Mo Lawal interested in UFC vs. Strikeforce showdown, then merger

Quote :

Muhammed Lawal made his triumphant return to the cage last night at “Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov” after an extended absence due to injury, avoiding the submission expertise of opponent Roger Gracie long enough to knock the formerly undefeated grappler out cold with less than thirty seconds remaining in the opening round.


As far what’s next for “King Mo”, rather than look at a rematch with Rafael Cavalcante or opportunity to re-claim the company’s light heavyweight belt, Lawal has a different idea in mind.

“Maybe, hopefully, they’d have a UFC vs. Strikeforce event,” the former champ explained to MMAFighting in a post-fight conversation before adding, “…and then make it all just be UFC, how about that?”

Lawal was candid in his assessment of Strikeforce’s future when asked if deep down he really just wanted to jump ship and sign with the UFC a la Nick Diaz, Cung Le, and Alistair Overeem.

“I want to go where everybody’s going to and it seems everybody is going to the UFC,” the decorated amateur wrestler continued before asking the camera to pan around to show a lackluster backstage showing and commenting, “Ain’t nobody here. Ain’t nobody here, dog.”

“If you ain’t here, you know it’s weak,” Lawal frankly stated to interviewer Ariel Helwani in reference to an earlier press conference the media member hadn’t been at. The pointed remarks come on the heels of a number of other critical assessments of the outlook for the organization he currently calls home.

Source

That would be an awesome event! No titles on the line just SF vs UFC!
Lorenzo... Dana...

While it is something to grab some attention, it just doesn't feel that big to me.

UFC vs Pride = Huge

UFC vs Strikeforce = Massacre

So conventional wisdom would suggest that it would the best vs the best from each org?

So like, Tyron Woodley or Tarec Saffiedine would have to fight GSP or something?

Or Luke Rockhold would have to fight Anderson Silva?


Hmmm....... I think I could probably guess which org would come out on top.

No, I think it would be better with out the current title holders... just like the top contenders spot guys... or even the title holders of SF vs a Top 5 UFC guy with potential title shot intentions. I also think UFC vs Strikeforce is far better than UFC vs Pride... mostly because hind sight is 20/20 and we now all know Pride would have been raped as well.

Oh I agree that it would be much more evenly matched if they did it that way, but then it wouldn't truly be UFC vs Strikeforce, because it's not our best vs your best.

The only ones that would be remotely even would be LW, LHW and possibly HW...depending on who wins the tournament (who I'm assuming would be at the very least the unofficial SF HW champ).

I think something to take into consideration is the way the top ten are organized in the UFC. IF a guy is on the ladder and near the top getting ready for a title shot or a couple of fights away from a title shot who gets bumped when the Strikeforce guy comes over?

GSP had pretty much cleaned out the competition in the UFC Welterweight... so sure bring Nick over and give it a go. Same with Anderson... but it might be a problem in the other competetive divisions bumping a guy who has put in the blood to climb the ladder... where does he go?

I dont know maybe Im screwy and tired but it seems to me to suck when a guy gets to jump the queue just cause hes coming in from another organization.

But really I guess that happens all the time ..... so Ill just shut up now.

Well, in what division is there that is really that deep, that there are real contenders biting at the bit?

well we are starting to see that now already

Bisping vs miller

BJ vs Diaz

reem vs brock

cung le vs belfort

I am sure there is more but thats what just popped right up in my mind.

All I'm saying is that if they are gonna try and do this (the most important thing here is they're probably not going to, anyway) and bill it as "UFC vs Strikeforce", it has to be champions vs champions. No other way really makes sense. There would be too much room for interpretation regarding the results, and it ultimately wouldn't prove anything because it's not the top dogs from their respective orgs.

It would clarify where these Strikeforce guys actually need to be ranked among the UFC's best.

Yeah, I guess there's that.

But then if a SF champ beats a UFC contender, everyone's just gonna say "So what? He's the SF champ; he was supposed to beat that guy".

I wouldn't... nor do I think you would... or any other ejjakated MMA fan for that matter. I mean Shields hardly got by... and isn't that basically what they did with the WEC? Aside from the weight classes that didn't exist in UFC prior....

Yeah, that's what they did in that situation, and it makes perfect sense in that situation. But my point is that if you're billing this thing as "UFC vs Strikeforce", then what's the point in doing it if you're not putting the best against the best?