"I don't think it's time to throw [the division] out to the garbage. I still think we have some great fighters at 145 and a lot of girls that maybe haven't been around for a while ... I believe they're going to be motivated to come back because Cyborg won't be there. I think Gina Carano is definitely somebody who'd like to fight again, but she's got a big movie guys. I'm not sure if you seen the commercials, it's everywhere. And Steven Soderbergh is gonna be behind her. When that happens, great things are going to happen for her. She might get another picture deal."
-- At the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" post-fight press conference last night (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012), Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker (via Cagewriter) talks about the state of the women's featherweight division following Cristiane Santos' suspension for a failed steroid test. UFC President Dana White initially opined that the 145-pound weight class is likely done due to "Cyborg" being gone for a year but Coker, who works underneath White, mind you, seems to have other plans. His argument is that with Santos gone, the division will be reinvigorated with fresh challengers. This seems to fly in the face of what was stated previously, that they were having trouble even coming up with credible folks to fight for the title before, but that was more because of how good the Brazilian champion was. And now that her entire reign is in question thanks to her being aided by illegal substances, the division should get a fresh start, right? Coker is definitely doing some spinning to the media here but it could result in plenty of women keeping their jobs at their current weights instead of being told to cut down to 135-pounds. Plus, if Gina Carano comes back -- a prospect that looks less and less likely every day -- she could easily contest for the title in her return fight.