Strikeforce was founded as a kickboxing organization. However, in the beginning no one believed it would go anywhere near the level of UFC but it became the number 2. MMA promotion in the world.
It became involved with MMA in 2006 with the Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie event on March 10, 2006, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The event was California's first regulated MMA event and broke the previous record for largest audience at a MMA event in North America, with its 18,265 in attendance. The record was since broken by UFC 129.
In February 2008, Strikeforce held its first event outside California with Strikeforce: At The Dome at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. Since then it has held four additional events outside California: October 2008 in Broomfield, Colorado, two during June 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri and Kent, Washington, and in November 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
In March 2008, Strikeforce partnered with NBC to broadcast weekly highlight and fighter-profile series, Strikeforce on NBC from April 12.In February 2009, Strikeforce purchased several assets, including a video library and several fighter-contracts, including Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith from ProElite, owner of the defunct EliteXC promotion. Days later it also announced it had agreed to a three-year broadcast deal withShowtime for up to 16 events per year, as well as a deal with CBS for an option to produce up to four events for them. In addition to Strikeforce's primary events being broadcast on Showtime, it also announced it would produce ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers, an event-series similar to ShoXC and ShoBox, where they would highlight up-and-coming fighters.
During August 2009, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced that they had signed formal alliances with Japanese MMA-promotion Dream and Russian promotion M-1 Global. Coker said the partnership would allow for co-promotion and fighter exchanges for events both in the US and Japan, and he mentioned Shinya Aoki versus Josh Thomson or Gilbert Melendez as well as Melvin Manhoef versus Robbie Lawler creating the best match ups possible that would not have existed before.
On August 15, 2009, Strikeforce was available to be viewed online through the Showtime website. For a small cost "Strikeforce: All Access" is an online interactive event for the fans that streams simultaneously with the live event enabling the user multiple camera angles of the fights such as the "cage cam" exclusively offered by Showtime. A small camera is attached to the referee and fans are able to see from their perspective in real time. "Strikeforce: All Access" adds other features such as pause and instant replay. This was not the first time Strikeforce events were streamed on the Showtime website but was the first time the live stream was available to audiences and internet users outside the United States such as in Europe, Japan, Brazil, and Canada.
Strikeforce has major sponsorship deals, Rockstar Energy Drink is the official energy drink of Strikeforce. This in addition to having sponsors from Electronic Arts Video Games,Bodog and Full Tilt Poker. Strikeforce also started to air events live on prime time television on CBS starting in 2009.
Some notable fighters who fought in the promotion since 2009 include Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Dan Henderson, Marius Žaromskis, Muhammed Lawal, Melvin Manhoef,Nick Diaz, KJ Noons, and Bobby Lashley.
Arrival of Fedor Emelianenko
On August 3, 2009, Fedor Emelianenko signed a 3 fight contract with Strikeforce.On November 7, 2009, he made his Strikeforce debut at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers on a nationally televised card on CBS. Emelianenko faced Brett Rogers, and won via knock out in the 2nd round. Emelianenko proved to be a huge rating draw, bringing in just under 5.5 million viewers.
Emelianenko's next fight was at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum. Emelianenko suffered his first loss in 10 years to Fabricio Werdum, via submission.
Emelianenko next fought as part of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament.He lost again, to Antonio Silva, via doctor stoppage. Emelianenko was battered by Silva during the second round, causing his right eye to swell shut.
His next fight was with Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson. Fedor lost after being TKO'd in the 1st round.
Purchase by Zuffa, LLC
On March 12, 2011, Dana White revealed on AOL to Ariel Helwani that Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC, had purchased Strikeforce. White went on to explain that Strikeforce will operate as an independent promotion, and that Scott Coker will continue to run the promotion. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced the return of Fedor Emelianenko on an unspecified July or August event and said that Zuffa-owned company would continue to co-promote with M-1 Global.Following the purchase, the UFC signed many of Strikeforce's top stars and champions, such as Jason Miller, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem, and Cung Le. Under Zuffa's ownership, Strikeforce made minor changes, including adopting the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts in full, closing the promotion's men's weight classes below lightweight, and ceasing promotion of amateur undercard bouts.
Strikeforce's future
With rumours of Strikeforce following the same trend under Zuffa as PRIDE and WEC by looking like they will be merged into the UFC, Dana White announced that Strikeforce will remain on Showtime throughout 2012. The deal means that no more Strikeforce fighters will be sent to the UFC, meaning champions like Gilbert Melendez and Luke Rockholdwill be remaining with Strikeforce to defend their titles. Champions will be crowned in the divisions that Zuffa made vacant like the light heavyweight division and the welterweight division, The women divisions will remain, though there has been news reports that Zuffa wants to have just the 135 lb women's division due to the lacking of fighters in the 145 lb division to keep it running, and the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will be finished during early 2012 and then the Heavyweight division will be dissolved into the UFC due to the lacking of real contenders to keep the division running under Strikeforce.
Rules
Strikeforce employs the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, and is fought on a hexagonal cage, as opposed to UFC's octagonal cage (The Octagon). Ordinary matches consist of three five-minute rounds, while championship matches are five five-minute rounds. All rounds have a one-minute break between them. Prior to the acquisition by Zuffa, Strikeforce did not allow elbows to the head of a grounded opponent.
Previous to June 2009, all women's bouts in Strikeforce consisted of three three-minute rounds as opposed to the men's five-minute rounds. However, on June 16, 2009, Strikeforce announced that it had received approval from the Washington- and California State Athletic Commissions to use five-minute rounds for all women's bouts, including five five-minute rounds for its championship bouts.
