Strikeforce communications director Mike Afromowitz is denying a claim that former WWE Superstar Batista has signed a deal to fight for the number two US mixed martial arts promotion.
“The report is not correct. Batista is not signed,” Afromowitz told 5thRound.com.
The surprise report, which emerged Monday, came straight from the mouth of Dave Batista, who told TMZ.com that he was scheduled to fight for Strikeforce. Many speculated that Batista was simply toying with the camerman, and save for the possibility that Strikeforce is keeping the announcement under wraps until a deal is finalized, that now appears to be the case.
Although rumors that Batista, who just left WWE, was in talks with mixed martial arts promoters were aplenty, the industry assumption had been that he was talking with smaller groups that would use his name value to promote a pay-per-view special. Strikeforce, second domestically only to UFC, was not considered a true pursuer, although it does possess a number of fighters with whom Batista could have a “money” matchup.
