Strikeforce's finale a UFC audition for most fighters

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OKLAHOMA CITY -- The sun will set on Strikeforce as a mixed martial arts promotion in the heart of cowboy country.

The longtime second fiddle to the Ultimate Fighting Championship will shut down after Saturday'sStrikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedineevent at Chesapeake Energy Center (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET/PT).

Though that wasn't made official until December, the writing had been on the wall for months following a pair of canceled events and rumors about its future.

But the four fighters headlining the promotion's swan song aren't looking at their fates as glass half-empty. Each has motivation to win in order to seal the deal with a future in the UFC.

Welterweight champion Nate Marquardt (32-10-2 MMA, 1-0 SF) headlines against challenger Tarec Saffiedine (13-3, 5-1). With a win, Marquardt likely will be back in the promotion that cut him loose 18 months ago. But he's trying to keep that out of the equation.

"All I've got to do is go in there and knock this guy out, and everything else will take care of itself," Marquardt says.

Most of the fighters on Saturday's card have been given no guarantees they'll be folded into the UFC. However, victories would seem to make their paths much smoother, and that's what Saffiedine has in mind.

"I'm just focused on winning the fight," he says. "That's what I train for. That's what I'm here for. I want that belt, I want to win, and I want to put on a last exciting fight for Strikeforce."

Daniel Cormier (10-0, 7-0) is the one near-certainty to be in the UFC after Saturday.

While the heavyweight refuses to look past heavy underdog Dion Staring (28-7, 0-0), he has a clear idea about what he'd like to do once he migrates to UFC. He wants to fight original opponent Frank Mir atUFC on FOX 7on April 20 in his home training ground of San Jose, Calif.

"Frank said he'd like to fight me, and I'm saying, 'OK, let's do it in San Jose on FOX,'

" Cormier says.

Not much is expected for Staring, given that Cormier opened as a 20-1 favorite. Few U.S. fans have heard of the Dutchman, who's a longtime training partner of UFC contender Alistair Overeem.

He plans on changing that.

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If true Mr Marquardt your audition was a flop...

A complete flop!

who thinks Dana will let Barnett back in the UFC?

I think he'd let him back in.
However, not sure Barnett would accept the offer.

IDK the way Barnett was WWEing it up leads me to think he may be going that route.

Barnett would suck whatever appendage Dana wanted him to suck to get a few fights in the UFC. But as usual it would be three losses and out.

Looks like Melendez and Cormier already have a UFC fight lined up.
I like both the matchups.

http://www.fightline.com/fl/news/2013/0115/552623/benson-henderson/

from watching this last event i must say that the ones i think will have the most impact are Cormier and Jacare. and im becoming a fan of Cormier, he seems like an honest, forward guy, and not dumb either. cant wait to see what he will do.
jacare will be a force, his stand up is improving and his jits is awesome. physical beast too.
I dont know about gay guard tho. i like him but he just always looks he is walking the thin line between winning and losing. hopefully he does well
barnett seems one dimentiona but still could creat problems for a lot of fighters. before he gets caught doping again

and war melendez against benson! i dont want to hear god being thanked for beating the shit out of people again. unless melendez does the same, i dont know.

Agree about Jacare. He looked great for that fight and his shots looked solid and strong.
Short Fuse is nowhere near the top 10, but he's also a solid fighter who will not lay down for anyone. And Jacare made that look like a walk in the park.

Also, why was the Jacare/Herman fight a catchweight of 193 pounds?

Jacare's submission looked so smooth and easy