Yes, it's true. The UFC has officially acquired strikeforce. Think of it in every sense of the word. Acquired: to come into possession or ownership of; get as one's own: to acquire property. 2. to gain for oneself through one's actions or efforts. If the UFC wasn't considered the juggernaut promotion of mixed martial arts, there would be no denying them now, as they have come to be in the possession of their biggest competitor in the industry. Now they are officially boundless. ...

Many are wondering what the future holds for Fedor Emelianenko. Only a select few have any say in that matter. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is one of those rare few. Coker was the driving force behind bringing Emelianenko to Strikeforce in the first place, and he’s kept “The Last Emperor” under the Strikeforce banner despite several high-profile contract renegotiations. Recently, Coker commented both on Emelianenko’s future and the highly controversial Twitter rant launched by UFC President Dana White in response to Emelianenko’s latest loss to Antonio Silva. ...

What's there to be said about Fedor Emelianenko? Though UFC President Dana White would disagree, I think the most well educated mixed martial arts fans would consider Fedor not only as the greatest heavyweight fighter ever, but one of the most greatest fighters of all time. So when I was live at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey last weekend and saw Antonio Silva utilize his size and skill to subdue the much smaller Emelianenko, several things rang true. One, Fedor's skills are finally catching up to the talent that he has spent a majority of his career ahead of. Two, he will run into these same problems time and time again should he continue to face athletes at the top of the heap in the heavyweight class. So when Fedor expressed his sentiments in wanting to retire post-fight last weekend, I wasn't surprised. However, both Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and manager Vadim Finkelstein believe that there are still many great fights to come for "The Last Emperor". ...

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has long discussed his desire to bring the organization into the land of the rising sun. And now, it seems like his dream can become reality. Scott first put his foot in the world door of the mixed martial arts world when he was a protege of the famous Ernie Reyes, and later enjoyed a good relationship with ultra-popular K-1 organization, which has been a staple for both the kickboxing and mixed martial arts scene in Japan. Now, Coker has recently been linked with representatives of the now defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships, in an effort to help navigate his way to bring MMA back where it belongs. ...

We all know the story by now. The CBS brawl--where Jason "Mayhem" Miller challenged then champion Jake Shields for a rematch amongst his posse of Cesar Gracie teammates in Nashville, Tennessee last April. Well what ensued was a near riot, when the entire camp attacked Miller on national television. Those infamous Gus Johnson words keep rattling in my head "gentleman we're on national television! Gentleman!". But the fruit of such a riot contributed to now one of the most publicized feuds in the mixed martial arts world, and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker hopes to capitalize on it. ...

Who will win it all when it’s all said and done? That’s the question fans have been debating for weeks now, ever since full details were released for the upcoming strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. The tournament, consisting of eight of the best Heavyweights in Strikeforce’s stellar Heavyweight division, has got hopes running high and anticipation at a fevered pitch throughout the MMA community. Recently, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made an interesting comment regarding one of Strikeforce’s most high-profile Heavyweights: in short, Coker believes that the legendary Fedor Emelianenko won’t be the one to win this Grand Prix. Here are all the details. ...

Fans and insiders alike seem to be very interested in the upcoming strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, with many predicting that it will be a defining moment for the surging Strikeforce promotion. The tournament features a varied cast of characters that hail from locations all around the world. Hoping to capitalize on the international appeal of such stars as Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently claimed that the promotion was looking to bring its Grand Prix both overseas and also to our neighbor to the north. Here are all the details. ...

There was a lot of talk as the the format of the new Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix, and how it would all unfold. Alistair Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, through a monkey wrench into the whole scheme of things when he proclaimed that he would also like to participate in the tournament which features a who's who of mixed martial arts talent: Fedor Emelianenko, Sergei Kharitonov, Andrei Arlovski, Brett Rogers, Josh Barnett, Antonio Silva and Overeem's next opponent, Fabricio Werdum. While Scott Coker, the CEO of the San Jose based promotion, stated that since Overeem would be fighting Werdum in the quarter-finals, he had hoped that the fight could be contested for the promotion's heavyweight strap, however those plans have since been nixed. ...

