Sherdog’s Top 10: Defunct Promotions

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2. Strikeforce (2006-13)

Scott Coker has been involved in martial arts for more than 30 years and got his start promoting kickboxing shows. He turned to mixed martial arts in 2006, and his first Strikeforce offering -- Frank Shamrock vs. Cesar Gracie -- was not only the first sanctioned MMA event in California but also the highest-attended MMA event in North America to that point. To quote John Nash, whose magisterial “Secret History of Strikeforce” appeared in 2014, in only seven years, “Strikeforce went from a regional kickboxing promotion testing the waters of mixed martial arts to a national player with major television deals and some of the best fighters on the planet.”

It is difficult to overstate the magnitude of what Strikeforce accomplished. It drew on the prolific MMA breeding grounds of northern California in creative ways, building a reliable base in the region and then expanding its profile nationwide. Fighters from the area, including Shamrock, Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson, Cung Le, and Nick Diaz were the promotion’s backbone, but it expanded into a major player with the acquisition of international stars such as Fedor Emelianenko. Strikeforce was the driving force behind the development of women’s MMA into a viable property with its promotion of Gina Carano, Cristiane Justino and later Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.

Coker and his associates fostered close and positive relationships with fighters, paid generous purses and put out an excellent and violent product that consistently brought fans back and looking for more. The matchmaking and talent acquisition were always top-notch, and no fewer than 19 of the UFC’s currently ranked fighters, along with three of its champions, came directly to the promotion from Strikeforce.

Zuffa’s purchase of Strikeforce marked the end of an era, and the acquisition of its roster provided a much-needed talent boost that allowed the UFC to continue its international expansion and stock cards with name fighters. Coker’s eventual move to Bellator MMA has marked something of a resurrection of the old Strikeforce promotional practices and some hope for competition in the future.

Number 1 » Pride Fighting Championships