Tag: Dana White

UFC Bosses Say Deal Doesn’t Constitute Monopoly; Union Up to Fighters

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceWith UFC parent company Zuffa swallowing up its biggest competitor Strikeforce, the dynamics of competition around the mixed martial arts world shifted in a way the sport has never seen. There isn’t a single promotion anywh…

Filed under: ,

With UFC parent company Zuffa swallowing up its biggest competitor Strikeforce, the dynamics of competition around the mixed martial arts world shifted in a way the sport has never seen. There isn’t a single promotion anywhere on the globe that can come close to matching the scope of Zuffa’s breadth and reach. The company now has television deals with Spike, Versus and Showtime, is the biggest pay-per-view provider in history, and could potentially tap into existing relationships with Strikeforce partner CBS and new Comcast partner NBC.

Yet despite the sport’s 800-pound gorilla adding on further muscle, company bosses Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White deny that the company has a monopoly on the MMA business.

On a Monday conference call officially announcing the transaction, Fertitta, a co-owner of parent company Zuffa as well as UFC executive, dismissed talk that the deal could open the promotion to anti-trust issues.

Strikeforce Sale Confirmed; UFC Conference Call Highlights

(photo cred: MMAWeekly)
So if you’ve just returned from a weekend trip that entailed avoiding the mass media altogether, you’re probably tuning into the fact that some serious shit went down while you were away. Strikeforce is now the property of Zuffa, the dudes that run the UFC, and today the promotion’s Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and […]

white ferrita

(photo cred: MMAWeekly)

So if you’ve just returned from a weekend trip that entailed avoiding the mass media altogether, you’re probably tuning into the fact that some serious shit went down while you were away. Strikeforce is now the property of Zuffa, the dudes that run the UFC, and today the promotion’s Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, participated in a media conference call to field questions about the ‘who said what about a monopoly’ news. Well, the good folks at MMA Fighting shared some of the highlights through the magical world of Twitter. What did we learn?

In regards to the sale of Strikeforce meaning that cross-promotional super fights will now materialize, you know, like Nick Diaz throwing down with GSP? Well, while White reiterated what he said on Saturday to Ariel Helwani about “it’s business as usual” for Strikeforce, apparently today he did acknowledge that such fights will happen someday, it’s just a matter of when.

To that end, a lot speculation as to why White maintains Strikeforce isn’t going anywhere for now (and not getting folded like a tent during a hurricane), is because of the promotion’s contract with Showtime. According to MMA Fighting, Fertitta reported today that the broadcasting deal lasts to 2014, and not 2012 as widely reported. White also stated that “anything is possible” in respect to a future merger…um, yeah, that’s probably a safe bet.

Other tidbits, elbows on the ground will be legal now in Strikeforce, the Strikeforce cage will still be used, and oh yeah, Lorenzo disagrees with the monopoly talk, as anyone can still get into the MMA business. True, just don’t plan on seeing any big name UFC stars sign anywhere else soon. Now let’s all start whining about when Overeem will fight Velasquez.

Elbows to the Head on the Ground Now Allowed in Strikeforce

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsAlthough UFC President Dana White insists that things will remain “business as usual” now that his company has purchased Strikeforce, one rules change will be implemented: Elbows to the head on the ground will now be …

Filed under: , ,

Although UFC President Dana White insists that things will remain “business as usual” now that his company has purchased Strikeforce, one rules change will be implemented: Elbows to the head on the ground will now be allowed in Strikeforce.

UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said on a conference call announcing the purchase Monday that Strikeforce will implement all of the unified rules of mixed martial arts that the UFC uses, and that includes allowing elbows to the head on the ground. The banning of those elbows has been the one significant difference between Strikeforce fights and UFC fights, and that difference will go away.

Zuffa Has Purchased Strikeforce

If you’re started the weekend off last night with a few dozen beers too many, relax, your brain is still processing information (somewhat) normally. Yes, the above headline does in fact say that Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, has purchased Strikeforce. Yup, just when you thought it couldn’t get any bigger…
UFC President Dana […]

dana-white1

If you’re started the weekend off last night with a few dozen beers too many, relax, your brain is still processing information (somewhat) normally. Yes, the above headline does in fact say that Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, has purchased Strikeforce. Yup, just when you thought it couldn’t get any bigger…

UFC President Dana White spilled the beans on the ‘holy eff’ news in an interview with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, which was posted this AM. Now before you start planning your “Overeem vs. Velasquez” party, according to White, it’s “business as usual” with Strikeforce, meaning Scott Coker is still running the promotion, Showtime will still broadcast its fights, and no, unfortunately there will be no UFC vs. Strikeforce tilts.

Other highlights: White actually had some nice things to say about Strikeforce and Coker for the first time in a few years, and oh yeah, Paul Daley still has no chance of returning to the Octagon. To see the historic interview head here.

If Georges St. Pierre Doesn’t Want Anderson Silva Fight, Should We?

Filed under: UFCIt’s got to be tough being Georges St. Pierre right now. He’s trying to get ready to fight a guy who’s on a 15-fight winning streak, winning titles in two weight classes in three promotions along the way. And everyone is acting like the…

Filed under:

It’s got to be tough being Georges St. Pierre right now. He’s trying to get ready to fight a guy who’s on a 15-fight winning streak, winning titles in two weight classes in three promotions along the way. And everyone is acting like the task ahead of him is so easy that he should already be thinking about his next fight.

St. Pierre just wants to put his laser-like focus on Jake Shields, whom he’ll fight at UFC 129 next month. But everyone is talking about a future fight with Anderson Silva, as if Shields is just a little diversion on the way to the superfight we all really want.

That’s true of MMA fans and media, but it also goes all the way to the top: UFC President Dana White has frequently mentioned that a St. Pierre-Silva fight could be next, and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta told Mike Straka that GSP vs. Silva is his dream fight. It seems that everyone wants that fight — except St. Pierre himself.

Who Won Fitch-Penn Bout? Choose Your Own Questionable Rationale

Filed under: UFCIt’s possible that seeing what you want to see is a necessary part of the fighter mindset. It’s also possible that, with something like a pro fight, where there’s money and honor at stake, being personally involved makes it impossible f…

Filed under:

It’s possible that seeing what you want to see is a necessary part of the fighter mindset. It’s also possible that, with something like a pro fight, where there’s money and honor at stake, being personally involved makes it impossible for you to be objective.

How else could Jon Fitch take to his Facebook page this week and declare himself not only a clear winner over B.J. Penn at UFC 127, but a victor over the “best BJ ANY of us have ever seen”?

As Fitch saw it, rounds two and three were clearly his. Round one? That was a draw in Fitch’s eyes. As in, the round where he was taken down, gave up his back, and spent most of it simply trying not to get choked. Yep, a clear 10-10 round against the greatest Penn ever, if you ask Fitch.