Strikeforce Plans June 26 Event in San Jose

Strikeforce: “Nashville” may still be over one week away, but the California-based promotion is looking towards the summer months by booking the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. for June 26. The reservation was confirmed to MMAJunkie.com by multiple sources, who were told that Strikeforce has contacted the California State Athletic Commission with the intention to move forward with the event in just over two months.

The June date is rumored to feature a main event between one of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters Fedor Emelianenko and Brazilian heavyweight Fabricio Werdum, who were originally supposed to do battle at the April 17 Nashville show. Though neither holds the Strikeforce heavyweight title, the match up is one of the most highly anticipated for 2010, mainly due to the ever-growing popularity of the Russian superstar.

However, negotiations between the promotion and Emeilanenko’s management at M-1 Global, the same that forced the postponement of the fight, need to be ironed out for the fight to come to pass. Strikeforce co-promoted a show last November with M-1 Global, which featured a heavyweight brawl between Emelianenko and Brett Rogers, and are looking to work things out with M-1 to feature the heavyweight once again.

According to MMAJunkie, negotiations are ongoing after recently falling apart due to demands made by M-1, including, but not limited to, financial responsibility for any profits and losses resulting from co-promoted fight cards and Emelianenko’s financial gains for fighting with Strikeforce. However, they were also told by an M-1 representative that the finalization of the new deal is expected sooner rather than later.

If the negotiations are finalized in the near future, Strikeforce has another issue that requires attention. While broadcast partner CBS will air the promotion’s April card live on its network, Emelianenko’s potential involvement with the June event makes the situation a tricky one. Whether the promotion goes with its other broadcast partner Showtime or CBS for the airing of its event is yet to be determined. But after the mass appeal of “The Last Emperor” displayed by the Nov. card, CBS would likely hate to miss an opportunity to throw the dominant heavyweight into a primetime slot for this summer.