Official MMA News/Discussion Thread

[onebigeric]

It really is. Think the WWE, but actually done correctly.

 

[fallen]

It really is. Think the WWE, but actually done correctly.

MMAmania?

 

[CaptainCharisma]

heres some more confirmation:

Lorenzo Fertitta is expected to announce the acquisition of Pride Tuesday morning.

Fertitta and his brother Frank are the owners of Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The move has been rumored for months, since the Japan-based mixed martial arts organization suffered major financial losses after the Fuji Network terminated their TV deal in June 2006.

It is expected that the Fertittas will run PRIDE separately from UFC and the organizations will have at least one supercard per year with matches pitting one group's fighters against the other.

Among the PRIDE roster are decorated champions Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Takanori Gomi and Fedor Emelianenko, the man largely considered the best fighter in the world.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

some more

The press conferences for both the Pride sale and the EXC/K-1 tie-ups both take place over the next 24 hours. The latter probably won't have anything significant that isn't already known. Anyway, here is what is believed will be announced tomorrow. They will not say UFC bought Pride but that a new company has been formed, and that Nobuyuki Sakakibara will step down. The new president, expected to be a figurehead guy whose name has not come out, largely for the Japanese public, is expected to come from Tokai TV, which is the Nagoya/Shizuoka local Fuji Network affiliate. This would be the equivalent of maybe the CBS affiliate in Chicago or San Francisco, as opposed to the network itself having any involvement in the deal. Obviously the goal is to get back on the network itself and restore Pride to near what it once was. Sakakibara came from that station, which has done some local Pride preview shows in the past as well as aired Hustle TV shows. Sakakibara said it is good news and that's why the public is invited. It will be presented as if this merger/new corporation will make for a stronger company. Nikkan Sports in Japan reported yesterday that Pride has been sold to UFC due to the company being in major financial straits, that the 4/8 show will be the last show of Dream Stage but there will be future shows still using the Pride name. Sakakibara was quoted in the story saying he raised Pride like it was his daughter, and now it's time to find her a worthy groom. As noted, Dana White claimed the Fertitta brothers have not bought Pride. This much is for sure. Something will be announced tomorrow, and whatever it is, is more something for the Japanese public. It would not be a good story for Japanese fans to hear that one of their major companies was purchased by Americans. Whether what is announced tomorrow is all truth, some truth, or very limited truth is probably something that won't be fully known for a few months until we see how things operate.

--Not only will Showtime, EXC and K-1/Hero's be represented at tomorrow morning's press conference at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but there will be a few surprise promoters with the idea of announcing all the groups are getting together. Think 1980's Pro Wrestling USA but with fewer stars and no good television. Also expected to be represented as Strikeforce (no surprise, since they are in bed with EXC for PPV and promoter Scott Coker also is the K-1 promoter), Cage Rage from England (which runs head-to-head with UFC on 4/21) and Bodog (key here is if Fedor is announced or not) are all expected to publicly unite. As those who remember this being attempted in wrestling, I hope they can at least all agree on what to get for lunch after the press conference before it falls apart.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Basically, the Fertittas have bought PRIDE, but it will be run seperate from UFC/Zuffa. But this means that they will have a few cross promotional matches here and there. Personally i think this is the best thing that they could have done for all parties considered (fighters, promoters, fans, etc)

 

[CaptainCharisma]

just for you guys that didnt know, the Dana White vs Tito Ortiz boxing match was supposed to be taped on Saturday, but Tito never showed up at the weigh ins, here's his excuse taken from his MySpace:

So, everyone is giving me shit for the Dana fight... No one knows what really went on.
Let me tell my side of what real went on. Me and Dana had this argeement to box eachother. I told Dana we should put it on video and sell it. He said "yes that a good idea". So Spike came to Big Bear before the Chuck fight for two days. Used my time from training to shoot for the Spike special. I said that was fine. I took two week off after the chuck fight. Then started my boxing training. You all have to understand that Dana was almost a pro boxer. I was going to take this fight serious. Jenna was helping me with the deal because I seen this as a big money maker. She ask if there was a contract for the fight? She made call's to dana to get the deal done. Craig from Spike called Jenna back to discuss is deal. She asked for executive producer rights for me. Since it was my idea. Help to promote Punishment Athletics for the fight and other deal points. Craig said he would talk to Dana and get back to us. After that I cancel a few appearance's that I had to do. Alot of money that was givin up. So I could train for the fight. I had to get all of my medicals done as a normal fight. I got my eye done then we got a call from Craig. He said that Dana say that they are not going to shoot the fight or cover it in anyway. So this was a real lose,lose situation for me. I lost out on money for appearances. Now I was losing out on promotion and big dollars for the PPV. He didn't want to cut me in on the deal. So as a business man I couldn't do the fight. I have a very big fight with Evans. Why would I risk my health and that fight for free? I wasn't going to make anything for it? I was not going to get taken advantage of as a fighter or a business man. You tell me if I made the right decision? Hopefully this will get ironed out and will be done right the next time. Just trying to do business.....
Tito Ortiz

what this all means? Tito Ortiz pussied out against Dana White hhahahahahhahahaah

Dana White > Tito Ortiz

 

[onebigeric]

MMAmania?

