SUNRISE, Fla. -- An exhausted Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker asked to sit down before granting an interview in the wee hours of Sunday morning following what he termed a successful Strikeforce Miami show, but he wasn't looking to take much of a break.Coker is already preparing to promote several big fights in the spring, including fights pitting champions Gilbert Melendez, Nick Diaz and Cris Cyborg against new challengers.
A few of the fights Coker said he's working on booking:
Shinya Aoki vs. Gilbert Melendez: "Aoki and Melendez is going to happen before summertime," Coker said confidently. Talking to Coker, you get the sense that he's personally more excited about bringing Aoki to the United States than he is about any other fighter he can sign. Melendez is the Strikeforce lightweight champion and Aoki is the Dream lightweight champion, and a bout between the two of them would be one of the best lightweight bouts of the year.
Nick Diaz vs. Hayoto Sakurai: Most people thought Jay Hieron earned a shot at the welterweight title by defeating Joe Riggs, but Coker said it's more likely that Sakurai will be the challenger in Diaz's first title defense. Sakurai fights for Dream, and Coker said Strikeforce's co-promotional arrangement with Dream ensures that "I could get it done." Hieron's win over Riggs was the last fight on his Strikeforce contract, and it's not clear whether Hieron will return to the promotion.
Cris Cyborg vs. Erin Toughill: The next shot at the 145-pound women's title will go to Toughill, who boasts a 10-2-1 record and a good ground game. It's hard to see Toughill providing much of a challenge for Cyborg, but then again it's hard to see any 145-pound woman providing much of a challenge for Cyborg. Toughill is as good an opponent as anyone else for now, and later this year Strikeforce will find another challenger for Cyborg by pitting eight 145-pound women in a tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the weight class.
Bobby Lashley vs. Brett Rogers: I was surprised when Coker mentioned this fight as a serious possibility, but he says it absolutely could happen, and that he wants it to happen. Personally, I'd be shocked if Lashley agrees to face Rogers, and even more shocked if Lashley makes it out of the first round against Rogers if this fight gets booked. But Coker said a huge step up in quality of opposition is coming for Lashley, and that Lashley will stay active and get back into the cage soon.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WOW! All these fights sound great! I want to see Melendez smash Aoki.
Melendez won't beat aoki... Aoki will take a few hits, somehow find a way to drag melendez to the mat and submit him. I'm really interested granted aoki is probably top 5 submission artists in mma to see him really Develop his Muy thai and wrestling, as well as add more muscles mass if not more functional precision power to gain knock out power.
I can't wait to see what fights Strikeforce has planned for the future. The Melendez/Aoki fight will be huge. The fight that I want to see in the near future is Fedor/Overeem.
Jay Hieron gets screwed once again. Coker, put Hieron to fight Nick. Hayato Sakurai has not earned that shot and should get someone first.
Hieron screwed himself by not taking the title fight against Zaromskis in the first place. He was offered the fight and turned it down. He could be champion right now with all the chips at the table.
Sounds like Strikeforce has huge plans for 2010. LOVE the match-ups!
Who wants to see Diaz fight Sakurai, who just came off a KO loss to Whitemare, who Diaz just beat? I said it before, and I'll say it again. Strikeforce has a VERY shallow WW division and it's unfortunate because their LW, MW, and HW divisions are pretty good.
Regarding Aoki and Melendez it will be interesting to see if they let Aoki wear his rainbow pants, or whether he'll have to wear shorts, and how he will fare without them.
Rogers v. Lashley is VERY dangerous for Bobby. I doubt Bobby would be interested. Brett is top 10, while Lashley should fight a Del Rosario or HW fighter on that level. However, I like that Coker is not going to let Lashley just pad his record, and is treating him like any other fighter now.
Aoki Vs Melendez sounds great! Im really interested in Rogers Vs Lashley too.
I'm surprised the mentioned Toughill since she usually flakes.
I didnt get to see hieron so i dont if he deserves a title shot but I hope to see him on the main card next time he fights.
aoki would definetly tap out melendez.the thing with aoki would be to see if his stand up improves if it does watch out he's already a tough out w/ no standup besides his muy thai that is...coker is gonna get lashley murdered...sakarui v diaz is a joke give hieron his shot so he could get r@ped and then leave like we all know he wants 2 do
I can't WAIT to see Cyborg smash the crap out of Toughill. I was hoping for that one. But after that, who's next? The only other female fighters at half the level of Cyborg are 135 lbs...