During a televised statement, UFC heavyweight Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic — 2006 PRIDE FC Open Weight Grand Prix Champion — discussed returning to the Japanase mixed martial arts promotion for another go at Fedor Emelianenko — the top fighter in the world in the division.
What seemed like heresy and a pipe dream just a few days and weeks ago, is now all of a sudden a very real possibility.
Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta — alongside UFC President Dana White — announced the purchase of PRIDE FC from Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE) at a press conference at Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo, Japan, earlier today, according to Sherdog.com.
As part of the blockbuster deal, current PRIDE FC President and CEO Nobuyuki Sakaibara confirmed speculation that he will step down after PRIDE 34 on April 8. According to an Associated Press report in the Boston Herald, the final sale price was less than — and relatively cheap — $70 million.
Here’s a snip from Lorenzo Fertitta:
“We have been talking to Pride for probably about 11 months. It’s been a long, drawn out process but we finally we were able to put the two brands together. This is really going to change the face of MMA. Literally creating a sport that could be as big around the world as soccer. I liken it somewhat to when the NFC and AFC came together to create the NFL.”
Early talk is that PRIDE FC will continue to run as a separate company called Pride FC Worldwide Holdings LLC, which will be overseen by one of the Fertitta’s who will act as president for a yet-to-be created mixed martial arts commission.
The goal will be to restore PRIDE FC to its former glory, much like Zuffa did for the Ultimate Fighting Championship during the last few years.
And with a roster and fan base the likes of PRIDE FC, it doesn’t seem like a difficult task. According to the AP story, the Fertittas also picked up assets, including trademarks, as well as the valuable and extensive video library.
With the acquisition, the Fertittas promised to facilitate some of the most exciting crossover matchups in the sport today.
In addition to Cro Cop vs. Fedor II, future “Superbowl-type” cards could feature Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua, Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson, Georges St. Pierre vs. Takanori Gomi — the list of possibilities at this stage is mindboggling.
Here’s another snip from Fertitta:
“We will be able to literally put on the fights that everyone wants to see. It will allow us to put on some of the biggest fights ever.”
According to the Sherdog.com article, Jeff Monson against Kazuyuki Fujita will step into the PRIDE ring on April 8 as the first such confrontation.
Sherdog.com has promised more details and photos, which we will pass along as soon as possible.
For now, take a deep breath, imagine the possibilities and try to let the news soak in. The Fertittas now own PRIDE FC — it’s finally official.
24 Comments »
Another story you might wanna cover UFCmania, an interview with Rampage, very entertaining: http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article11726.html
It’s about time!!! Something like this had to happen for the sport to go to the next level because the UFC was getting to repetitive and besides the main events, most of the under cards were starting to slack off. Now maybe all the cards matches will be strong ones
Honestly,I could care less either way.I mean maybe fighters will be paid more and have better contracts.Better contracts and better match-ups.Better matchups = more $$$!!!
i doubt things will mean much for fighters pay checks! the only way that will improve is if the ufc looses power over the sport and becomes more like traditional sport leagues where the power is in individuals and gents hands.
well guys, im glad to hear this, i like both orgs, but for some reason i like watching ufc more..they said that this has been going on for 11 months…maybe that explains some of the lacklucter fights…they dont want the ufc guys to kill off eachother, when down the road it will be profitable for these super fights…it makes more sense when Dana sid that with Silva getting KOed by Hendo Pride pissed away a golden opportunity
I hope this means the John vs John II’s and III’s will start to go away. I get tired of seeing the same guys fight each other all the time and it happens a lot in the UFC. I know it’s necessary every once in a while but it has been getting a little ridiculous. I would really like to see some of the fighters who have been calling people out having to step up now. It will be interesting to see who gets crushed (Tim Sylvia) by a guy they called out (Fedor).
[quote comment=”20048″]i doubt things will mean much for fighters pay checks! the only way that will improve is if the ufc looses power over the sport and becomes more like traditional sport leagues where the power is in individuals and gents hands.[/quote]
I think the fighters at the top will reap the benefits and make a shitload of cash. I think its the lower level newer fighters who are breaking in. Their going to fight for pennies, and on top of all of it now with PRIDE its a longgggggg longgggggg climb to the top of any division. This merge though is paramount for the upper tier fighters. These guys will regularly make a million per fight. Theres just so many marquee matchups that will sell millions of pay per views, its where everyone is gunna make their money.
