UFC acquires Pride

[Wallower]

Here's the article. link (http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Mar-27-Tue-2007/sports/13414338.html)

I think the acquisition of Pride will give the UFC the shot in the arm it needs. I've always enjoyed the personalities of the UFC but I'm afraid that their business model lately has become too personality driven. I'm sure it's all about PPV and ticket sales but I think there is a danger that new fans might be resistant to new talent and title changes. The infusion of Pride's talent pool and international fan base should help the UFC overcome this problem.

What do you guys think?

[Crippler]

HOLY CRAP...does this mean Fedor comes to UFC?! When he's done fighting for the Russian Red Devil team over in the BoDogFight thing, of course.

I think this can only help UFC, and hopefully the influx of talent will lead to more Fight Night Live broadcasts in between PPVs to expose some of the new talent that would otherwise only make an undercard fights in a PPV.

While I'm certainly no MMA insider, this comes as a bit of a surprise to me. Even moreso because of the scathing words Dana White had for Pride in a backstage Post-PPV interview I saw after the Couture/Silvia fight. If memory serves, he outright called the owners of Pride idiots for the way they set up some of their recent fights. I don't know which fighters he was talking about, but it didn't seem like he had a lot of respect for the management over there.

[Wallower]

The UFC site has photos of the official announcement and I you can tell the Pride folks don't the visible enthusiasm that Dana White has. Even though they're probably making a lot of money from the buyout you can see defeat on some of their faces.

[ralphbxny]

It can only make competition better!! I look forward to it and hope it works out for the best!

[kellermcgee21]

This is huge news...i'm actually glad that the knees and kicks to the face will now be outlawed in the new pride. I've seen far too many fights end with someone stomping on the other guys face. And the super bowl of MMA idea with Pride's best vs. UFC's best is a dream come true for any fan of the sport.

[Ritalin]

RADIO PSYCHIC! RADIP PSYCHIC! Feydor v Randy Couture will happen before the end of the year. It may be Randy's next fight, even before Silvia gets a rematch. Randy's getting old, and that fight would be a HUGE payday.

It's good times in MMA right now. GSP is going to beat Matt Serra, even though I'm rooting for Serra. I can't wait to watch Diego Sanchez whip on Josh Koshcheck. And Tito Ortiz/Rashad Evans? Man, that's a great fight, and my money's on Rashad.

[Crippler]

RADIO PSYCHIC! RADIP PSYCHIC! Feydor v Randy Couture will happen before the end of the year. It may be Randy's next fight, even before Silvia gets a rematch. Randy's getting old, and that fight would be a HUGE payday.

I think it'll be Couture/CroCop first, but whoever survives will likely get Fedor somewhere down the line. But if I'm wrong, I'll still be happy to see whatever they come up with. The heavyweight division just got a lot more interesting.

[MM2]

RADIO PSYCHIC! RADIP PSYCHIC! Feydor v Randy Couture will happen before the end of the year. It may be Randy's next fight, even before Silvia gets a rematch. Randy's getting old, and that fight would be a HUGE payday.

It's good times in MMA right now. GSP is going to beat Matt Serra, even though I'm rooting for Serra. I can't wait to watch Diego Sanchez whip on Josh Koshcheck. And Tito Ortiz/Rashad Evans? Man, that's a great fight, and my money's on Rashad.

I think Cro Cop gets first shot at Couture, and I see Cro Cop destroying Couture. As much as I respect what Randy did to Sylvia, Tim Sylvia had a slipped disk in his back or something, and with each punch or kick was feeling intense pain in his back. He went to Dana White to try and get the fight postponed a few weeks before, but Dana said no. Which explains why Sylvia threw so few punches in the fight. I think even if Sylvia was healthy, Randy could have won the fight, but I don't think it would have been so lopsided.

As for Fedor, there is talk that he might not even be under contract with Pride, he might have been on a fight to fight type thing, which is why he's fighting on those Bodog cards now. I think Dana and UFC will put up the money it takes to get him in UFC. A Cro Cop/Fedor rematch would be a huge draw.

As much as I hate Koz, I think he has a huge advantage in the fight with Diego. Koshcheck is the best wrestler in UFC. Diego has great ground skills, but they don't come close to Koshchecks. Unless Diego becomes Chuck Liddell in his take down defense, this fight is going to be a long fight fought all on the mat, and I think Koz will win an ugly decision. I hope not, because I'd love to see a Diego/St. Pierre fight, but I have a feeling Koz takes this one.

Rashad Evans has been very impressive so far since coming down in weight. I think he's a big contender, and a better fighter then Forest Griffin who gets a huge push by UFC. But I think Tito wins this fight, I think this is the type of fight Tito can control and will win a long ground and pound fight. Tito is a great fighter, but only when he's in a fight that he can control. That's why he looks so pathetic in the Liddell fights.

