If you thought live counter-programming was the only trick the UFC has up their sleeve for Strikeforce on April 17, you might be sorely mistaken. They may be going after Strikeforce’s ticket sales too.
The venue for the proposed UFC event has not been settled upon, though speculation centers on Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. Tennessee Athletic Commission Executive Director Jeff Mullen told Sherdog.com the UFC had not yet applied for a permit.
For those that aren’t familiar with Nashville, the Bridgestone Arena and Vanderbilt University are literally only two miles apart. If Tennessee mixed martial arts fans have the choice between attending a UFC event live or a Strikeforce event, you know a lot are going to hit up the UFC show even if their card is weaker, and I wouldn’t put it past the UFC to give away boatloads of tickets if they have to just to screw Strikeforce. All is fair in love and war I suppose, but damn, that would just be downright mean.
By the way, Mike Swick will not fight Matt Serra on the card. He has a pretty serious arm injury that will likely need surgery. The other big rumor out there is that James Toney would make his debut against Kimbo Slice, but all actual reports on Kimbo and Toney suggest otherwise. The rumor is coming from Carmichael Dave who’s close with Dana White though, so you never know.
One other tidbit, and it probably goes without saying, but word is Strikeforce’s future with CBS may be heavily dependent upon the ratings of the Nashville show.
Update: More from Dave Meltzer:
On Thursday, UFC president Dana White confirmed a live show on the same date, “Ultimate Fight Night 22,” on Spike TV. While UFC countered an Affliction pay-per-view show in 2008 with a live event featuring Anderson Silva, if things don’t change this time, it will be the first time the two top promotions run major nationally televised events simultaneously.
No matches are confirmed for the UFC show, however. Thursday, White attempted to make Matt Serra vs. Mike Swick, but that will be impossible since Swick just suffered an arm injury and will likely need surgery. UFC sources indicated Kimbo Slice vs. James Toney was under consideration, but the talks hit snags.
No site has been confirmed for the UFC show, although it is known at least two locations are under consideration in the state of Tennessee, including Nashville’s Vanderbilt University.
So it’s definitely happening, the questions are with who and where?
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interesting to see what’s gonna happen
lol UFC are such assholes its hilarious
WOW! The UFC is really not messing around anymore.
Yes, this is really low. LOL
The UFC might take the new and/or casual fan, but a hardcore fan like myself will be watching 3 great title fights on Strikeforce and will not change the channel!
But I still will be watching the other 5 UFC/WEC events in that 4 week time frame!
i think since ufc guys are being assholes strikeforce should move it to the 24th to shaft wec
Speaking of the WEC…the UFC needs to get a brain and dissolve the WEC into the UFC.
I love it, and I live in knoxvilee, so if the UFC passes out tickets for free, I know where I’ll be in April. Strikeforce’s days are oh so limited, and I’m so glad.
lol at all the people calling UFC “mean” This is war and Strikefarce needs to get burned down so the ten people that are in strikeforce that arent trash cans can come fight the real fight in UFC. But yeah WEC needs to merge with UFC asap, Jose Aldo is a killing machine and he needs to be in the spot light making tons of cash hes earned it.
No way UFC is going to have a better card than Strikeforce that night…even my granny knows that!!! UFC is the better organization but its not the only one with real fights. Never was and never will be(well, it was in the first 4 or 5 years untill Pride arrives). Thank God! This way we have more good events to watch. To see who is the best you just have to ask Mr. White to put those fight on with other organizations once or twice a year. Dream, Sengoku and Strikeforce all do it…in this event of Strikeforce we will have the Lightweight Champion taking on the Dream Champion. Thats how MMA should be!
I doubt CBS will change the date of the fights to the 24th. Showtime is showing the Kessler and Abraham fights that night.
my bad ward fight not abraham