Strikeforce
- Founded
- 1985 as a kickboxing promotion; first MMA show 2006
- Founders
- Scott Coker
- Home base
- San Jose, California, USA
- Fate
- Bought by Zuffa on March 12, 2011; final event January 12, 2013 (Marquardt vs. Saffiedine), with its champions moving to the UFC.
Notable Eras
- Kickboxing roots, 1985–2006
- MMA era from 2006: Shamrock vs. Gracie draws a record U.S. MMA crowd in San Jose
- CBS and Showtime era; Fedor and the Heavyweight Grand Prix (2011)
Key Events
- Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie (March 10, 2006): 18,265 fans, then a North American record
- Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum (2010)
- The 2011–12 Heavyweight Grand Prix: alternate Daniel Cormier beats Josh Barnett in the final
Legendary Champions
- Alistair Overeem
- Gilbert Melendez
- Daniel Cormier
- Luke Rockhold
- Nick Diaz
The Full History
1985–2005: Kickboxing
Scott Coker ran Strikeforce as a kickboxing promotion in San Jose for two decades.
2006–2008: MMA in San Jose
Its first MMA event, Shamrock vs. Gracie on March 10, 2006, drew 18,265 fans to San Jose's HP Pavilion, a North American record at the time.
2009–2011: Network TV and Fedor
Strikeforce took over EliteXC's TV deals with CBS and Showtime and signed Fedor Emelianenko. It ran the Heavyweight Grand Prix from 2011.
2011–2013: The End
Zuffa bought the company on March 12, 2011. It kept running under its own name through its Showtime deal, and held its last event on January 12, 2013. Its top fighters moved to the UFC.
Why It Closed
A buyout. Zuffa bought Strikeforce on March 12, 2011 and kept it running only through its Showtime TV deal. The last event was on January 12, 2013, and its fighters were moved into the UFC.
Legacy
The best-run rival the UFC faced in North America, and the launch pad for Cormier, Rockhold and a generation of stars.
