Strikeforce spring schedule still unknown
Strikeforce signed Vitor “Shaloin” Riberio in late 2009, but the Brazilian fighter still hasn’t seen action inside the cage just yet.
“I really, really try to push for information but it’s not so easily,” Ribeiro noted to MMAJunkie.com. “I hope I can fight in April. I don’t know what card. I think the CBS show is going to be pretty hard, [for] my first fight. I think it’s more sure to go on Showtime and then CBS.”
Although the UFC is criticized by many MMA fans — with quite a few of the complaints holding water — fighters are routinely informed well in advance which card they can expect to fight on. This gives fighters proper training time, adequate time to bring in new training partners, and additional flexibility when looking for sponsors.
Riberio isn’t the only Strikeforce fighter who is unsure when they’ll next see action.
I’ve spoken with a handful of Strikeforce fighters who have expressed disappointment that they’re never really sure when they’re going to fight. It’s mid-February, and Strikeforce is expected to have a CBS card sometime in April, but no one is sure when or where this event will take place. It’ll most likely take place at the H.P. Pavilion in San Jose, but nothing has been confirmed.
If an April CBS card does come together, it’s expected middleweight champion Jake Shields against PRIDE superstar Dan Henderson will be the main event bout. In recent weeks, I’ve heard unconfirmed reports that a potential fight between Shields and Scott Smith is possible — Strikeforce didn’t respond to e-mails regarding the matter.
As Strikeforce continues to gain more recognition, I hope Scott Coker and company are able to make adjustments necessary — it’s not fair to the fighters, or the fans who are possibly looking to make travel arrangements.
Even with nothing confirmed, MMA fans can expect to see Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, Dan Henderson, Scott Smith, Gegard Mousasi, Fedor Emelianenko, Lyle Beerbohm, Muhammad Lawal in action as early as April on CBS. It’s possible Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletich could also lock horns sometime in May or June, assuming they aren’t on the still unannounced April card.