Fighters who were scheduled to compete for Strikeforce on Saturday will still be compensated, despite the cancellation of the company’s “Melendez vs. Healy” card.

While exact figures were not revealed, Sherdog.com confirmed Tuesday with sources close to the event that Strikeforce parent company Zuffa, LLC, still plans to provide some form of payment to the fighters on the Sept. 29 bill, which was slated to take place at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, Calif. MMAJunkie.com first reported the development this afternoon.

One competitor on the bill told Sherdog.com that he was informed he would receive his show money, though the funds had yet to be dispersed. Another fighter declined to comment on specifics, but asserted that Zuffa is “taking care of [the fighters], and I’m very appreciative.”

Jen Wenk, spokesperson for Authentic Management Group, provided a similar take on the situation.

“The financials are private,” Wenk said, “but Zuffa is taking very good care of the two Blackzilians that were on the card, Jorge Santiago and Yuri Villefort, despite the unfortunate cancellation of their fights.”

The show was called off Sunday night after headliner Gilbert Melendez withdrew from his lightweight title defense against Pat Healy due to a shoulder injury. In light of the news, Strikeforce officials stated that Showtime elected not to carry the fight card, resulting in the promotion scrapping the event.

Strikeforce’s next event is scheduled for Nov. 3 at Chesapeake Energy Center in Oklahoma City. That event also saw its initial headliner spoiled due to injury, as Frank Mir was forced to withdraw from his planned heavyweight conflict with Daniel Cormier one week ago. Cormier is still expected to compete on the card.




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