OK, here’s the deal: whether or not this rumor is true, the magnitude of it is going to make this whole fiasco a newsworthy event among MMA and UFC fans.
Frankly, it doesn’t even matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what you think. Because this thing’s only going to snowball in the next couple days.
Apparently, someone on mma.tv’s UnderGround Forum is saying that Zuffa LLC, the UFC’s parent company, has purchased PRIDE Fighting Championships (and perhaps Dream Stage Entertainment — which promotes the Japanese-based mixed-martial organization). PRIDE has been — and possibly still is — the largest MMA organization in the world, with more than 40 countries broadcasting its events.
From what I’ve gathered, the person who supposedly “leaked” the information has, in fact, released a rumor in the past that eventually materialized. That, apparently, has given the rumor some legs, and news of the supposed purchase has now spread to other forums, including Sherdog (where hundreds of people have already weighed in).
Because of the invariables involved, this thing’s not going to slow down for at least a few days. For one, UFC fans and PRIDE fans are loyal to a fault, and to most of them, there’s no middle ground and no tolerance. You love one organization, and you hate the other. And with rumors that one organization just acquired the other, you’re going to see some fiercely argued points — and probably a crapload of finger pointing, name calling and countless references to “newbs,” “nuthuggers,” “white belts” and the ever-popular “fucktards.”
And two, there has been widespread speculation that PRIDE is in a financial nosedive, despite claims from the organizaiton’s management saying otherwise.
In any manner, I felt like I should mention it here because you’re no doubt going to hear about it elsewhere.
As of now, there is absolutely nothing to support the rumored purchase other than an anonymous Internet message board posting. But why should that simple fact ruin all the fun?
Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 10:17 pm
I’m going to go ahead and say that this is false. At least for now. In a year, possibly, but not now.
Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 10:39 pm
I really can’t see this as being anything but wishful thinking.
And I’m not so sure that it would be a good thing if zuffa LLC did purchase Pride.
Anyone who has been a wrestling fan remembers that once the Big Two merged everything
went downhill because there was no challenges anymore. No need to one up each other
with signing big fights and bigger named fighters. They ended up just being able
to force feed what they had and saying “here you go”.
I’d rather see Pride stay a completely seperate entity and be able to continue to compete
both on Japanese and american soil. End up with the best of both worlds.
Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 10:54 pm
If true, does anyone know how long till it becomes official? with Pride launching shows in the U.S. I really hope they aren’t changed.
Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Dustin Wray: That’s what everyone said about CroCop.
Joseph: MMA and wrestling are different kinds of sports. This would be more beneficial because it would further the goal of a “one, true champion” idea.
David: I expect if it’s true, we’ll hear ALL about it very soon.
Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Thanks DWG, I was thinking someting along the same lines. If true it will be huge MMA news on all the respected websites.
Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Update:
If you read the forum, the original poster has an update with:
“Just talked to a high up mma media guy,he has doubts the deals happend but he says UFC has been in negotiations with DSE for a month and this was the 3rd substantial offer made”
Sounds more and more false to me. Dunno. I’ve been all over the forums as fast as I can and I’m not sure what to make of it all.
Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 11:37 pm
apparently the guy who leaked the rumor is a moderator and friend of the owner of the bettormma.com website. the owner is some guy who is very connected, and the one who leaked the story is as well. he leaked stories about gsp pulling out of the second hughes fight well before anyone knew about it. he has leaked other stuff and is very well respected on a number of websites when it comes to stuff like this. it is safe to say that he isnt a troll, and he hasnt started false rumors in the past. take it for what its worth
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 12:08 am
[...] Did the UFC Buy Pride? [...]
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 12:51 am
Don’t worry about the beginning as there is no announcement, just a casual blending which by then everyone will say: “Doesn’t matter”
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 1:02 am
TO DWG:
His follow up was not a retraction/backpeddling. According to the original poster, he talked to another of his inside sources who “thought” it wasn’t true.
This stands in relation to the multiple inside sources who are saying that they “Know” it is true, and that the deal is in fact done.
Huge difference, and the thread starter assures us all in a follow-up that he is 100% confident that Zuffa has indeed formally acquired Pride.
But here’s the bigger question–But why should we believe this guy on a forum?
Here is a list of some of the stories this poster has broke (and been called a liar for) in the past:
- The UFC-Spike TV Deal (and the creation of the TUF reality show).
- That Hughes-Gracie was “the huge announcement” Dana was pumping
- That Cro Cop was on his way to the UFC (LONG before anyone else even thought this plausible).
There are other smaller stories he has broken, but those are the huge ones.
