Strikeforce
Dana White: Fighters already in Strikeforce will be staying in Strikeforce
Dec 11, 2011 - 11:45:32 AM Dana White: Fighters already in Strikeforce will be staying in Strikeforce

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The last week has brought reports that Strikeforce and Showtime were close to finalizing a deal to keep the promotion on the network. After the UFC 140 press conference on Saturday night, UFC President Dana White confirmed that the organization will be sticking around, and added that the fighters currently on Strikeforce's roster will be staying there as well.

"The guys that are in Strikeforce are staying in Strikeforce," White said (quotes transcribed by MMAWeekly.com). "Strikeforce lives."

That means that current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez will not be transitioning to the UFC after his fight with Jorge Masvidal next weekend, a point that will no doubt upset many fans, and probably Melendez himself. However, while his expected move over to the top of the UFC's lightweight class isn't happening, White assures that Strikeforce's fighters will be happy they're there.

"Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make fights [for them]," White said. "They will be happy to be there. Believe me, I got this thing worked out. It's going to be good for everybody. It's going to be good for the fighters, it's going to be good for Showtime, and it's going to be good for Strikeforce."

Penick's Analysis: I'm withholding judgment on that call until we see what the UFC's plans with Strikeforce are, but it's hard not to be disappointed that Melendez isn't going to be coming into the Octagon when it was looking like a mere formality after his fight with Masvidal. There aren't a ton of other fighters on Strikeforce's roster that would have been clamored for to be in the Octagon, but there are a handful fans will wish were there. Still, if the UFC is going to perhaps transition some fighters over to Strikeforce to boost up the roster, or if they've got some other ideas we haven't thought of yet, things could definitely work for all sides. At the least, I'm intrigued to see what they're going to do.