MMA: Five Fighters With the Most To Lose From Strikeforce-UFC Merger

When Dana White announced Zuffa, LLC purchased the second best mixed martial arts organization in the world, many fans were left wondering how the merge would create potential super-fights between the two promotions' best fighters.

For now, it's "business as usual," as Strikeforce will be promoting shows until their contract with Showtime expires in 2014.

So what will happen to the fighters that are still fighting in the promotion in 2014? These are the five that will be most affected by what may possibly be the biggest deal in the history of the sport.

No. 5 Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker's 2-0 record in MMA won't be enough to get him a spot onto a UFC card. It may be enough to get him a position on an upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter though.

There are still many questions of where the Heisman Trophy winner wants to take his MMA career but with two victories under his belt, there is nothing negative about it. The 49-year-old could have the same effect Kimbo Slice did on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter, and it could happen for the same reasons.

No. 4 Fedor Emelianenko

As Dana White states in most of his interviews, the problem isn't Fedor Emelianenko, who holds a professional MMA record of 31-3. What it is, according to White, is his management team, M-1 Global, which is run by Vadim Finkelstein.

If that isn't enough for White to make "special" amendments for the Russian fighter, his current two-fight losing streak won't help much either. Emelianenko dropped two back-to-back losses against Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva.

The UFC-Strikeforce merger could be the biggest loss the former number one heavyweight in the world has to deal with when his contract ends.

No. 3 Paul Daley

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL- MAY 8: Josh Koscheck (top) stands on Paul Daley in their welter weight bout at UFC 113 at Bell Centre on May 8, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

"Not sure what I'm gonna do right now, honestly, fight for the Strikeforce and be Strikeforce champ, put money in Zuffa/Dana White's pockets? Or fight here, in the UK for BAMMA, who appreciate my brand, and have my loyal fans, family and media support me." - Paul Daley

In case anyone missed it, the Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley April 9 Strikeforce event was promoted in between fights at UFC 128. This doesn't insinuate a change in how the perception of Paul Daley may have been changed after being fired from the promotion because of a post-fight punch moment in his fight with Josh Koscheck.

"Paul Daley will never fight in the UFC ever again," said Dana White after the fight at UFC 113. Time will tell how well this holds up, but White is sometimes open to second chances.

No. 2 Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos

First of all, there is no women's division in the UFC and there won't be for quite some time. There is just too much a lack of competition in the major promotions and Cyborg's success shows why. 

As the Strikeforce Women's Middleweight Champion, Santos has been running through her opposition and has finished her last four opponents in devastating fashion. Oddly enough, this is what the UFC uses as a reason for not promoting a women's division inside the world's leading MMA organization.

Strikeforce is having a hard time finding opponents worthy enough of challening the best female fighter in the world, and it may be more than a full year since her last fight in June 2010 till she fights again.

If the competition doesn't grow in the upcoming years, women's MMA will be in a deeper hole than it already is.

No. 1 Josh Barnett

It's no question Dana White thinks Josh Barnett is bad for the sport. Ever since he tested positive for anabolic steroids, which was his first of three, in a post-fight drug test at UFC 33, his road back to the biggest organization in the world has been long and languid.

He's fought for a majority of the organizations other than the UFC since then including Pride, Sengoku, Dream, Affliction and is going to make his Strikeforce debut against Brett Rogers on June 18.

If there is one fighter that has no real chance of ever making it back to the UFC, it is Barnett, who is ranked by most in the top 15 heavyweights in the world.

When the 33-year-old finishes his multi-fight contract with Strikeforce, he will undoubtedly try to work with the UFC in developing a negotiation for the two.