Showtime “Actively Looking” for New MMA Relationship

According to Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza, Showtime is planning on staying in the Mixed Martial Arts business and is currently looking for another promotion to partner with. Showtime decided not to continue their relationship with Strikeforce, and, with the way the relationship ended, many pundits suggested that they may just stick to boxing. Espinoza says that is not the case, and they are entertaining many possibilities.

Espinoza told MMAJunkie:

“The last few weeks, after it became clear that we would not be moving forward with Strikeforce for the next year. We had the option of moving forward with Strikeforce. We decided not to exercise that option.”

“We are actively looking for other opportunities, We haven’t found the right opportunity yet, but we are definitely looking for the next relationship in the MMA space… with virtually every [possibility] in the combat-sports area.”

Showtime broadcasts the final Strikeforce card this Saturday and will feature a welterweight title fight between Nate Marquardt and Tarec Saffiedine.