Strikeforce
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Overview
Strikeforce is a US based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization promoted by Scott Coker and Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment.
Strikeforce events have been broadcast on NBC, HDNet, and Showtime with shows expected to be aired live on CBS in the future.
History
Strikeforce had existed since 1985 as a kickboxing promotion under founder, Scott Coker. In 2006, Strikeforce made its arrival onto the MMA scene when they held the first regulated MMA event in California, Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie on March 10.
The event was a resounding success as they pulled in the highest attendance ever recorded at a North American MMA event with 18,265. That record has been broken since but it still stands as the highest paid attendance of 17,465.
In March of 2008, Strikeforce landed a deal with US TV station, NBC to broadcast weekly highlights and fighter profiles. The program was the first of its kind on a major US broadcast network.
In February of 2009, Strikeforce announced it had purchased selected assets from Pro Elite, the owners of the sunken ship that is EliteXC. Strikeforce owners purchased the Pro Elite video library as well as 42 fighter contracts. Not so soon after that announcement was another stating they had signed a three-year broadcast deal with Showtime for up to 16 events per year. Included amongst that was also a deal with CBS to broadcast up to four events.
Strikeforce will also broadcast ShoMMA for Showtime. A live event set to showcase up and coming fighters on the Strikeforce roster.
Rules and Judging
The rules and judging for Strikeforce fall under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts with some minor exceptions.
Rounds
- Non-championship bouts consist of three, five minute rounds.
- Championship bouts consist of five, five minute rounds.
Judging
- Bouts are judged under the 10-point must system with the winner of a round gaining 10 points and the loser being awarded 9 or less.
- At the end of three rounds, each round score is added together to find the winner.
- Points can be deducted for violations of the rules for which the judges are forced to add into their calculations.
- A dominant round can result with a score of 10-8 or below and tied rounds are possible.
Rules
Strikeforce follows the rules of the Unifed Rules of Mixed Martial Arts with the one exception of not allowing elbow strikes on the ground.
Weight Classes
Strikeforce features five weight classes ranging from lightweight to heavyweight:
- Lightweight - 70 kg. (155 lbs.)
- Welterweight - 77 kg. (170 lbs.)
- Middleweight - 84 kg. (185 lbs.)
- Light Heavyweight - 93 kg. (205 lbs.)
- Heavyweight - 120 kg. (265 lbs.)
Current Champions
Divisional Champions
For the full history of Strikeforce's divisional champions see List of Strikeforce Champions.
| Weight Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight (155 lbs.) | Josh Thomson | June 27, 2008 | 0 |
| Gilbert Melendez (Interim) | April 11, 2009 | 0 | |
| Welterweight (170 lbs.) | Vacant | N/A | N/A |
| Middleweight (185 lbs.) | Cung Le | March 29, 2008 | 0 |
| Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.) | Renato Sobral | November 21, 2008 | 0 |
| Heavyweight (265 lbs.) | Alistair Overeem | November 16, 2007 | 0 |
Tournament Champions
| Year | Weight Division | Champion | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Middleweight (185 lbs.) | Jorge Santiago | Trevor Prangley |
Events
External Links
http://www.strikeforce.com/index2.html/ - Strikeforce Official Website
--Sam Cupitt 04:11, 24 April 2009 (UTC)
