Strikeforce officials confirmed over the weekend that they will implement a sudden death round for any Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix fights that end in a draw. A test for the UFC perhaps?
“Strikeforce, has decided that all tournament fights ending in a draw will now be settled by a fourth sudden death round. There will not be a fourth judge assigned to the tournament fights anymore.”
I may be reading more into this than I should, but I think this is fairly big news. My hunch (again just a hunch) is that this is a testing ground for a potential UFC rule change. Now keep in mind that draws in MMA are actually fairly rare, but they are a reality. The UFC now has two divisions in limbo as a result of two recent UFC draws and a draw is something that would tarnish a tournament. This new rule will help keep the tournament moving forward, which has been a challenge in itself due to a variety of reasons.
The new sudden death rule will be implemented beginning this Saturday with the conclusion of the tournament’s opening round. Now granted with so many heavy hands competing in the Grand Prix quarterfinals Saturday, I’d be shocked to see either fight go to a draw (or even a third round). But you never know, and kudos to Strikeforce for the rule change.
Then again, it is Strikeforce.
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