The defection of Strikeforce fighters to the UFC was inevitable, but even the most cynical MMA viewer has to admit it's happening at an accelerated pace.
Cung Le is gone from Strikeforce and slated for a fight in San Jose at UFC 139 against Wanderlei Silva. Dan Henderson just left the promotion as well to headline that same UFC card against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
Strikeforce, purchased by Zuffa back in March, has now lost its heavyweight, light heavyweight and welterweight champions to the UFC. How much longer is Showtime interested in broadcasting a promotion that's losing all its big stars?
"It depends on whether they want to seriously stay in the business, in the mixed martial arts business," White told the gathered media following the UFC 135 prefight press conference. "There's a deadline on the deal. [...] I think it's another month [they need to decide] if they want to be in the business."
White said the problem with smaller promotions is their desire to get a television deal come hell or high water.
"Everybody that comes into this business thinks pay-per-view or free TV is the answer, is the Holy Grail, it's the answer to everybody's problems. [Expletive]. Either one of those two things will put you out of business. They get into these bad deals with companies, and next thing you know, you're $30 million in the whole," White said. "I would classify everybody who's done a television deal out there besides us has done a bad deal. Everyone."
As far as Le and Henderson, White said in matter-of-fact fashion that both wanted to fight in the UFC. He also called the Rua-Henderson match up a great fight and that the winner is probably in line for the next 205-pound title shot after Rashad Evans gets his crack.
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