John Morgan of MMAJunkie has written a short, interesting piece on the challenges of the alliance between North America’s Strikeforce and Japan’s Dream.
Things didn’t go so well for the Japanese promotion at January’s “Strikeforce: Miami” event. DREAM sent over welterweight Marius Zaromskis, who was promptly drubbed by Nick Diaz.
DREAM will get a second shot at respect in April when lightweight Shinya Aoki faces Gilbert Melendez.
Coker said even he was a bit amazed that DREAM would be so willing to send over Aoki, the organization’s lightweight title holder and widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the world.
“I feel very content,” Coker said. “Aoki-Gibert, that’s a fight that I thought 60-40 was not going to happen, even though I was pitching for it and pulling for it, because there’s just so many things that can break down. I’m very appreciative to DREAM for honoring their word and sending Aoki to come over and compete against Gilbert.”
Payout Perspective:
The announcement of the Strikeforce-Dream alliance was lauded by many for setting an example of co-operation in the sport, but at the same time also viewed with a great deal of skepticism. It’s one thing to announce intent to co-promote and another entirely to commit roster members for the benefit of another promotion. Seeing Zaromskis and Manhoef on the last Strikeforce card has likely quelled that skepticism.
The real question now is, is this co-promotional agreement sustainable in the long-term? The short-term benefit is obvious – and maybe that’s all this really is; that would be okay, too – but is Dream going to continue sending its fighters over to North America if Aoki is drubbed just the same way that Zaromskis was?
The reason people were skeptical in the first place is that co-promoting is risky. The value of a fighter depends upon his drawing ability, which is inherently influenced by things like the quality of his last fight or the reputation he’s managed to build (that could be harmed with a devastating loss in a foreign promotion).
Something to consider.
I don’t think the headaches will make it worth it. I mean they are already having a hard enough time getting their HW Champ Overeem to defend his belt. What happens if Aoki wins their LW belt and takes it back to Japan. Aoki could demand more money to come back and defend the belt or just decide not to come back. Then what does Strikeforce do… let him hold on to it for a couple years without defending it. It’s not like DREAM will punish Aoki for not going back and fighting for Strikeforce.
So even if the co-operation between Strikeforce and DREAM is working there is no guarantee the co-operation between the fighters and both promotions will work. Every fighter will add different problems and different variables and those variables over time will sour the relationship for one side or the other in my opinion.