Something Out Of Nothing: Strikeforce Plans Middleweight Tournament

Earlier this month, Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields was released from his contract with the promotion, and by all accounts is just days away from signing with the UFC.

While this is certainly a blow to the roster of upstart promotion Strikeforce, Shields has never been much of a draw anyway. He is clearly one of the best fighters in the world, but a promotion still trying to make its mark in this business is more in need of something that can grab the attention of curious new observers, especially since the promotion is primarily featured on Showtime, and occasionally on CBS.

That's where Shields' replacement comes in.

With the champions departure, Strikeforce has announced plans to put together a tournament of middleweight contenders, with the winner being crowned the new champ.

Included in the bracket could be an intriguing assortment of grudge matches, rematches and elite-level pick-em fights.

Possible entrees into the tournament include Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, former EliteXC champion Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, MMA legend Dan Henderson, Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Matt Lindland, Scott Smith, Kazuo Misaki, Sengoku champ Jorge Santiago and Cung Le.

The tournament is likely going to only include eight fighters, so undoubtedly not all of these names will participate. But whichever lineup is finalized, Strikeforce is in no shortage of narratives.

Few can forget the after-fight brawl following Strikeforce, in Nashville in April, which included Nick Diaz and Jason Miller. A fight between the two has been discussed multiple times over the last few years, and now with the added turmoil over the brawl and subsequent suspensions, this fight could produce enough hype to be a main-event.

Miller has plenty of experience with this field, scoring a win over Robbie Lawler, a win and a loss against Tim Kennedy and a loss and a no-contest against Ronaldo Souza (the no-contest was a result Souza being stopped by an illegal soccer kick). A rematch with any would be an attractive addition to the bracket.

Dan Henderson went 1-1 with Kazuo Misaki in Pride. A rubber match between the two would be a must, if possible.

Robbie Lawler would surely want a chance for revenge against some former foes, especially a rematch of his 2004 battle with Nick Diaz, in which Diaz scored a second-round TKO.

No matter how they choose to break it down, every possible match-up would be interesting. I would consider Henderson, Souza, and Diaz the top seeds.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has stated that the tournament would likely begin on August 1, at an event targeted for Houston. He also included that the tournament would conclude in a second event still to be determined.

That would mean that the semi-finals and the finals would be held on the same night, having the two finalists fight twice in the second event.

Strikeforce has held a one night tournament before in 2007, so this would not be something totally foreign to the promotion.

A tournament of this magnitude would unquestionably bring a lot more attention than a simple defense of the title, and that is what Strikeforce needs.

Tournaments offer a different dynamic for the fans and a different level of accomplishment for the fighters. It has been over a decade since the UFC held a tournament with a fighter competing more than once on the same night.

Unmistakably, the UFC is the apex of the sport at the moment, and if companies like Strikeforce plan to stay in competition, they have to be the best at doing what the UFC doesn't.

This is the reason Bellator is becoming such a quick success. If you don't have the resources of the UFC, then why try to imitate them? You have to bring something different to the table.

Don't waste your energy trying to make lemonade out of UFC lemons. Just make a cold pitcher of Kool-Aid for everyone that could use a change in beverage.

It definitely would have improved Strikeforce's present problem at heavyweight.