Stick Cena in an octagon = reeks of awesomeness.

Thank you for sticking so close with this, CC. MMA is being reborn, and it looks like Zuffa is well at the helm.

 

[onebigeric]

Sweet crap, Tito is such a putz If a boxing exhibition is 'a threat to my health', he needs to check his ginormous bobblehead into a rest home. That, or take the collagen from Jenna's lips and use it to pad his forehead.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Results from the Japanese Press Conference

Zuffa-Controlled: DSE Cedes PRIDE to UFC Bosses Options: Email Article | Printer FriendlyTuesday, March 27, 2007
by Sherdog.com Staff

After revitalizing the struggling Ultimate Fighting Championship, and as a result lifting the sport of mixed martial arts world wide, Lorenzo Fertitta, a Station Casinos magnate alongside his older brother Frank, confirmed the purchase of the PRIDE Fighting Championships from Dream Stage Entertainment Tuesday in Tokyo.

DSE and PRIDE CEO Nobuyuki Sakaibara also announced that as part of the agreement he would resign effective April 8, following PRIDE 34 at the Saitama Super Arena.

Joined by UFC president Dana White and the company's matchmaker Joe Silva at the Roppongi Hills Arena, Fertitta discussed the creation of a mixed martial arts commission for which he would act as president. PRIDE will run autonomously under the umbrella of Zuffa, which the Fertitta brothers and White created in 2000 when they purchased the UFC.

Fertitta spoke of making mixed martial arts equivalent to world-wide sports such as baseball and soccer, and also "Super Bowl" type cards which could feature the likes of Randy Couture (Pictures), Tim Sylvia (Pictures), Chuck Liddell (Pictures), Matt Hughes (Pictures), Diego Sanchez (Pictures), B.J. Penn (Pictures) facing PRIDE stars such as Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures), Wanderlei Silva (Pictures), Mauricio Rua (Pictures), Dan Henderson (Pictures), Shinya Aoki (Pictures), Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), Takanori Gomi (Pictures) and Hayato Sakurai (Pictures).

UFC president Dana White offered curt statements, suggesting all other MMA promoters pale in comparison to what Zufffa has now become with UFC and PRIDE, as well as the much smaller WEC, under its umbrella. The aggressive UFC boss received a warm reaction from the near 1,000 fans in attendance before discussing potential dream fights between the organizations' champions and stars.

One of those men is Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, who was responsible for the first real battle won in this war between companies after defected to the UFC earlier this year. During a taped message to the nearly 1,000 fans in attendance, the 2006 PRIDE Open-Weight Grand Prix champion said he wanted to come back to PRIDE and get a second crack at PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures), widely regarded as the world's best heavyweight.

But before "Cro Cop" and Fedor face one another again, the first in-ring clash following the merger will feature Jeff Monson (Pictures) against Kazuyuki Fujita (Pictures), who step into the PRIDE ring on April 8.

A full report as well as video and photos of the scene in Roppongi will be posted shortly.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

And heres a live report of what went on in the conference

Sherdog.com's Stephen Martinez reports live from Tokyo, Japan where it is expected that Dream Stage Entertainment will announce at a press conference that it has ceded control of the PRIDE Fighting Championships to UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta.

5:27 Tokyo Time: Little movement on stage, which is a miniature version of the production PRIDE was famous for during shows at Saitama Super Arena. More than 1,000 fans are present at the Roppongi Hills Arena, along with a strong contingent of Japanese and International press. There are two big screens featuring PRIDE bouts.

5:44: PRIDE highlights continue to play on the giant televisions. The attitude in the area feels more like PRIDE is saying "thanks for everything" rather than promotion. Fedor Emelianenko's (Pictures) manager, Vadim Finkelstein is here.

5:55: Japanese fighters have begun to arrive. Recent fan favorite Shinya Aoki (Pictures), whose gogoplata victory over Joachim Hansen (Pictures) made the world know it was possible, as well as Ryo Chonan (Pictures), and leglock master Masakazu Imanari (Pictures) have started to file in.

6 Virtually all of the Japanese fighters who have participated in PRIDE throughout the organization's decade-long history appear to be here.