[King Imp]

I wouldn't be surprised to see that big, no muscle toned goof Sylvia go elsewhere now. First Cro Cop shows up, then Couture kicks his ass, and now there is the threat of Fedor coming in. He's got to seriously be shitting himself right about now. He thought he was hot shit, showing up in public wearing his belt like a moron, but there is no way he can compete with the talent in the HW division now.

I know these are two different beasts, but I just hope MMA doesn't suffer like pro wrestling did when Vince bought WCW and eliminated it's main competition. A lot of people thought that would be good, with their wrestlers coming over, and look how that turned out.

[Crippler]

I know these are two different beasts, but I just hope MMA doesn't suffer like pro wrestling did when Vince bought WCW and eliminated it's main competition. A lot of people thought that would be good, with their wrestlers coming over, and look how that turned out.

My little brother (who isn't a huge MMA fan, but is just recently getting back into it) said the same exact thing when I was telling him about the buyout yesterday.

My feeling is that there is a big difference between Dana White & the UFC ownership/booking committee and their WWE counterparts...UFC seem to give a shit about their fans. Whereas Vince decides who to push and shoves them down your throat (ie Cena, Masters for some time, and 100s of other examples) regardless of crowd reaction. They try to tell you who to like & who to boo. I understand that is part of wrestling & always has been, but the last few years it has been painfully un satisfying.

The UFC bookers, sometimes even to a fault, try to give the fans what they want. When Dana White heard the reaction to Rich Franklin in Columbus Ohio, and the overall enthusiasm of the night in the biggest arena show they've ever done...the fight wasn't over for 3 minutes before he told Rich, who in turn told the crowd, his title rematch with Silva would be in the same state, ikn his home town of Cincinnati. Where it sometimes is overdone is when the UFC booking crew feels like TUF cast-fighters have made a connection with the audience, and they get booked on more shows than fighters who haven't appeared on TV. You hear fighters talk about this, especially in a post-fight interview after beating a TUF cast member. I don't know enough about MMA to say if these guys I've never seen deserve more airtime than they get, but you get the sense some fighters think so. But largely, to get back to my point, this incarnation of UFC gives the fans what they want so I think they'll be fine & handle this influx of talent well.

[MM2]

My little brother (who isn't a huge MMA fan, but is just recently getting back into it) said the same exact thing when I was telling him about the buyout yesterday.

My feeling is that there is a big difference between Dana White & the UFC ownership/booking committee and their WWE counterparts...UFC seem to give a shit about their fans. Whereas Vince decides who to push and shoves them down your throat (ie Cena, Masters for some time, and 100s of other examples) regardless of crowd reaction. They try to tell you who to like & who to boo. I understand that is part of wrestling & always has been, but the last few years it has been painfully un satisfying.

The UFC bookers, sometimes even to a fault, try to give the fans what they want. When Dana White heard the reaction to Rich Franklin in Columbus Ohio, and the overall enthusiasm of the night in the biggest arena show they've ever done...the fight wasn't over for 3 minutes before he told Rich, who in turn told the crowd, his title rematch with Silva would be in the same state, ikn his home town of Cincinnati. Where it sometimes is overdone is when the UFC booking crew feels like TUF cast-fighters have made a connection with the audience, and they get booked on more shows than fighters who haven't appeared on TV. You hear fighters talk about this, especially in a post-fight interview after beating a TUF cast member. I don't know enough about MMA to say if these guys I've never seen deserve more airtime than they get, but you get the sense some fighters think so. But largely, to get back to my point, this incarnation of UFC gives the fans what they want so I think they'll be fine & handle this influx of talent well.

You can't really compare the WCW buyout to the Pride buyout. Pride and UFC were not really in "direct" competition. Pride was trying to get into the US market, but was mostly a overseas promotion.

Also, UFC is real, like boxing. Wrestling is more story driven and needs competition to keep itself on top of its game, with no comp the product suffers but not in the case of a real sport. If boxing could get a unified federation instead of having the WBC, WBO, IBF and all that crap, it would help not hinder.

I do agree that UFC tends to give the fans what they want. The fans wanted to see Sanchez/Koshcheck, which could have been a huge PPV headline down the line, but they are giving it to us now, which I think is great!

Who's excited about the Rampage/Liddell rematch? Anyone see the first fight?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQOGIFFs85E

Rampage gives him the beat down!

[Crippler]

Who's excited about the Rampage/Liddell rematch? Anyone see the first fight?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQOGIFFs85E

Rampage gives him the beat down!

It's even better if you watch that fight first, then watch the Good Morning Dallas (or Texas or whatever) clip & it seems like he's still punch-drunk from the fight.

[Ritalin]

I think Cro Cop gets first shot at Couture, and I see Cro Cop destroying Couture. As much as I respect what Randy did to Sylvia, Tim Sylvia had a slipped disk in his back or something, and with each punch or kick was feeling intense pain in his back. He went to Dana White to try and get the fight postponed a few weeks before, but Dana said no. Which explains why Sylvia threw so few punches in the fight. I think even if Sylvia was healthy, Randy could have won the fight, but I don't think it would have been so lopsided.