I trust this source.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 1:08 am
The financial aspects have been out on the table for awhile. Dana has made throw-away comments about it in the past. If it is true, we can expect to see a WEC style approach. Many of the people operating PRIDE would remain with Zuffa filling in holes to oversee the business and ensuring a return to network TV. Pride would remain a separate entity from UFC but with far more ease in signing dream bouts. In a case like this though, I imagine that we would see a talent sharing so as to establish a true world champion at each class.
All of that being said, DSE and UFC are still very much at odds what with the Cro Cop situation and many of the comments Sakakiraba has made. It could go either way. I see DSE selling to another buyer before Zuffa.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 4:10 am
Let me give a flat-out statement to this: it’s not happening.
If it did happen, the FBI would be very interested.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 4:38 am
would love for this to be true just to see there fighters in the ufc but i doubt it has happened. ufc will take over with a couple of years though.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 7:30 am
comment…regarding your ” Performify’s Picks.”
You mentioned that your guy there has a track record of success. i looked at his most recent performance at the 12-30-06 UFC….
You’re guy got SMOKED. He lost money!!! Bet $7,000…ended up with $6,671.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 8:21 am
the wrestler:
I’m not sure where you got those figures. He came out ahead — albeit slightly (.09 units). And even if we use your figures, he would have loss 4.7% — hardly getting “SMOKED” as you say.
Of course, you’ve failed to look at his success over the long-term and instead decided to focus on just one event. Of course, one-day “thousandaires” at the horsetrack and betting forums do the same thing when they’ve had one good day.
I’d suggest going to performify.com and checking the archives.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 9:58 am
It looks as Frank and Lorenzo may have some “extra” money laying around.
gPie3
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/12/05/casino_operator_gets_47b_buyout_offer/
Casino operator gets $4.7b buyout offer:
LAS VEGAS — Private equity bidders extended their shopping spree for casino companies yesterday as Station Casinos Inc. said it received a $4.7 billion buyout offer from its founding family and an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC.
The $82-per-share offer for the Las Vegas-based company, backed by chief executive Frank J. Fertitta III and president Lorenzo Fertitta, represented an 18.7 percent premium to Friday’s closing price…….
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 10:43 am
competition is good, its why we like mma, i think we need two big names to keep it interesting, but i also think they should have pride vs ufc. and i dont care who wins. im all about the action
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 10:48 am
Different version of same story up days before UG http://forum.kakutougi.info/showthread.php?t=6904
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 10:51 am
the wrestler,
thanks for the comment, and hope you’re enjoying the site.
if you check the UFC 66 thread, specifically the comments:
http://ufcjunkie.com/2006/12/28/ufc-66-performifys-picks/#comments
You’ll see my record for UFC 66 was:
4-3 on bets. Won 4 units. Lost 3.91units, primarily 2.66 on the upset of Griffin.
Total on the night: +.09 units, a very slight profit on the whole card.
Had Griffin not been upset we would have seen a solid +2.75 unit return.
But as UFCjunkie posted above, “track record of success” really refers to the long term – i’ve been posting UFC picks publicly for two years and have a very strong winning record. You can backtrack through them on my blog http://www.performify.com or the sports betting forum of 2+2 (linked from my blog) if you’re interested. I’m working on pulling together a long term record of my public picks and hope to have that up soon.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 1:10 pm
I’ve heard other places that Pride was looking to sell. I’m sort of fresh to the world of MMA. I’ve only been watching the PPVs for 5 months now and only recently got to the point where I’ve been keeping up with it on the internet but I had heard other places that Pride was looking to sell so it doesn’t seem that shocking to me. And I would love to see both rosters combined just so you can have a true chanpion. MMA, to me at least, should be looked at more like boxing than pro wrestling and so I don’t think this would mean a decline in the UFC. UFC is still fighting to be seen as boxing’s equal and a legitimate sport in a lot of people’s minds so I don’t think the competition between the brands is their sole motivation and don’t think they would slack off if that competition ceased to exist.
Friday, January 12, 2007 at 6:32 pm
I really hope this is true. If so, we will finally get to see the best fighters in the world fighting each other on a regular basis.
Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 2:05 am
No body bought out PRIDE
http://www.MmaRankings.wordpress.com/
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 7:50 pm
To TooCool:
How is that link helpful? It’s rankings and awards, no news re: the buyout/lack-thereof.
And they are terrible rankings at that … they have Fedor as “HW of the Year” ?????????
What kind of BS is that? Since when does fighting one match, against an unranked HW, and non-title to boot, qualify one for anything “of the year.”
That site is total BS… no bias my @ss.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 11:17 pm
To MMA Fan:
Mind your own business please,
thank you