6 Ultimate Fighting Championship matchmaker Joe Silva has shown his face. He is the first UFC representative to appear at the press conference. This is the first indication that the rumor Sherdog.com first reported on March 19 is indeed true: DSE and Zuffa have agreed to a deal of some sort that would have the companies working together.

6 PRIDE CEO Noboyuki Sakakibara is addressing the media. It's heartbreaking. He talks about PRIDE's history and his goals during his tenure of the organization's boss after Naoto Morishita committed suicide on Dec. 31, 2002.

Sakakibara announced his resignation and has just introduced UFC co-owner and Station Casino magnate Lorenzo Fertitta. There is discussion of a mixed martial arts commission, which Fertitta will act as president. PRIDE will be run separately but under the umbrella of Zuffa, which also controls the WEC.

Sakakibara becomes very sentimental and says he will step down following PRIDE 34 on April 8.

6:46: Current PRIDE president Nobuhiko Takada (Pictures) will remain with the new company. Takada has joined the stage, and begins to address the audience. Pride will run separate from UFC but under Lorenzo Fertitta, said the main who fought Rickson Gracie in the main event of the debut PRIDE Oct. 11, 1997.

Fertitta has the microphone and said PRIDE will continue world-wide. He discusses his love for the style of MMA PRIDE promoted, and wants to make the sport of MMA like baseball or soccer. Fertitta discusses a mixed martial arts "Super Bowl" with UFC fighters like Randy Couture (Pictures), Tim Sylvia (Pictures), Chuck Liddell (Pictures), Matt Hughes (Pictures), Diego Sanchez (Pictures), B.J. Penn (Pictures) facing PRIDE stars such as Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures), Wanderlei Silva (Pictures), Mauricio Rua (Pictures), Dan Henderson (Pictures), Shinya Aoki (Pictures), Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), Takanori Gomi (Pictures) and Hayato Sakurai (Pictures).

6:56: Last year's PRIDE Open-Weight Grand Prix winner Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic says he wanted to come back and fight Fedor again in a recorded.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

UFC president Dana White has come on stage and says that all mixed martial arts organizations are a joke next to UFC or PRIDE. White receives a good reception from Japanese fans. He is now talking about potential dream match-ups becoming a reality:

Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) vs. Randy Couture (Pictures)
Takanori Gomi (Pictures) vs. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures)
Dan Henderson (Pictures) vs. Anderson Silva
Chuck Liddell (Pictures) vs. Wanderlei Silva (Pictures)

Also official PRIDE 34 matches have been revealed:

Jeff Monson (Pictures) vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Pictures)
Ikuhisa Minowa (Pictures) vs. Don Frye (Pictures)
Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) vs. TBD

7 Jeff Monson (Pictures) and Kazuyuki Fujita (Pictures) have appeared on stage and are being billed as the first UFC vs. PRIDE encounter. Fujita promises to crush the UFC.

7:16: The press conference is over. No questions were fielded from the press.

Theres still the U.S. conference to take place later today, but that'll pretty much be the same thing

The best part of all of this, Fedor vs Cro Cop II is now gaurenteed!!!!!
[/QUOTE]

 

[CaptainCharisma]

btw Fujita vs Monson could be a pretty interesting fight

 

[fallen]

damn i can't wait to see these super fights happen all the talk will now stop and we will know really who is the best

 

[onebigeric]

It'll be interesting to see if Fujita can knock out Jeff's lights before he scores a dominant takedown. Either way, it'll be a solid contest for sure.

 

[CaptainCharisma]

Fujita nearly KOed fukin Fedor...he's gonna murder Monson

 

[CaptainCharisma]

the UFC website has more info on the PRIDE deal, looks like their gonna enforce NSAC rules in both orgs, so bye bye soccer kicks and knees on the ground

 

[CaptainCharisma]

oh and heres something funny, you guys know how Vera was fully gassing himself up and asking for waaaaayyyy more than hes worth from the UFC, well looks like thanks to the merger hes gonna stay with the UFC.

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=538072

thats him posting on Sherdog, i forget which page, but he says hes gonna stay with the UFC....now with all the crazy HW's availible i laugh at Vera's ability

 

[CaptainCharisma]

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/story/2007/3/15/111511/826

Dana can be interested in Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira all he wants. The guy ain't getting no license to fight in the US. Dude is practically blind in one eye.

wtf...did anyone else know that Big Nog was blind in one eye...wtf

 

[fallen]

omg that is crazy i didn't know that. It makes the fact that he is as good as he is even that much more amazing thanx cc

 

[CaptainCharisma]

apparently his eyes been like this since he got hit by a truck as a kid...wow my respect for Big Nog just went through the roof