What If: Strikeforce as a Women's-Only Fight Promotion?

Josh Nason has an interesting piece up over at Bloody Elbow suggesting that Strikeforce's future ought to be rooted in women's MMA. He argues, among other things, that it would distinguish the Strikeforce brand and open up MMA to a new range of fans and sponsors...

• We don't need more of the same MMA: Strikeforce's talent roster is thin and everyone knows it. There are guys fighting in the UFC solely because they're filling spots -- not because they're among the best fighters in the world. There's enough UFC events in 2012 to get the top Strikeforce talent action and create more exciting cards as a result. If they have to cut guys on either roster, so be it. Take aboard the best and let's get after it already. We simply don't need more of what we've seen this year: events for hardcore fans and constant questions of when the top talent like Melendez are going to shift over. Unless they move a hundred fighters from UFC over to Strikeforce to fill out the roster, what's the purpose in keeping it as is?
• It's a unique idea that hasn't been done on a national stage before: The UFC is on TV all the time. HDNet has hundreds of hours of live events a year. Bellator runs 25+ events a year. None of them have truly embraced women's MMA other than a scant few fights. If a promotion can actually focus solely on putting together the best women in the world, they will lead the pack in something new. Who doesn't want that?
• Zuffa has the money to do it: If there's any company in the world that can afford to take the risk, it's Zuffa. They also have the money and resources to do it right. Focus on two power divisions (130/140 or 135/145) and build from there. Sign everyone you can and make stars. Do what White has said there isn't and create depth by bringing all of this talent under one roof and pay them well to do so.
• Run smaller venues and less shows as you build: There's no reason to book 5000 seat arenas. Smaller 1500 seat venues like the Pearl or likewise are just fine, but price tickets accordingly. Book events in hometowns of main eventers like WEC did with Urijah Faber back in the day. Treat Strikeforce like a startup and focus on making six events a year as strong as you can.
  
• Promotion to a new group: A women's only promotion would help in attracting a new audience to educate. Find appropriate sponsors. Play to all audiences. Find a way to build more draws like Ronda Rousey and Tate. If the sport is going to grow, its athletes need a major league to strive for, one that will allow women to train full-time and make some good money for competing. There are other potential stars out there that just need to have airtime to show their skills.

I think it's a fascinating idea, but I ultimately disagree with it, and it all comes down to his first point.

I've written on the subject already, but to summarize: the UFC simply can't support the entirety, or even just the best, of Strikeforce's roster. A lot of number crunching was done in the wake of the WEC merger, and the results revealed that while the UFC may be growing in terms of exposure and prestige, its roster isn't expanding all that much. What this means is that if Strikeforce were to become women-only, and you wanted to continue watching Gegard Mousasi, Ovince St. Preux, Mo Lawal, Rafael Feijao, Mike Kyle, and Lorenz Larkin, you'd have to find nearly just as many current UFC light-heavyweights to jettison to free up space. So who gets tossed?

Regarding his last three points, I'm in total agreement, but Strikeforce ought to be doing those things now, regardless of whether or not the organization promotes women's MMA exclusively.