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Latest On Batista’s Strikeforce MMA Deal; Money Stands in the Way

Dave Batista might have jumped the gun in telling TMZ that he was gearing for a mixed martial arts debut with Strikeforce, but the media outlet maintains that he was not speaking outside the realm of reality.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15:  WWE World Heavyweight Champion Batista during the WWE Smackdown Photo Call at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel on June 15, 2008 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)

In a new update, TMZ confirms that Batista is indeed in the final stages of negotiations with the number two US MMA promotion, and that money is the primary hold-up.

Beyond the financial issue, there are also some concerns about scheduling, as Batista currently has a slate of television and movie opportunities under consideration. Most other terms of the prospective deal between “Big Dave” and Strikeforce appear workable.

After a period of rumors about Batista potentially entering the world of mixed martial arts, news broke Monday–via comments to TMZ by Batista himself–that a deal with Strikeforce was on the horizon. Strikeforce representatives denied that a deal had been reached, but it seems that one could be forthcoming.

Written by Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002.

Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj.

Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

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