The future for Fedor Emelianenko in strikeforce remains one of the most hotly-debated topics of the year, mostly due to the fact that both sides still have not been able to come to a deal ever since Emelianenko shockingly lost to Fabricio Werdum back in June of this year. Some have called for an immediate rematch with Werdum, some have called for Fedor’s retirement. Some insist that Fedor’s loss was one bump in an otherwise flawless road, others contend that Fedor was never all that good and the loss to Werdum simply proved this. In a new interview, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had some very interesting insights into the situation. ...

strikeforce will makes its organizational debut in Ohio on March 5. when the promotion ventures to the Buckeye State to coincide with this years Arnold Sports Festival. The regular trip to Ohio has been somewhat of a tradition for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, however the worlds largest mixed martial arts organization has opted to skip the Arnold's this year in favor of some other exciting ventures elsewhere. Consistently, each time the UFC has brought an event to the Ohio area, they have done big numbers, and Strikeforce will surely like to follow suit in the success that the UFC has shown is capable of having, even in this economy. ...

Paul Daley’s future is once again bright. The notorious British bad-boy who was most famously kicked out of the UFC after attacking Josh Koscheck after the bell has now found new life in Strikeforce, thanks to one of the biggest KO’s the heavy-handed “Semtex” has ever managed to deliver. At the recent “Henderson vs. Babalu 2” event, Daley shut down and beat up “Comeback King” Scott Smith before finishing him with a knockout so vicious that it’ll likely remain on Daley’s highlight reel for the rest of his career. In a new interview, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently stated that he can’t wait to book Daley again and looks forward to seeing how far “Semtex” can go in Strikeforce. ...

It can be tough to determine the best way to grow your roster when you’re a growing promotion. Such is the case for strikeforce, which seems to be solving the riddle of its rosters in several different ways in several different weight divisions. Strikeforce seems to be bringing in big-name Heavyweights more often, while focusing on growing instead of importing stars in their other divisions. Case in point: it was recently revealed that Strikeforce won’t be pursuing Gerald Harris, and it was also recently revealed that Strikeforce did in fact pursue Todd Duffee only to get turned down. ...

The famed New Year's Eve “DYNAMITE” show in Japan has traditionally been one of the most star-studded events of the year, combining both K-1 and MMA fights into one super-show that usually sells out arenas with ease. But this December, Japanese fight fans won’t be able to look forward to seeing one of their biggest stars get a shot at both revenge and redemption. According to a new report, Gilbert Melendez vs. Shinya Aoki 2 has now been officially scrapped from the upcoming “DYNAMITE 2010” card. Here are all the details. ...

Dec. 4 in St. Louis will hold a lot of implications for four men. The main event of the evening on said card will feature a special attraction pitting legends and former champions Dan Henderson and Renato "Babalu" Sobral against one another. While this bout has already been promised an immediate title shot against current light heavyweight kingpin Rafael Cavalcante (who defeated Muhammed Lawal last August for the promotion's title), two more title shots may be waiting on the wings for two men. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently revealed that the winners of Robbie Lawler/Matt Lindland and Paul Daley/Scott Smith could be in line for a title shot in their respective weight classes. ...

Former UFC star Paul Daley has led an interesting life as a Mixed Martial Artist, to say the very least. He’s competed in several major-name promotions in several high-priority bouts. He’s won fans over with his brawling style and his massive KO power, he’s also earned their ire for his brash personality and confident British swagger. He also earned quite a lot of infamy when he attacked Josh Koscheck post-fight and earned himself a permanent exile from the UFC. Now “Semtex” is poised to fight again in strikeforce, for the first time in over three years. CEO Scott Coker recently commented on why Daley finds himself competing in a high-profile promotion once again despite his hit-or-miss record and reckless attitude. ...

With the limited number of quality opponent's to adhere to Melendez' request, Scott Coker finds himself in a bind. The Strikeforce CEO has put "El Nino" through the ringer, and he has delivered each and every time. Having defeated the likes of Tatsuya Kawajiri, Rodrigo Damm, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Josh Thomson and now Shinya Aoki last April, Melendez is looking for new and exciting quality opponents. While a third match with Thomson, who has recently bounced back from the loss to his fellow Californian native last December with two consecutive wins over Pat Healy and "JZ" Cavalcante, would be appealing to fans, it's something that Melendez has openly criticized, wanting to face new competition. With a potential fight with Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez dangling in the wind after Bjorn, the organization's CEO, and Coker have had it out in the media, the back and forth has nearly solidified the fact that the two parties may never come to an agreement. ...

