Strikeforce has announced the signing of former WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley has signed a multi-fight contract, and the heavyweight will make his debut in the New Year on a January 30th fight card.
FORMER WWE CHAMPION AND UNDEFEATED MMA HEAVYWEIGHT
BOBBY LASHLEY TO MAKE STRIKEFORCE DEBUT ON JANUARY 30
NEW YORK (December 10, 2009)-Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) heavyweight champion and undefeated mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter has signed a multi-year agreement with STRIKEFORCE and will make his debut for the world championship MMA promotion at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida on Saturday, January 30.
The 6 foot 3 inch, 250 pound Lashley, also a former collegiate wrestling star for Missouri Valley College and member of The United States Army, will face an opponent that has not yet been determined during the live, SHOWTIME® telecast of STRIKEFORCE: Miami, the historic, first-ever STRIKEFORCE event in the state of Florida.
Payout Perspective:
Strikeforce is making quite the power move in MMA right now; making big splashes in the free agent market with the likes of Dan Henderson, Melvin Manhoef, and Bobby Lashley all signing in recent days.
Now the question is, can the organization capitalize on all of this talent? The deals with Showtime and CBS give Strikeforce a solid distribution platform, but ultimately it’s going to be the message communicated through PR and marketing channels that determines how successful they’ll be in the future. What is the identity of Strikeforce? What will the brand come to stand for? How will it differentiate itself from the UFC and matter to the fans?
Moreover, I think the question needs to be asked, should the UFC have signed Henderson and Lashley?
The level of interest that heavyweights generate is, alone, enough to make this a valid question (not to mention the fact that Lashley brings some cross-over appeal from the WWE – albeit not nearly as much as Lesnar). In this situation it might have been wise to pay him enough that he stops with TNA, and then bring him along slowly. The risk, of course, is that public begins to confuse pro wrestling with MMA as yet another former WWE star crosses the pond.
The issue of Henderson is probably less important. He’s an excellent fighter, but competing in the middleweight and light heavyweight weight divisions where he wasn’t likely to be a title holder. In fact, he might have been more a detriment to those divisions.
KJ Noons was also a good recent pickup by Strikeforce.
P.S. What happened to that other MMAPayout writer, Wolff?
Good thoughts Kelsey,
I’m wondering where are they getting all the money for these signings? They are a successful company but these types of signings much be costing them more money than they have in reserve. I know their roster was pretty thin prior, and these additions are awesome ones to make on the free market level, but I just don’t get the business model here. UFC can afford their contracts as even a poor PPV still garners them 10 million after they split the PPV, plus you add in an average 2 million gate with as little as 1 million salary. Strikeforce appears to only rely on gate which might average them 1 million. I just don’t understand the math here.
I think CBS and Showtime are funding the big signings. Showtime has been frozen out of the boxing PPV market by HBO, so it’s no-brainer for them to use MMA as a relatively cheap vehicle (compared to big-time boxing) to get back int that lucrative business. If they can turn Strikeforce into a reliable PPV attraction, with the help of CBS, then these seven-figure contracts for Fedor, Henderson, and (perhaps) Lashley, will have been worth it.
I feel it was probably best the UFC pasted on both guys. Lashley would be nice to add to the UFC crop even though i feel he isnt that good. But in the end the UFC made it a point to mention at every chance that Lesnar was a real college wrestler and thats why he is a threat not his pro wrestling. It would take legitimacy from Brock if another pro wrestler was brought in even if he too was a college wrestler.
Also i dont see where Lashley quit TNA. The UFC would never allow him to keep wrestling. Strikeforce is starting at the bottom and have to take what they cant get. They are not worried so much about protecting their investment. On top of injuries from wrestling it wouldnt be productive for the UFC to try and build someone like Lashley into a larger than like athlete who cant be stopped only to be followed up by LAshley in TNA getting smashed with a chair. Its hard to build his image. How could he be a well liked fan favorite fighter on one show and be the heel in wrestling that everyone hates? It creates many possible problems. On top of that you have a guy who dont seem to be committed to MMA. He went back to wrestling as a unbeaten prospect. He might want to fight now because the offer was right. But what if he loses? Everyone loves being a fighter when they win. Losing maybe something he isnt willing to deal with and may stay with wrestling. Do you really want to invest in someone so risky if you are the UFC?
Dan was asking to much and didnt really want to fight in the UFC anyway. He knows his career is about over and knows he cant hang with the top guys anymore. He is basically running from the UFC because he was going to have to face Nate Marquardt. His skills are going fast and he becomes more and more 1xD every fight. He ran through his last fight with his hand cocked back like Cupid firing an arrow. You dont always luck into landing a big shot on someone making a mistake like Bisping. He dont use his wrestling much at all and his striking consist of 1 sloppy right hand. He threw out a high figure that he knew they wouldnt accept. He has a chance to last much longer in SF because their shallow talent pool. Shields is a fight Dan can win. Mousassi is a very dangerous fight for Dan. HE is to fast and technical for the sloppy aging Dan.
Dan is probably at peak right now, easily handling young guys. He has a few miles left. Brian, I think your perspective is a bit skewed, almost as if you believe that Dana pushed Dan away. Just because someone says something doesn’t make it true.
What is “skewed” about my perspective? I dont think Dana drove Dan away. I think Dan waited to see if his Lottery ticket demands we met. When they wasnt he choose SF. If you think Dan is at his peak now then you might want to watch the last 10 years of MMA. Landing a big punch on Bisping dont make you at your peak. I seen more technique in hockey fights than i saw from Dan vs Bisping. Skill wise Dan is worse than he has ever been.
Dan himself said he was leaving the UFC because they didnt give him the fight he wanted. He wants Silva and Silva and the UFC want him to face Nate. He cant beat NAte and he knows it. HE cant beat Silva either but he might be able to use his takedowns to give him a chance. He wouldnt be able to take NAte down the same way he can Silva. So he in a way is running from that match. Although it hink money and easier fights to extend his career also play apart. Im not saying Dan is scared. Just it would be bad business if he fought Nate and lost.
Henderson might not be able to beat Anderson Silva but he would give him the best fight of anyone on UFCs roster in that division right now. The statement that Henderson cant beat Marquadt is just silly. Marquadt looks like a complete novice against anybody with a skill set. He was pathetic against Silva he would be pathetic against Henderson.