This made my year….
Wildbill where do you live?
its gonna make a difference in the outcome of these super fights which rules are gonna be used, if chuck had to fight rua in japan under old pride rules that might take away some advantage from chuck, same thing for the other fights, didn’t wandy look a lot different against henderson under ufc rules?????
lol st.pierre vs gomi, haha good luck gomi, u couldnt even beat diaz
[quote comment=”20137″]lol st.pierre vs gomi, haha good luck gomi, u couldnt even beat diaz[/quote]
agreed LOL….Imagine this dream match……..NOT gsp would would annihilate gomi, what a joke.
Other than Fedor, I feel that the ufc really does have maybe not better athletes,but certainly more exciting fights.I’ve been a fan 4 a long time and i’m looking 4ward 2 cing how this goes!!!MY boy CHEEKS hollaullia HOLLA BACK!!!
Other than Fedor, I feel that the ufc really does have maybe not better athletes,but certainly more exciting fights.I’ve been a fan 4 a long time and i’m looking 4ward 2 cing how this goes!!!MY boy CHEEKS hollaullia HOLLA BACK!!!!
noo they are gunna use ufc rules!!!! i dont like stops 2 the head on the ground or soccor kicks but needs 2 the head on the ground are a legitimate and useful move against wrestlers. i dont like seeing wrestlers getting a helping hand they make for boring fights!
Hey Brandon Vera, Guess you’re not going anywhere for awhile!
MMA Dude, you made a good point.
Well i’m happy,But its funny how everybodys happy and can’t wait to see some other fighters but really its only like a good 10 high class fighters from pride all the others are 2nd tier but there good not as good but all in all fedor vs randy i’m want to see ………………….HOLLA………………. BIGUPS TO THAT MUTHAFUCKER IBREAD COOL AS ICE AND WHITER THAN A GLASS OF MILK with a paper plate in a snow storm
While watching Youtapped’s video posting of the press conference, it dawned on me, NO MORE JERRY MILLEN!!!!!!
you can tell fertittas not a football guy in his first snip he said “I liken it somewhat to when the NFC and AFC came together to create the NFL” that would be the nfl and the afl to create the nfl!
Did you see the looks on the japanese people in the pic? They dont look to happy. They seem to have more respect for the fighters than we do in the U.S. I think its a bad move this means now the UFC has a monoply in MMA now.
Zack is right. When there is a monopoly. The product usually always suffer. I think this is the worst thing to happen to MMA as of late. It’s like Don King managing every single fighter on a fight card and I see MMA heading that route at a faster and faster rate. The reason that UFC has so many Joe Blow vs Joe Blow I II III & IV fights is because UFC has a habit of somewhat blackballing fighters just cause they lose once or twice. If your last name is not Ortiz, Couture, Liddel, Leben, or Hughes, you’ll get booted out of that company faster than you can blink if you lose a match. UFC = good ole boys fight club. So where do the rest of the MMA fighters in the world go? Good question. So I don’t blame the Japanese for not looking too thrilled about what happened, cause I probably feel the the same way they do. Hopefully some of these other smaller groups like IFL or Extreme XC can grow and present fair market competition.
I’m happy that the two organizations are now one. It sucks when the best fighters in the world don’t compete against each other. Granted, Pride’s heavyweight champ Fedor doesn’t have anyone to fight in the UFC, because he would kick the shit out of Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia and his Russian buddy with the vampire teeth. But other weight divisions will be much more interesting because the UFC has stronger fighters in the lighter weights than they have in the heavies. It’s pretty sad when a man who can’t win the light heavyweight title ends up winning the heavyweight title. The UFC’s best fighter is Chuck Liddell, and I’m glad he’s getting a chance to reverse his loss against Quinton Rampage Jackson. I want to see Dan Henderson against some top UFC competition.
The thing that killed boxing for me is that they have so many damn organizations, so you never find out who is the best in the world. What’s the point? Who cares if the second best beats the fourth best. Big deal.