AGBeer
Active member
AG, from everything ive read on the whole situation, Zuffa is making small tweaks in strikeforce now. it sounds like they are going to wait to make major changes until all the contractual obligations of strikeforce have been fulfilled.
case in point. Zuffa has insisted that SF conform with the unified rules of MMA. this means allowing elbows on the ground. from some recent reading, i see they're starting to cull the amateur bouts. while this may hurt up and coming fighters exposure...a major promotion is no place for amateur MMA bouts. amateurs are amateurs for a reason, and thats why there are smaller shows.
im not trying to hate on up and coming fighters, but theres minor leagues out there....and they arent operating for their health.
Yes there is the ammy circuit out here (I am VERY involved with the amateur circuit in my area and yes there are 'shady promoters') but honestly, I am for a big(er) promoter coming in and helping this out. When it gets comes to sanctioning of the events, I would prefer that it stays with the local (fighters/trainers based) sanctioning bodies. When you go to a pro level, the sanctioning becomes the responsibility of the states athletic commission.
There are plenty of up and coming amateurs that show lots of promise. Not to mention, having a banner and the experience/planning skills of an organization like Zuffa, we will see who is serious about pursuing this sport as a career. (Not to mention, helping the fighters transition to the pro circuit that much easier)
TBH, the amateur promoter rarely gives a shit about the fighters career path unless they are the owner of the school the fighter trains out of. With a big hitter like Zuffa, school affiliation will have much less relevance to the doors opened to an aspiring fighter on the amateur circuit.