Hardly ‘business as usual’ for first Zuffa-owned Strikeforce
If there was any doubt that change was in the air, it vanished the moment two UFC PR reps walked…
If there was any doubt that change was in the air, it vanished the moment two UFC PR reps walked into Wednesday’s open workouts both drinking giant cans of Rockstar – the official energy drink of Strikeforce.
Two months ago this would have been an unthinkable incursion into enemy territory for a Zuffa employee, and one fueled by heresy in a can. Now it’s the new normal.
It seems minor at first, but sometimes it’s the little things that signal the start of a big change. As Strikeforce counts down the final days until its first major event under the ownership of Zuffa — the UFC’s parent company — change is evident in dozens of small ways. If you think the subtle differences are lost on the fighters, think again.
“Things are more organized. They run better,” said former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi, who lounged in one corner of the gym on Wednesday afternoon after a little light work to prepare for his bout with former UFC fighter Keith Jardine. “You can already see small differences from the UFC people. As a fighter, I like things like buses going to and from the shops. Small things, but it makes a difference.”
