SAN JOSE, Calif. — Some news and notes coming out of Saturday's Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg at HP Pavilion:
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker spoke with some members of the media following the press conference and had some interesting notes about the future of the promotion.
Coker was appreciative toward EliteXC and CBS for "teeing up" the Gina Carano/Cris Cyborg fight for him.
"It had that feeling of a championship fight, a big champion fight in the build up and for that we have to thank SHOWTIME and CBS," he said. "They made Gina a superstar and made Cristiane Cyborg the right matchup. It was a great promotion. I feel very lucky that we got to promote it."
Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg coverage
Despite the trouble he caused the promotion, Coker said he "feels confident we come back with" Nick Diaz to fight Jay Hieron for the Strikeforce welterweight championship.
"I expressed our concerns and our feelings and the feelings of SHOWTIME," Coker said. "I said, ‘look, when you're promoting a main event, you have certain responsibilities to do your part because we're going to do our part.'"
He said Diaz will sit down with the California State Athletic Commission and get it figured out.
"When he gets licensed, we'll plan to fight him when he gets licensed," Coker said.
Coker said Diaz apologized to him.
As for Hieron, he still wants Diaz.
"For me, the deciding factor for me to go to Strikeforce, for the Nick Diaz fight and the title shot," Hieron said. "But that didn't happen."
Coker expects Fedor Emelianenko to make his Strikeforce debut in November. An opponent is still up in the air.
"I definitely think there's two guys here that'd be a quality opponent for Fedor. Brett Rogers is one of the guys we have to take a serious look at and Fabricio (Werdum) looked great tonight," Coker said. "On any given day he can do his thing."
When asked if he wanted Emelianenko next, Werdum was enthusiactic.
"Yes, yes," he said. "I fight everybody no problem. Fedor, everybody at heavyweight."
He also said Strikeforce will hold 135- and 145-pound women's tournament's in the coming year. They would start with eight fighters in each weight division and hold the semifinals and final on the same night.
Coker also announced the signing of Marloes Coenen, a 16-3 fighter who could possibly be Cris Cyborg's next challenger.
Coker also said Strikeforce would welcome back Erin Toughill.
"There was a breakdown in communication between some management issues and maybe it was me because I was in Italy sitting on the beach in my Speedo," he said. "But really, she'll be welcomed back."
Strikeforce is the only major MMA promotion to hold a one-night tournament under current MMA regulation. Jorge Santiago won a middleweight tournament in 2007.
Coker said Strikeforce will hold between 18-20 shows next year with 16 coming on SHOWTIME. That includes "Challenger Series" events as well as regular Strikeforce events.
"Next year is going to get even busier," he said.
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