MMA HQ - Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis

This would be so cool!!!

I will believe it when it is officially announced. Of course I did think it interesting that last week in an interview Dana White said he would be interested in aquiring several big name fighters from Pride including Wanderlei Silva and that the UFC/Zuffa had been in talks with Pride before about acquisitions but nothing serious. Hmmm. I have mixed feelings about a monopolized MMA market if this does par out.

Hmmmm….where does one begin…?

I say go ahead and make a monopoly out of it. As long as it’s in the USA, I don’t care.

It would mean better fighters, fights, and all around entertainment. I approve…LOL

really idf rather have one organization, instead of competing vs each other. Nobody can say they have the better fighters blah blah, everyone should be in the UFC and then you can get more accurate rankings and ultimately better fights.

In order to have good rankings you need alot of fighters, if you got like 10 guys at heavyweight, you cant say your the best in the world cuz you can own 9 guys, need more diversity.

so hell ya i approve!

i love pride and i really dont want to see them sell and we lose on what there are offering but bringing all the best from pride to the ufc…..how can i say thats not a good thing. i was really hoping to see someday a pride vs. ufc show. i know this is a bit far fetched because both companies would never let it happen because no organization want to see there champs get wrecked by there rival company. i’m not sure why zuffa wouldnt let pride just die and scoop up the fighter they want after. all in all i hope this one is true just for the fight we will get to see. imagine fedor vs. couture, big nog vs. sylvia, shogun vs. liddell, silva vs. ortiz 2, henderson vs. anderson, man i could go on all night. if the ufc had all those top notch fighter they would have no choice but to put on 10 or 12 really good fights in one pay per view. just think we may some day see a card with a fight like gomi vs. diaz as the opener and guys as good as tito ortiz are at the bottom of the ladder. the only real problem with too much talent to draw from is that lots of good fighters will get wash away and end up fighting in smaller shows till the ufc comes looking for them. there will be no room to “grow up” in the ufc anymore. unless they do a lot more fight nights and that is a real possibility if they keep taking over mma like they have been.

I’m torn on this issue. I’m a big pride fan, but I’m an even bigger fight fan. This would mean some really big fights, that I can only dream of. The biggest issue I have with this is the rule set. I like Pride rules, and specifically knees on the ground. To not allow them is retarded. I know Dana would like to have knees on the ground aswell, maybe with the influx of new talent that are used to those rules…we might see them reinstated.

Dana did say that if he bought Pride, he would not dissolve it, but instead keep it as a separate organization focused outside of the US.

So as fans, we’ll still have the competition between organizations, but a better promoter in charge of Pride.

Dana also said he likes knees on the ground, but the commission wouldn’t allow it in Vegas.

He did say however, that he did not like “soccer kicks” or foot stomps to the head on the ground.

….as for the $65 million figure, when Pride called out UFC in a “winner take all tournament”, the figure that Pride set as their value at the time was only $40 million.

Awesome if this is true.

I think this would be alright also. The UFC would have a huge talent pool to choose from. Now that they have WEC they also have another promotion to send the fighters to before they get called up to the “Big Show”. UFC would be completely dominant with no competition. The matchups are endless and for the fans thats the best thing. If this is true they should extend the PPV time to show more fights. Maybe Fedor vs Crocop 2 is not a dream afterall.

The MMA prophet does it again…remember when I said,
_____________________________
44
“Has anyone been paying attention to Robbie Lawler?

He’s won most of his last six fights…

I’d like to see him square up with Twinkle Toes.

Left by Dennis 2 weeks, 6 days ago”
_____________________________

Well, just last week, Icon Sport has announced the complete card for Icon Sport: Epic on March 31st, which headlines…………tada!

Frank Trigg vs Robbie Lawler, for the Icon Sport Middleweight Title!

Booyah!

I don’t think that if the UFC owned Pride, they would give us as fans any more PPV fights than they do now. From a business standpoint, if they can rake in our $40 every month for many sub-par fights, why in the world would they keep the price the same and offer all of the MMA superstars on one card. I don’t think that would happen. But, an annual “super-matchup” event is more feasible and would probably cost a hell of a lot more than $40.

I think as MMA becomes more popular and draws more PPV numbers they will increase the price again. I think they can fill the PPV’s with the great talent and have the average guys on Spike fight night airings. If they do intend on running Pride as a seperate organization than they could have a once a year superbowl of MMA and let all the champs fight that would be awsome.

