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Zuffa expects Daley v Diaz to go ahead as planned

Paul Daley is slated to fight Nick Diaz on April 9 © UFC

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Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, has confirmed it intends to stick to Strikeforce's already-existing plan to hold 16 events per year, and the Paul Daley v Nick Diaz fight is expected to go ahead on April 9.

Daley has threatened to pull out of the welterweight title collision due to a fall-out with UFC president Dana White, but a Zuffa statement has confirmed no changes have been made to existing Strikeforce arrangements.

"Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship brand, announced today that it has purchased the assets of Explosion Entertainment, LLC dba Strikeforce," read the official statement. "Under the terms of the deal, all Strikeforce fighter contracts will be honoured, as will its broadcast agreement with Showtime Networks, Inc. Strikeforce will continue to operate as a separate business and current Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has signed a long-term employment agreement with the company.

"'We have worked hard to make mixed martial arts the fastest growing sport in the world,' UFC president Dana White said. 'We've spent countless hours getting this sport regulated and taking the Octagon all over the world. Acquiring the Strikeforce assets allows us to continue to develop this sport into a global force.'

"'We intend to operate Strikeforce as a separate business much like we did with the WEC for many years,' Lorenzo Fertitta, chairman and CEO of Zuffa, said. 'We look forward to working with Scott Coker, and the entire Strikeforce and Showtime teams to continue to provide quality content for mixed martial arts fans.

"'We've long admired Scott Coker and the Strikeforce business he launched and developed,' Fertitta continued. 'We feel that together with Scott, we can continue to build both Strikeforce and the UFC.'"

The statement continued: "Currently, Strikeforce holds 16 events annually across the United States. The organization will continue to do so under new ownership and fans can look forward to exciting fights featuring their favorite Strikeforce athletes. While there are currently no plans to bring Strikeforce fighters to the UFC, a new strategy to strengthen Strikeforce's talented roster is being developed.

"'This is an important day for the sport of mixed martial arts," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. 'We are excited to work with Lorenzo Fertitta, Frank Fertitta, Dana White and everyone at the UFC on the quest to make MMA the biggest sport in the world. Fans can continue to expect quality Strikeforce shows and we look forward to giving our athletes an even broader platform on which to perform.'

"The next Strikeforce event is planned for Friday, April 1 in Stockton, California. In the main event of the Strikeforce Challengers card held at the Stockton Arena, lightweights Justin Wilcox (10-3) and Rodrigo Damm (9-4) are set to collide.

"Strikeforce also has an event on April 9 at the Valley View Casino Arena in San Diego featuring a welterweight title fight between Nick Diaz (24-7-1) and Paul Daley (27-9-2). Then, in June, Strikeforce continues its Heavyweight Grand Prix at the American Airlines Center in Dallas with a much anticipated heavyweight clash pitting Alistair Overeem (34-11-1) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1). All bouts live and subject to change."

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