After a prolonged period of uncertainty, the verdict is finally in: there will be no strikeforce Middleweight Tournament. Plans were put together for a one-night tournament to crown either a new challenger or the outright champion ever since Jake Shields left Strikeforce for the UFC, leaving the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship vacant. Ronaldo Souza defeated Tim Kennedy for the title back in August, but rumors still persisted that the one-night tournament would return. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker finally laid any and all rumors to rest recently. Here are all the details. ...

Nick Diaz vs. Jason Miller. Just thinking about this potential showdown is enough to get a lot of fans riled up. Whether you’re “down with Diaz” or a “Mayhem monkey”, a growing legion of fans have been calling for this match to take place. Diaz and Miller have already engaged in an increasingly bitter game of one-upmanship, case in point: Miller’s recent verbal tirade saw him announce the launch of www.dontbescaredhomie.com while accusing Diaz of being autistic. strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently commented on the potential match-up, and the usually straight-shooting Coker was surprisingly mum on the situation. Here are all the details. ...

It’s been almost five months since Fabricio Werdum shocked the world and gave former PRIDE FC champion and MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko his first legitimate loss. Since that time, much has been made of Fedor and his management team M-1 Global’s continued negotiations with the strikeforce promotion. Both sides have yet to come to a deal, but Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently revealed that they’re closer than ever. Here are all the details. ...

Although Bellator FC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez stands out as the fighter most talked about in regards to next opponents, when it comes to strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez nothing is certain. It had been rumored that Melendez would rematch DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki at the annual end-of-year Japanese super-show “DYNAMITE”. Aoki famously lost to Melendez stateside at Strikeforce: "Nashville" earlier this year. But according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, there’s a large possibility that Melendez/Aoki 2 won’t be happening now that rumors of fiscal irresponsibility have begun to plague DREAM. ...

The back and forth between CEO's Bjorn Rebney and Scott Coker has gone on long enough, with no resolution in sight. I don't think there was really any outcry for a Gilbert Melendez vs Eddie Alvarez fight to begin with, at least not until both champions of their respective organization's went on a media frenzy calling out one another like kids before recess. Would I like to see this fight? Absolutely. But, according Rebney, it looks like the possibility of a match up between these two stellar lightweights seems to be thinning as we speak. Bjorn, the Bellator owner and founder, has now responded in kind to Coker, the Strikeforce CEO, asking him to "Have (Gilbert Melendez) stop talking about the fight, so that Eddie can not have to respond to it and I don’t have to respond to it, or just sit down with me and let’s work it out". ...

The once-friendly rivalry between Bellator FC and Strikeforce has begun to fully emerge as a real-life MMA promotional war. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has been on the attack for the last several weeks, his latest salvo involved the posting of text messages online that show him frequently talking to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker about a supposed “Champion vs. Champion” match revolving around Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had in fact denied receiving any texts from Rebney prior to these texts going online. Not phased in the slightest and definitely not amused, the soft-spoken Coker recently said that Rebney simply texted a number that is no longer used and that his “high school” tactics are detrimental to a working relationship. ...

In the world of professional combat sports, there seems to always be two types of fight promoters. One sticks to the shadows to such a degree that their presence is practically ghostly. The other is so embedded in the public spotlight that news about him and his controversial opinions can sometimes generate as much or even more interest in an upcoming fight than the fighters themselves. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently called it the Bob Arum/Don King dynamic, and guess which one Coker says UFC President Dana White comes closest to emulating. Here’s what the soft-spoken head of the second-largest MMA promotion in the world had to say about how fight promoters promote fights. ...

Although she was at one time known as “The Face of Women’s MMA”, former EliteXC and Strikeforce star Gina Carano hasn’t seen the inside of a cage since August 2009, when she lost a pivotal showdown to Cristiane Santos with literally one second left in the round. Carano has virtually vanished from the MMA landscape and the popular media in general since that deflating loss, while “Cyborg” has gone on to rival and some would say even eclipse Carano’s fame thanks to Santos' downright scary performances highlighted by the utter destruction of her opponents. But fear not Carano fans, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, Carano’s MMA career is far from over. ...