I have read most of your posts. I still think in the end this whole UFC buy’s Pride thing would be bad if it occurred. Basically, if you make MMA in general into a conglomorant, it is going to charge and do whatever it wants. For the first 2 years, great, you will see the best matchups in MMA history, then they will weed through a bunch of fighters and we will see a boxing like sport, where the Champs fight for a huge purse, maybe, one time a year, whereas with competition, the UFC fights their Champs 2-3 times a year to keep their audiences captivated and from thinking they are beneath, say, Pride. Also, Pride runs their PPV better, I think everyone can agree they set the benchmark for what people want. 10-15 great fights, one after another, without the stupid drama and commentary. If UFC owns all, its gonna be 6-7 fights, with more commentary than Nascar. Another thing to look at, when you have 20 airlines competing for your dollar, prices go down, but when there is only one, they do what they want, when they want, for the amount they want, and it’s that way with ANY BUSINESS, and folks this is a BUSINESS.

if the ufc hasnt bought pride why dont they just get along y cant they trade like in baseball or football a guy for a guy or two or even three.if they got along and semi put shows together it would be better than the ufc owning pride i think they would still give us 4 or5 sorry fights and 1or2 really good ones and i agree with Kansas with more competition it keeps prices down watch out for a 59.99 PPv event from the ufc if this is true

@Richard
I totally think the competing organizations trading fighters ect is a much better deal for the fans all around.

@MMAKansas,

Great point, great post

Date Posted: Monday, March 19, 10:36 PM PST
Jerry Millen Speaks On Reported Pride Sale

In an exclusive interview, Pride USA Vice President, Jerry Millen, commented on the speculation that Pride has been bought by the Zuffa organization.

“It’s ********. You can’t believe what you read on the internet and as a matter of fact I just got off the phone with Japan and Pride has not been sold and is not being sold to anyone, especially to Zuffa. We are in the process of making some ground breaking deals that will be bringing in large sums of revenue to the company and making it stronger than ever.”

SOURCE: graciefighter.com

Thank God! Competition breeds good results because it keeps everyone on their toes and on their best behavior. Thanks Dennis, I hope this is true.

Forrest just TKO’d Elvis on UNLEASHED,,,,,….

Evan is whooping David……bad, after surviving a deep guillatine

good i wasnt ready to pay fifty bucks for an event

$50, $100, $1000, a second mortgage what ever i’ll still pay it but if they do bump up the price i dont want to have anymore may not be broadcast fights on the card and there better be more then two top name fights.

i know this is way off topic but i need to know what big dirty secret does elvis sinosic hold over the ufc i always look up fighters that are going to be fighting soon so i can remember how there last few have gone and i havent really heard too much about elvis for a while and now i remember why. look up this mans record. in the ufc he won his first fight (against horn, thats worth something at least) but lost his last five in a row in the ufc. most have been against top guys but damn that dude is a punch dummy. who else in the world would the ufc let lose that much befor they get the boot? sorry just a rant LOL

Once again. Can everybody say………………MMA CHANNEL!!!!

Elvis sucks

Hey!

Any of you millionaires need a tax shelter?

Repeat after me……………..

MMA CHANNEL
MMA CHANNEL
MMA CHANNEL
MMA CHANNEL
MMA CHANNEL

LOL DENNIS U SOUND LIKE ME BUT ELVIS DOES SUCK

Yea, you must be contagious!

In line with the topic, I was reading a local Brazilian Newspaper online yesterday, and evidently the people from Pride are there negotiating a new fight contract with Shogun and Wand. The article said that Shogun is eager to fight in Pride 34, but Wand hasn’t been cleared yet, the medical clearance isn’t the biggest hurdle though. From what I read, Chute Boxe and Shogun are trying to get Wand to go for it and fight in April, but Wand is reconsidering whether or not he wants to. He just got back from the beach in Bahia 2 days ago, and has been reflecting and not training at all.

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for Dana to strike………….
During reflection.

@Dennis
I wasn’t even going in that direction, but it makes sense. Good point. I hope the UFC lands Wand soon, they won’t abuse the guy with all that “Grand Prix” crap. Weight divisions are in place for a purpose, Wand should never have fought CroCop, I think Wand is starting to realize that Pride is using him, and his blood is not costing them enough $.

silva has fought some very tough guys and hasnt had much of a break. he would probably help his career a lot if he just fell off the planet for a year or so. keep training and everything but mostly just rest and heal.he is still a young and can afford to take a year off if he does it now. i think he needs to leave pride because it seems like he will take on anyone they ask him to fight and they take advantage of that. if he fought somewhere else they would give him a little more respect and not try to get him to fight, fights that he get his asss kick even if he wins. you would never see the ufc putting him in fights like sylvia because even though he may win that fight he would probably get his face punched right in during the fight. i just dont want to see silva retire in a year from now because he too punch drunk.

maybe put wandi in his next two or three fights against elvis he wont get hurt and he can build some confidence LOL. sorry i had to say it LOL

@R.J.
I agree for the most part, I think it would be good for Silva to take a 6-8 month break, rest, enjoy life, get hungry again, and then let him loose on someone like Keith Jardine, that would be fun to watch.

I’d like to see him & Tito go at it….

really, just to enjoy Tito getting handled like a *****.

