Strikeforce Dream Superfights

The UFC has become the dominant organization over the last decade and while Pride together with the smaller MMA organizations collapsed, it has become one of the fastest growing and profitable entertainment businesses. The UFC was good at the game it played. It hired Dana White to run the show and attract the American fans by primarily attracting media attention to his often scandalous statements and remarks.

Strikeforce is the latest small-time show on the block that is now starting to get its legs. It joined forces with Dream and M1-Global and signed a whole list of top fighters, Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi and Fabricio Werdum, with plenty more in the pipeline.

Not only this but they have also had a chance to air on CBS (Fedor vs. Rodgers) and actually did well with another two shows of the same caliber in the pipeline.

Admittedly Strikeforce has made too many mistakes already. Commentary was ok but it wasn't Bas Rutten, more over they did not advertise future bouts as does the UFC to get fans hooked in for future events.

The card itself was strong, but they did not show the under cards where there were several very nice fights taking place. The impression that the event gave was that the card was good, the fights were excellent but the production was poor. (In Russia M1-Global did the production and it was even worse). Fight Camp 360: Fedor vs. Rodgers was not bad but it was not interesting.

So what can Strikeforce do better? How can it be a real business and also hook in fans that would then crave for the next event to come? Yes, media distribution is important. After all PPVs make the money here. But lets take a look at the Superfights that Strikeforce can put on.

Superfights!

1. Roger Gracie vs. Kazushi Sakuraba - Sakuraba has been a Gracie-Hunter for years. He is a Pride legend and is considered one of the best ever. His opponent however is another Gracie and considered today the greatest bjj practitioner of all time. He has not been submitted since 1999, is currently undefeated for a year and is a Mundials and ADCC champion.

Could Sakuraba come from Dream and put up a good fight or will the young and extremely talented Roger Gracie take the fight to the ground and submit the Pride veteran?

2. Royce Gracie vs. Fedor Emelianenko - Royce Gracie is one of the coolest jiu jitsu legends around. The odds of winning would be next to zero but consider this. Royce Gracie enters the ring in his white gi to face the greatest fighter of all time. This would be a fight to remember and one that Royce I believe will not back down from.

3. Andrey Arlovski vs. Ronaldo Jacare Souza - Andrei Arlovski is a deadly striker but also has a poor chin. He is an ex-UFC champion and has a great Sambo background and good submissions.

At first you may think that this might be an uneven match up, yes. But imagine, Jacare takes down Arlovski with explosive force and plays his grappling game. Who will emerge from this battle? We will have to see!

These could be just a few super fights. Other notable bouts to consider:

1. Jeff Monson vs. Hong Man Choi - prediction: Choi by KO

2. Gegard Mousasi vs. Fabricio Werdum - prediction: Mousasi by KO

3. Brett Rodgers vs. Josh Barnett - prediction: Barnett by Submission

4. Tim Sylvia against Bob Sapp - prediction: draw!

5. Alistair Overeem vs. Bobby Lashley - prediction: Overeem by guillotine choke