What was originally supposed to be an epic show filled with title matches and combustible personalities has now been reduced to a fairly mediocre show with a couple of interesting fights and little else. Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem, Josh Thomson, Joe Riggs and Roger Gracie were all rumored or confirmed for this card. All have since backed out. For a promotion looking to make a splash and whose last Showtime card was a full on success, this can only be seen as a step backwards. What else can possibly go wrong now? Gina and Cyborg both missing weight?
Don't get me wrong: I really enjoy Strikeforce and want them to be a success. Fighters get banged up all the time, but this is getting ridiculous. Heavyweight champ Overeem hasn't defended his title in a long time and keeps finding new and creative ways to avoid fighting for the promotion. Joe Riggs is injured. Josh Thomson is still recovering from a broken leg. Roger Gracie was apparently never booked for the show. And in the latest news Nick Diaz apparently doesn't have enough time to get the weed out of his system for him to pass a piss test. Neat. The addition of Babalu vs Gegard Mousasi has made this show a little more interesting, but damn, this is not the same show I was looking forward to a month ago. Hell, it's not even the same show I was looking forward to a week ago. Oh well. Here's the card (as of this second).
MAIN CARD
Gina Carano vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos- For Strikeforce women's 145-pound title
Jay Hieron (filling in for Joe Riggs) vs. Jesse Taylor (filling in for Nick Diaz)
Light Heavyweight Champ Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Gegard Mousasi
Interim Lightweight Champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida (filling in for Josh Thomson)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Mike Kyle (filling in for Alistair Overeem) vs. Fabricio Werdum
Mike Cook vs. Scott Lighty
David "Tarzan" Douglas vs. Justin Wilcox
Zak Bucia vs. James Terry
Isaiah Hill vs. Alex Trevino
I'm sure there's other injuries I've forgotten about. Anyway, good luck Strikeforce. Hope you can convince a couple of your other champs to defend their belts someday.