Lorenzo Fertitta to Strikeforce: "You Will Allow Elbows on the Ground"
Some things about Strikeforce will stay the same. Mauro Ranallo, Pat Miletich, Stephen Quadros and the gang will still call the fights. Scott Coker will still be cage side. Many of the world's best fighters will still be competing in that very cage. But there will be one significant difference: for the first time, elbow strikes to a downed opponent will be legal in Strikeforce.
The UFC spent a ton of time and money to legalize this sport across the country. The rules they envisioned included elbow strikes on the ground. Owner Lorenzo Fertitta made it clear on a media conference call today that Strikeforce, long opposed to allowing those techniques, will now be getting in line. "The one change we're going to make as promoter of the show is to use the unified rules that you see in the UFC...elbows on the ground will be allowed in Strikeforce," Fertitta said, a position that makes sense. He has a lot invested in these rules. Under his watch, Strikeforce will play the sport by the same rules everyone else does.
