Fertitta brothers buy PRIDE

dragonland · March 27th, 2007, 09:10 AM

This is BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG news to anyone interested in MMA. Zuffa will be the umbrella for both organizations. Now we could probably see some matchups between UFC and PRIDE no one thought would be possible earlier!!! Great for the fans!!

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=7086

**thisisphil03** · March 27th, 2007, 06:34 PM

Actually, Zuffa will not be the parent company. The Fertitta brothers are forming a new management group comprised of most of the DSE employees. Current DSE Sakakibara will step down as president, and a new president will likely be named. However, the UFC and Pride intend to hold an 'MMA Superbowl' once a year (probably on New Years Eve). Still great news for any fans.

**TheManWhoCan** · March 27th, 2007, 08:40 PM

Ya that's pretty huge. This is great news for MMA fans. Getting the top contenders of both organizations to fight is what fans have been calling for, for a long time. Good stuff.

**ItalianStallion** · March 28th, 2007, 01:15 AM

good news? i have no idea whats up..i keep hearin that ufc bought pride..than i hear that they bought pride but nutin is gonna change? does ne1 rly kno whats up..im waitin ripped fetish to explain this to me..if they combine to have big time matchups that will be awesome..but if they just combine so they dont " compete" than that sux

**Justsomedude** · March 28th, 2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianStallion

good news? i have no idea whats up..i keep hearin that ufc bought pride..than i hear that they bought pride but nutin is gonna change? does ne1 rly kno whats up..im waitin ripped fetish to explain this to me..if they combine to have big time matchups that will be awesome..but if they just combine so they dont " compete" than that sux

Vince MacMahon, anyone? Hopefully, it doesn't turn out that way.

**thisisphil03** · March 29th, 2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianStallion

good news? i have no idea whats up..i keep hearin that ufc bought pride..than i hear that they bought pride but nutin is gonna change? does ne1 rly kno whats up..im waitin ripped fetish to explain this to me..if they combine to have big time matchups that will be awesome..but if they just combine so they dont " compete" than that sux

Like I said earlier, UFC didn't actually buy PRIDE. The two brothers that own Zuffa (The company that owns UFC) bought PRIDE and Dream Stage Entertainment (The company that owns PRIDE). The old DSE company will be dissolved, and a new management company will form. The Fertitta brothers may have a hand in this new management company. As part of the deal, DSE CEO Sakakibara will be stepping down as CEO. In case you didn't hear about the scandal, Sakikabara was accused in late 2005 by Japanese media of being affiliated with the YaKuza. This involvement actually led to their TV sponsor, FUJI TV to drop their contract with PRIDE, thus limiting their exposure in Japan. This was the beginning of the end. With no TV deal, a lot of sponsor money was lost, and it's believed that many of the fighters renegotiated their contracts for a lot less money. That's getting off topic a bit though. So anyways, The new management company will run PRIDE. The idea is to continue the shows production values, and Japanese centric presentation. The show will continue to run primarily out of Japan, but will also hold several US shows a year. While there will probably be cross promotion of fighters, don't expect Shogun vs. Liddell, or GSP vs. Gomi, or Fedor vs. the UFC during the year round cards. The idea is to have one New Years Eve show (similar to the one Pride already holds) that combines the two organizations for one super-card. There hasn't been any word on if Pride rules will change or not, though. It does seem likely, since it will be moving the MMA world closer to a set of unified rules. But I think Pride rules are better than UFC, but that's just my opinion.

**ItalianStallion** · March 29th, 2007, 01:50 PM

i got ya..thanx...i guess a one time yr "super bowl" is better than not having them fight each other...it should be fun to watch tho in upcomin months...now dont u think a lot of pride fighters would wanna fight in ufc now? sine the money is a lil betta? or they gonna wanna stay n fight in pride still, even tho they r owned by ufc...o well who knos

**mooshue** · March 29th, 2007, 02:01 PM

The Pride rules already changed in the last PPV that was here in Las Vegas. No one was allowed to do kicks when opponenant was on the ground. They even stated something about new rules while they were announcing the first matchup. I think in order for it to be successful, they need to leave Pride alone as far as rules and swapping fighters. If they start taking homeless thugs off the street and sticking them in reality shows as "fighters" like they do for the UFC, then pride is going to suck ass.

**thisisphil03** · March 29th, 2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mooshue

The Pride rules already changed in the last PPV that was here in Las Vegas. No one was allowed to do kicks when opponenant was on the ground. They even stated something about new rules while they were announcing the first matchup. I think in order for it to be successful, they need to leave Pride alone as far as rules and swapping fighters. If they start taking homeless thugs off the street and sticking them in reality shows as "fighters" like they do for the UFC, then pride is going to suck ass.

Well, the rules were changed to meet the Nevada State Commission's guidelines. The Japan Pride show still allows for knees and kicks to downed opponents. There was a US show somewhere in the mideast I believe that allowed knees to the head of a downed opponent, and the guy just got completely murdered by them. So, the fight commissioner basically said, no way to knees. So don't expect on any knees in the U.S. anytime soon.

**mooshue** · March 30th, 2007, 04:05 PM

ah is that what it was, rule changes because of nevada's commission. That makes sense. Everyone is all pussified over here because of boxing. I dont see the big deal with knees or kicks with a downed opponenant, thats why there are officials to step in when a fighter cant continue or defend. Some guys in pride's best arsenal are with downed opponenants and using knees and stomps etc.. Makes for very exciting fights too even if they dont connect.

**Ripped Fetish** · March 30th, 2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mooshue

I dont see the big deal with knees or kicks with a downed opponenant, thats why there are officials to step in when a fighter cant continue or defend. Some guys in pride's best arsenal are with downed opponenants and using knees and stomps etc.. Makes for very exciting fights too even if they dont connect.

Because if a fighter ever gets seriously injured or killed, then MMA will turn back into the spectacle that it was when it first began. And if that happens, all the work of spreading to different states and provinces in North America will be for nothing as politicians are always slumming for votes. It's not a street fight. It's suppose to be a combination of combat systems merged together for a sporting competition, not a bloodbath.

Static · March 30th, 2007, 10:24 PM

I just hope that they fire Jerry Millen....

**ItalianStallion** · March 31st, 2007, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripped Fetish

Because if a fighter ever gets seriously injured or killed, then MMA will turn back into the spectacle that it was when it first began. And if that happens, all the work of spreading to different states and provinces in North America will be for nothing as politicians are always slumming for votes. It's not a street fight. It's suppose to be a combination of combat systems merged together for a sporting competition, not a bloodbath.

tru true..i hear ya on this one...as exciting as those are...it isvery dangerous n could injure sum1 dearly if not kill em...ur correct when ya say its a competition not a blood bath...if it was we'd have to go back to gladiatorial games in the Roman days...

**thisisphil03** · March 31st, 2007, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Static

I just hope that they fire Jerry Millen....

You mean 'Gary'? lol. Any one else read the Bas Rutten interview? Too much to get into here, but you should definitely check it out. BRING BAS BACK!!!

Anyone else think he's a little feminine? Seems like an odd person to go out and interview the fighters. They should just let Trigg go do it. At least he looks like he knows whats up.