Dana White Wants UFC vs. Strikeforce Fights ‘As Soon As Possible,’ but Roadblocks Exist

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While most remain hopeful that UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will face Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz later this year, putting on fights that crossover between the two promotions is currently left in limbo.

Several sources over the last few weeks have stated that St-Pierre and Diaz would meet with the welterweight title on the line, but UFC president Dana White has maintained all along that it’s not a done deal.

While he stopped short of saying it wouldn’t happen, right now there are still hold ups that are preventing the UFC and Strikeforce from producing fights between the promotions.

“We literally have nothing done on that yet,” White answered when asked about the crossover fights.

Just after Zuffa purchased Strikeforce, White maintained that everything would remain ‘business as usual,’ but over the last few months several changes have been made internally within the newest promotion taken over by the MMA giant.

The matchmaking duties along with virtually all of the day-to-day business of Strikeforce is now under the helm of Zuffa employees, and the majority of Strikeforce’s staff has been let go under the new regime.

As far as fights go, however, White admitted that their goal is to put on the super fights that fans most want to see between the two promotions and it’s something they are currently working on.

“As soon as possible,” White said about a timeline for when the fights could take place.

Apparently, however, there is a wall blocking Zuffa’s efforts to make it happen. While White wouldn’t expand on what it is that’s preventing them from putting together those types of fights, most assume it has to do with Strikeforce’s existing television deal with Showtime.

Strikeforce has a television deal in place with Showtime that runs for at least two more years, but White gave no indication if that’s the specific reason why they are struggling to put together fights pitting the best of the best in the UFC against their counterparts in Strikeforce.

“I don’t even want to get into that, a whole other headache,” White stated.

The possibilities of crossover match-ups are endless, but GSP vs. Diaz appears to be the starting block if the fights can be put together. Only time and negotiation will tell if it will actually happen.

Georges St Pierre and Jose Aldo Retain Belts at UFC 129

With a Canadians in each one of the two title fights at UFC 129, the 55,000 fans in attendance had hoped to be celebrating tonight. Well fans had to settle with only one of their hometown favorites walked out of the Rogers Centre with gold around their waists.

Main event:
170 lbs.: Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields - Georges St. Pierre by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 48-47, 48-47)

Main card (Televised):
145 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick - Jose Aldo by Unanimous Decision (48-45, 48-46, 49-46) [Fight of the Night]
205 lbs.: Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida – Lyoto Machida by 2nd round KO [KO of the Night]
205 lbs.: Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jason Brilz - Vladimir Matyushenko 1st round KO
155 lbs.: Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson – Ben Henderson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Preliminary (Spike TV):
170 lbs.: Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald – Rory MacDonald by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger vs. Sean Pierson - Jake Ellenberger by 1st round KO

Preliminary (FaceBook):
185 lbs.: Jason MacDonald vs. Ryan Jensen - Jason MacDonald 1st round submission (Triangle choke)
135 lbs.: Ivan Menjivar vs. Charlie Valencia - Ivan Menjivar by 1st round TKO
155 lbs.: John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson - John Makdessi by 3rd round KO
170 lbs.: Claude Patrick vs. Daniel Roberts – Claude Patrick by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
145 lbs.: Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin - Pablo Garza by 1st round submission (Flying Triangle) [Submission of the Night]

Fight Night bonus was $129,000

Strikeforce Diaz vs Daley Recap and Results

Live from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley was an exciting event overall. The main card which aired live on Showtime saw three finishes in the first round plus a slugfest between Keith Jardine and Gegard Mousasi that ended in a majority draw.
Here is a recap of tonight’s Strikeforce action:
Main Card:
155 lbs.: Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm – Shinya Aoki by 1st round submission (neck crank)
205 lbs.: Keith Jardine vs. Gegard Mousasi – Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri – Gilbert Melendez by 1st round TKO
Main Event:
170 lbs.: Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley – Nick Diaz 1st round TKO
Results from the un-aired Preliminary Card:
145 lbs.: Robert Peralta vs. Hiroyuki Takaya - Robert Peralta by Split Decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)
155 lbs.: Saad Awad vs. Joe Duarte - Joe Duarte by 2nd round Submission (Armbar)
265 lbs.: Brett Albee vs. Virgil Zwicker - Virgil Zwicker by 1st round TKO
170 lbs.: A.J. Matthews vs. Herman Terrado - Herman Terrado by 1st round TKO
145 lbs.: Edgar Cardenas vs. Rolando Perez - Rolando Perez by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
170 lbs.: Casey Ryan vs. Paul Song - Casey Ryan by 1st round Submission (Triangle)

Bellator 39 Results

On a weekend with no UFC cards, Bellator 39 had the MMA community all too them self’s, allowing them to showcase their talent to the masses. With two tournament bouts and a lightweight title fight gracing the main televised card on MTV2 this was the perfect card to have the full fans attention.

The card started off with two explosive bouts that hand the fans there in at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut and the viewers at home glued. The night would close with two decisions that would lose the fans attention from time to time. Overall though Bellator 39 scored a win for the promotion at a time they needed it and a good start to the semifinal rounds.

Local Fight Card (undercard):

John McLaughlin vs. Blair Tugman - John McLaughlin by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Matt Veach vs. Rene Nazare - Rene Nazare by 1st round TKO
Dave Jansen vs. Scott McAfee - Dave Jansen by 1st round submission (Choke)
Mike Winters vs. Ryan Quinn - Ryan Quinn by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

Main Card:

Ben Saunders vs. Matt Lee - Ben Saunders by 3rd round TKO (doctor stoppage)
Lightweight Tournament Semifinal: Toby Imada vs. Patricky Freire - Patricky Freire by 1st round TKO
Welterweight Tournament Semifinal: Lyman Good vs. Rick Hawn - Rick Hawn by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Lightweight Championship: Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran - Eddie Alvarez by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)
Local Fight Card (undercard):
Greg Rebello vs. Dan Cramer - Dan Cramer by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)