “Ruthless” ] collided with fellow superstar ] in a 182 lb. catch weight battle at the ] in ], ] that aired live on Showtime. |
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===Strikeforce on CBS=== |
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The CBS deal calls for up to four shows per year, airing on Saturday nights in prime time.<ref>http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dm-strikeforce020509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns</ref> |
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===First Female MMA Championship Bout=== |
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{{See also|Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg}} |
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{{See also|Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg}} |
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] and ], the consensus two best female fighters in the world, will be the first women in MMA history to headline a major MMA fight card. In addition, they will fight for the first Strikeforce 145-pound Female Championship on Aug. 15 in San Jose.<ref>http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/9678090/Carano,-'Cyborg'-to-top-Strikeforce's-Aug.-show</ref><ref>http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20090609/LA3035609062009-1.html</ref> |
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In June 2009, Strikeforce announced that ] and ], the consensus two best female fighters in the world, would be the first women in MMA history to headline a major US MMA fight card with their main-event about for Strikeforce's first 145-pound Female Championship on August 15, 2009.<ref>http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/9678090/Carano,-'Cyborg'-to-top-Strikeforce's-Aug.-show</ref><ref>http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20090609/LA3035609062009-1.html</ref> |
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===Mainstream emergence=== |
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With Strikeforce's successful televised fights on NBC, it soon after purchased the assets of ProElite in 2009. It has emerged onto the mainstream with events and fights that are also currently shown on ] and ] as part of ]. Future events are also expected to broadcast live on national telvision on ] in 2009.<ref>http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/02/13/deal-between-cbs-and-strikeforce-confirmed/</ref> |
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<ref>http://bleacherreport.com/articles/150514-strikeforce-set-to-establish-itself-as-a-major-player-preview</ref> |
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==Rules== |
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==Rules== |
Strikeforce was founded in 1985 as a kickboxing promotion. On March 10, 2006, it held its first mixed martial arts series with Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie, on March 10, 2006, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The event was California's first regulated MMA event, and broke the previous record for the largest audience at a North American MMA event, previously held by UFC 57, with its 18,265 in attendance. The record was since broken by UFC 68 and K-1 HERO'S Dynamite!! USA, although Shamrock vs. Gracie retained the paid attendance record of 17,465.
On February 5, 2009 Strikeforce announced its purchase of several assets, including the video library and the contracts of 42 fighters, from ProElite, owner of the defunct EliteXC. Strikeforce also obtains licensing of the ShoXC brand name. Days later it also announced it had agreed to a three-year broadcast deal with Showtime for up to 16 events per year, as well as a deal with CBS for an option to produce up to four events. In addition to big events on Showtime, Strikeforce would also produce ShoMMA, a concept similar to ShoXC with shows highlighting up-and-coming fighters.
Every men's and women's round competition is five minutes in duration. Title matches have five such rounds, and non-title matches have three.
All rounds have a one-minute break between them. Strikeforce does however deviate slightly from the formula layed out by the Unified rules (the rules state that organisations may opt for additional rules as long as they abide by the overall ruleset) by not allowing elbows on the ground.
When a foul is charged, the referee in their discretion may deduct one or more points as a penalty. If a foul incapacitates a fighter, then the match may end in a disqualification if the foul was intentional, or a no contest if unintentional. If a foul causes a fighter to be unable to continue later in the bout, it ends with a technical decision win to the injured fighter if the injured fighter is ahead on points, otherwise it is a technical draw.
Alistair Overeem
Renato Sobral
Cung Le