The back and forth between CEO's Bjorn Rebney and Scott Coker has been well documented. Without question both Bellator and Strikeforce are two of the top-tier promotions in the business (behind the UFC) and have become so by consistently putting on some of the best fights in recent memory. Now with the acquisition of world class fighters within each promotion, it has been Bjorn, the Bellator CEO, that has gone out of his way to get in touch with Scott Coker of Strikeforce. However, Coker has refuted claims that Bjorn has contacted him, let alone text him. Rebney upped the ante recently when he released pictures indicating otherwise. ...

Trying to keep a co-promotional rivalry friendly is like trying to not get wet when it’s raining. The recent back-and-forth between Strikeforce and Bellator FC is simply further proof that a co-promotional rivalry can quickly turn ugly despite the best of intentions. What began as a great fight between two great champions (Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez versus Bellator FC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez) has now turned into Melendez ducking Alvarez and Strikeforce ducking Bellator, at least according to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.  But according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, it’s all a glorified publicity stunt. ...

Yesterday I posted an article stating that Eddie Alvarez, the current Bellator FC Lightweight Champion, is now a “Top 5” fighter after destroying Roger Huerta at Bellator 33. That opinion hasn’t changed, and it won’t change for quite some time. Following his big win over the former UFC star, talks have once again centered on Alvarez and Gilbert Melendez, the Lightweight Champion of the more-famous Strikeforce promotion. And according to Bellator FC’s CEO, and even Eddie Alvarez himself, Melendez/Alvarez has officially crossed the line from “it just needs to be worked out” and is now a case of “Gilbert Melendez is ducking Eddie Alvarez, Strikeforce is ducking Bellator FC”. Here are all the details. ...

It's no secret that Jason Miller is a huge Nick Diaz fan. He likes his style; the way he fight's. And it's with the utmost respect that Miller desires to fight the strikeforce welterweight champion... Or could it be because Diaz and the entire Cesar Gracie clan jumped Miller in a Stockton beat down on national television earlier this year? Well that's certainly one theory. Ever since Nick and "Mayhem" came to blows at the CBS event in April, which featured Diaz teammates Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields retain their titles on the card, everyone has been asking for this fight to happen. Everyone, except Nick Diaz, who claims to have better things to worry about, like real challengers, improving his nun-chuck skills and figuring out clever new ways to cheat pre-fight drug tests time and time again. ...

In their heyday, both David "Batista" and Bobby Lashley were two of some of the most polarizing figures in the world of professional wrestling. The epidemy of strength, speed, and entertainment--these two always delivered. However, Lashley's foray into his new world, in mixed martial arts, has not gone quite as swimmingly. Since his inception into MMA, which started on the regional circuit, garnering notable victories over the likes of journeyman Jason Guida (that's right, the former "The Ultimate Fighter" season 8 hopeful and brother to lightweight fighter Clay Guida) and former K-1 star Bob Sapp. A 4-fight unbeaten streak helped set him up in the big show of Strikeforce, where on his third fight in the promotion, he lost via TKO against the unheralded Chad Griggs. Now in need of a gimmick to get Bobby back into the limelight, why wouldn't this be the best time to bring in "The Animal" to lock horns with "The Dominator"--at least, that's what Scott Coker thinks. ...

Bellator lightweight champion is a force to reckoned with in his weight class. After an illuminated run in Japan, where Alvarez has picked up some of the biggest wins of his career, which includes victories over the likes of former DREAM lightweight champion Joachim Hansen, former Shooto champion Tatsuya Kawajiri and current DEEP lightweight champion Katsunori Kikuno. Not impressed? En route to Bellator gold, he was able to submit all three of his opponents, including the heralded Toby Imada, a Jiu-Jitsu whiz who became an internet sensation with his inverted triangle choke over lightweight notable Jorge Masvidal, which garnered Imada the "Submission of the Year" on several publications, including a trophy award at the 2009 World MMA Awards, hosted by Fighters Only. So when Alvarez, 26, heard word that Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has called him out on numerous occasions, the Philly fighter didn't take too kindly to it. ...