@Dennis
That would be paradise, to see the “FEAR” in Tito’s eyes again, man, haven’t seen it as clear as I did in the Liddell fight, but man, Wand would handle him like a French girl, slap him around like the little Eminem wannabe he is..

m&m… LOL!

man there really isnt nothing to talk about if u guys are talking about elvis sinosic but i never really thought about pride abusing wandy he does put azzez in seats and i think in the henderson fight he really didnt respect hendersons power if u guys remember it was a left that got him down then the right to finish it wandy is really wild leaves his face open when hes throughing his haymackers and even though i hate to admit it liddel would probably ko him but forget wandy vs liddel i want to see henderson vs liddel i wouldnt be surprised if henderson tries to go for a third belt and fight fedor hes fought heavyweights in the past and did pertty good

does anyone think that this is a publicity stunt that pride is doing to try to get there name known in the states a little more maybe

@Richard
I think Pride 33 was all a publicity stunt, however, the whole Wand/Shogun drama thing is something that is being discussed openly in Portuguese news articles, not an attempt to gain the American market share if you know what I mean.

The whole rumor about UFC buying Pride, now that could have been a stunt, they might have planted the whole rumor and then denied it just to keep their name in the MMA headlines because the fight card for Pride 34 sure isn’t on anyones mind.

ok so we dont have much to talk about right now so i’m going to give everyone something to chime in about. staying on the topic of losing fighters (i dont know why its just funny) i want to say a name… shannon ritch, thats right shannon sitch. those who know about the cannon run quick and change your pants cuz i know you just pissed them laughing! those who dont here we go. this man has an impressive record of 38-61-0 now when i see a record with that many fights i think of one of my favorite fighters jeremy horn except this guy is like the anti-horn. what i mean is jeremy horn would almost fight to the death with anybody, shannon ritch would tap out if someone in the front row farts real loud. i just watched a clip of one of his fights in the clip he gets a takedown and quickly ends up in mount for a sec or two in a little scramble he sinks in a deep armbar then he gets barely slamed and lets go after taking maybe two punches he ends up on the bottom of a side mount so he does what any warrior would do and he taps. lol now if you thought it was done think again this is were it really gets funny when his opponent is leaving the ring ritch runs over and punches him in the back of the head so the ref locks up a rear naked on ritch who taps again instantly and damn near passes right out after about 4 sec of being choked LOL. so please look him up read some stuff on him you WILL giggle your asss off!

@Diik
Nothing to talk about? We’ve been bustin’ Tito’s balls.
Don’t you want to defend your champion?

@RJ
You get the trophy….you’ve finally found somebody that I absolutely know nothing about………nor care!!!!

Here’s something to talk about…last night this thought popped into my head…what would guys think of

BISPING VS. KAMPMANN

Aside from them being in 2 different weight classes…I think this would be an absolutley unbelievable fight, and I don’t think either of them would have trouble going up or down in weight.

Sherdog is still claiming the Pride sale to be imminent by next Tuesday.

hillbilly damn i dont like tito i like the guy whos going to kick liddels azz i think he goes by rampage or shogun or henderson or fedor or cro crop pick one it doesnt matter any one of these guys could beat liddel.
RJ i have seen shannons record but that gots to be funny to get beat then sucker punch the guy who beat u then get choked out by the ref
Amir whos kampmann i personnally want to see bisbing vs hamil

So Diik, you scared that Tito will get hurt?

@MMAkansas

Don’t get your hopes up yet. This is the latest rumor form fight opinion:

Meltzer: Sakakibara tells PRIDE staff the company is sold
Report here:

–Nobuyuki Sakakibara yesterday told several members of the U.S. Pride staff that the company is in the proces of being sold to Lorenzo & Frank Fertitta. He said the agreement in principal is done but there are still some minor points to be worked out and the contract is not signed. Sakakibara said he would be leaving the company but that everyone would be keeping their jobs. The company would be operated separately from UFC, but obviously UFC could use any Pride fighter for a big match that it needed.

Oh well, what are you gonna do, chalk up $59 for ppv I guess, good thing my best friend is an MMA junkie and a Doctor, looks like we will be doing a lot of MMA parties.. lol.

@Dennis
Man do you surf MMA websites for a living or what!?! Between you and Dr.J, nobody drops news faster, so what do you do all day?

Naw, just enlist to their emails….

Do you think this news is legit, I wonder why Dr.J hasn’t said a word on it yet….

I’ll repeat anything, but the Doc has to be the “voice” of reason, so he must get third party verification before publishing news.

Can’t blame him….. but I don’t care, so I’ll spread the rumors as they come.

That way you guys stay up to date……
and the Doc stays out of trouble…….

from the now infamous ufcjunkie:

Report: Boss Tells PRIDE Employees Company Is Being Sold to UFC’s Fertittas
Posted by UFC Junkie on March 22, 2007 at 8:45 pm ET

another rumor is shogun sights two fight deal with pride and ufc