Will Henderson vs. Shields aid in lack of Strikeforce’s promotional efforts?
One can generally rely on big-name matches in MMA to deliver the goods - and that’s exactly what Strikeforce needs to display as they continue their foray into mainstream exposure via CBS (and Showtime). Will the recently confirmed fight with Dan Henderson (25-7) going up against middleweight champ Jake Shields (24-4-1) assist in keeping momentum pumping?
Number one pound-for-pound fighter Fedor’s fight with Brett Rogers served up plenty of ratings but a lack of depth in divisional rosters is upping the pressure of securing high profile bouts that rattle the keyboards of both hardcore fans and newcomers. The absence of quality Internet and television advertising is being noticed by all of us who are used to event info being readily accessible. Whether it’s a big UFC announcement or even a King of the Cage (KOTC) show, there’s little effort required in staying updated. A few SF tweets here and there show some interest in initiating compelling dissemination but in this age it’s just not enough.
Relying solely on an event to deliver MMA brand establishment with loyal fans is a gamble on something as uncertain in all of sports while marketing is a inexpensive as ever and is sure-fire when performed even at an semi-dedicated level.
The UFC has it right with hyping every main event, co-main event and even under cards by informing fans on who’s fighting when and why it’s worth watching. The UFC explains the value in patronizing their events, while Strikeforce has not.
Hendo’s brutal knockout victory over Michael Bisping back at UFC 100 has made his personal brand red-hot as of late while Shields continues to suffer from “boring” chants echoed by fans uninterested with his arguably vanilla showings inside the cage. Putting these two highly skilled athletes together in a title shot makes sense and has me personally quite interested but if it’s anything like Jake’s previous match against Mayhem Miller (lay ‘n’ pray-fest) could let some air out of the organization’s tires.
Tags: den henderson, jake shields, strikeforce
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I totally agree; no organization can do it like the UFC, and Strikeforce is nowhere close in the rearview mirror. If anything, I would put Bellator in front of Strikeforce. Look at all the press they’ve been putting out there with regards to signing top prospects, as well as their upcoming season that will be broadcast/rebroadcast on multiple media outlets. In addition to their collaboration with MSG. It’s not to say that Bellator is any closer to the UFC, which they’re not, but in my opinion they’re making their brand known more than Strikeforce. As for Henderson, how would you like a conspiracy theory. The UFC and Henderson purposely have a fall out, to send a fox into the hen house. Henderson is the perfect candidate, with all his experience, to demolish both the middleweight and the light heavy weights, or at least to test them. If any of them pass the Hendo test, then the UFC will go after them and at the same time, if Hendo takes care of all of these good fighters, not really known if they are great yet, then he would have single handedly exposed Strikeforce for what everyone really sees them as, which is an organization with mostly “B” level fighters. Hopefully, he will return to the UFC after his four fight Strikeforce contract.
Oh, I forgot to comment about Jake Shields, not sure if it was on purpose or subconsciencely, but regardless, I compare Jake Shields to a Chael Sonnen, they both talk trash as if they are the best in the world. They both got their glory because they beat top guys in their division/organization and they’re trying to get the most out of it. In addition, they’re allowing their egos and big heads to get even bigger. Both Robbie Lawler and Nate Marquardt took Jake Shields and Chael Sonnen, respectively, lightly given that they were fighting guys that had no reputation, or at least none as great as themselves. Therefore, they both made the biggest mistake most fighters make, which is underestimate their opponents and looking forward to the next big fight. If Robbie and Nate both get an opportunity to redeem themselves against these fighters, in my opinion, it will be a totally different outcome. Hendo is going to destroy Jake, and Nate will destroy his next opponent on his way back to where he belongs, which is his rightful shot at the title. If Chael gets his shot at the title it will expose him as the great trash talker that he is, but more importantly that he doesn’t belong in consideration as amongst the best. Jake at middle weight is ridiculous, he should be at 170. I still don’t understand how the fight for the middle weight title was not a rematch against Robbie Lawler instead of a fight with Jason “Mayhem” Miller; what gave Jason the right to fight for a title? It was an obvious attempt to hand the title to the poster boy Strikeforce wanted to have the title. The same with Nick Diaz; it should have been against Jay Hieron, not Marius Zaromskis; not to take anything away from Marius, but Jay was the IFL Welter-Weight Champion and he was the known fighter who has fought some of the best already. For Nick to say, why should he fight Jay, who is Jay, he’s an undercard fighter, clearly shows that Jay is not getting any respect by Strikeforce and his fighters, and he should bolt to the UFC if given the opportunity. Nick would love to see Jay leave because he is his only threat. Although, I hope to see Jay crush Nick Diaz before he does leave, but having Nick at welter-weight and Jake at middle-weight explains everything since they train together. Add Andrei Arlovski to this equation, he came close to defeating Fedor, but he got overly aggressive, and got knocked out, but why not keep him active within Strikeforce? I know that he’s been doing his movie thing, and trying to capitalize on the lackluster talent in the heavy-weight division of boxing for the big pay day, but Strikeforce doesn’t mind a true contender like Andrei Arlovski to distract himself away from asking for a rematch with Fedor because Fedor is their golden goose in the eyes of CBS; if there were no indestructible Fedor, then that deflates the only one-up Strikeforce has on the UFC, which, as a fight fan I don’t really care about because I like to watch all of the best fighters in the world not just one great fighter in the world, who has not impressed me with his last few fights. I think the moment Fedor loses, CBS will sour on Strikeforce, which will then be the demise and prediction as foretold by Dana White.
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