Scott Coker and company keep hitting home runs with his Strikeforce heavyweight tournament, yet there are some fans who are still complaining. Why?
Earlier in the day, Showtime's play-by-play voice @mauroranallo snapped off on some Twitter followers for the incessant bitching about the format and the participants. I don't blame him. Showtime and Strikeforce nailed this one and the fury over the bracket or Alistair Overeem's inclusion is mind-boggling.
One of my followers on Twitter @mmafan84 sent out this tweet:
Really? These fights were going to happen "anyway?" Strikeforce just went through a horrendous year of heavyweight matchmaking. This tournament seems like the only way to guarantee the fights that fans want to see will actually take place. Fighters are free to pull out, but that's on them now.
As far as the bracket complaints, who cares? Most fans have been clamoring for Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem and ripping Strikeforce for not getting the fight done. With Fedor and "The Reem" on the same of the bracket, and one less fight to get through, the risk of missing out on the fight is reduced. You cry for the integrity of the tournament, I'll enjoy Overeem-Fedor in the semis.
Update - It was reported earlier in the day that all Overeem fights would be five rounds.
Showtime/Strikeforce also nailed it by not adhering to the stupid precedent that a tourney should be waged to decide who gets to face the champ.
Overeem, the Strikeforce title holder, has to be in the field. Showtime employed the same strategy with its Super Six boxing tournament featuring the elite 168 pounders in the world. Carl Froch entered the tournament with the WBC strap, lost it and then got it back. If he's good enough to take out both Glen Johnson and probably Andre Ward, then he'll emerge with the title later in 2011. The same goes for Overeem.
Frankly, any MMA media person or fan, who thinks it's smart to keep Overeem on the sidelines is insane. The guy fought MMA one time between New Year's Eve 2009 and New Year's Eve 2010. This tournament guarantees that Overeem gets fights in the U.S. In the end, that's great for MMA.
The only person who doesn't think so, is MMA television analyst Chael Sonnen. Sonnen crapped all over Overeem during a recent appearance. He's entitled to his opinion. That's what television is all about.
MMA Live is developing some of the best MMA analysts on TV, but ESPN needs to nail one or two polarizing, opinionated figures to match what the major sports already have on the network. Maybe Sonnen is that guy.
skateboarding snowboarding snowmobiling speed biking speed skiing
No comments:
Post a Comment