It has been little more than a week since Zuffa (the UFC’s parent
company) swooped in and swallowed up Strikeforce, but a few changes are already
underway.
Right out of the gate, Zuffa co-owner and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said that Strikeforce
would conform to the Unified Rules of mixed martial arts. Strikeforce had
already largely done so, but maintained a few tweaks of their own, such as no
elbow strikes on the ground.
That immediately came to an end when Fertitta and UFC president Dana White
held a conference
call with reporters to announce the acquisition.
Another change that goes into effect immediately is no more amateur fights.
Nick Diaz trainer Cesar Gracie first posted the news on his website.
Strikeforce Director of Communication Mike Afromowitz later confirmed the change
to MMAWeekly.com.
White has long been a detractor of amateur fights, indicating that such bouts
were largely a way for promoters to get away with putting on fights without
having to pay the fighters.
Strikeforce had utilized amateurs primarily on its builder show, Strikeforce
Challengers, under the sanctioning of CAMO, the California Mixed Martial Arts
Organization.
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