Most Notable Fighters: Gilbert Melendez, Nick Diaz, Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino

When Pride FC became no more, Strikeforce emerged as the main competitor to the biggest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC owned a more noticeable lead over Strikeforce than it did when Pride FC was around.

Still, Strikeforce had some very strong divisions. Most notably, the promotion's heavyweight and female divisions were arguably the deepest in MMA. The Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix didn't work out how the organization would have liked, but it was still one of the more entertaining events MMA has seen, and Strikeforce's women's bantamweight division ultimately produced UFC star Ronda Rousey.

Gilbert Melendez and Nick Diaz didn't have enough competition in their divisions, but the dominant champions added some serious value to Strikeforce before the company was purchased by the UFC and folded in January 2013.