As for Fedor, there is talk that he might not even be under contract with Pride, he might have been on a fight to fight type thing, which is why he's fighting on those Bodog cards now. I think Dana and UFC will put up the money it takes to get him in UFC. A Cro Cop/Fedor rematch would be a huge draw.

As much as I hate Koz, I think he has a huge advantage in the fight with Diego. Koshcheck is the best wrestler in UFC. Diego has great ground skills, but they don't come close to Koshchecks. Unless Diego becomes Chuck Liddell in his take down defense, this fight is going to be a long fight fought all on the mat, and I think Koz will win an ugly decision. I hope not, because I'd love to see a Diego/St. Pierre fight, but I have a feeling Koz takes this one.

Rashad Evans has been very impressive so far since coming down in weight. I think he's a big contender, and a better fighter then Forest Griffin who gets a huge push by UFC. But I think Tito wins this fight, I think this is the type of fight Tito can control and will win a long ground and pound fight. Tito is a great fighter, but only when he's in a fight that he can control. That's why he looks so pathetic in the Liddell fights.

Well, you called it on the Koz/Sanchez fight, which was more boring than a Matt Hughes fight. But, how about little Matt Serra? He knocked him out, no doubt about it. Great win, and a great guy.

I still disagree with you on Rashad/Tito, but that's why they fight. It was a good card tonight.

[cougarjake13]

It's even better if you watch that fight first, then watch the Good Morning Dallas (or Texas or whatever) clip & it seems like he's still punch-drunk from the fight.

here it is

http://youtube.com/watch?v=huKeNWggSPA

[Crippler]

Good card last night. The only fight that was a let down was the fight I was most looking forward to, Sanchez/Koz. I don't know what Diego was thinking, but he almost seemed out of it. He was as unaggressive as Tim Silvia against Couture last month, like he was taken out of his game before the fight even started. At least Silvia ate an overhand right before he went into a shell. Sanchez seemed like he was ahead on the scorecards & was just riding out the fight, but he started the fight that way...he was in prevent defense & hoping to run out the clock from the opening kickoff. I couldn't believe what I was watching.

Overall, a very enjoyable night. Once again UFC earned my PPV dollar.

[cougarjake13]

damn i always forget when the ppv's are on

[Ritalin]

Good card last night. The only fight that was a let down was the fight I was most looking forward to, Sanchez/Koz. I don't know what Diego was thinking, but he almost seemed out of it. He was as unaggressive as Tim Silvia against Couture last month, like he was taken out of his game before the fight even started. At least Silvia ate an overhand right before he went into a shell. Sanchez seemed like he was ahead on the scorecards & was just riding out the fight, but he started the fight that way...he was in prevent defense & hoping to run out the clock from the opening kickoff. I couldn't believe what I was watching.

Overall, a very enjoyable night. Once again UFC earned my PPV dollar.

Yeah, I was really disappointed by Diego. How about the fight those two spanish lightweights put on? That was awesome!

[Crippler]

Absolutely...I thought Huerta (the really cut guy in the white shorts) was going to kill the skinnier dude (Garcia?) in the black trunks. But WOW could Garcia take a punch. And no matter how many in a row he took, Huerta couldn't beat the smile of Garcia's face. Probably the best non-stop action since the TUF finale between Griffin & Bonnar.

[MM2]

Well, you called it on the Koz/Sanchez fight, which was more boring than a Matt Hughes fight. But, how about little Matt Serra? He knocked him out, no doubt about it. Great win, and a great guy.

I still disagree with you on Rashad/Tito, but that's why they fight. It was a good card tonight.

Well I called the winner, from what I read (wasn't able to watch this weekend) it wasn't exactly what I thought would happen. Koz actually tried standing with Diego? And he was successful? Diego seemed scared? That really sucks, I'm kinda glad I wasn't able to watch, I think I would have been disappointed with that fight.

Yeah, little Matt Serra took out St. Pierre, I seriously thought St. Pierre had no holes in his game and would definitely hold the belt for a few years ala Matt Hughes' reign. Can't believe he lost. So is it Koz/Serra next? Or does St. Pierre get a rematch? I'll be so pissed if Koz holds the strap, I just can't stand that guy!

Yeah, the Rashad/Tito fight will be a good one, anything can happen, I just think Tito can control it, but Rashad is a awesome fighter, so we'll see!

[King Imp]

So is it Koz/Serra next? Or does St. Pierre get a rematch? I'll be so pissed if Koz holds the strap, I just can't stand that guy!

I heard that they are thinking about Hughes vs Serra next.

[MM2]

I heard that they are thinking about Hughes vs Serra next.

That makes sense, but Hughes was so unimpressive in that Lytle fight. Seems like he's done, but I would still make him a favorite over Serra. If he beats Hughes then I'll give him some respect lol.

I thought I heard that the winner of the Sanchez/Koshcheck fight was to fight Hughes for a title shot. Koshcheck/Hughes would be a good fight, as Koshcheck is a young Matt Hughes.

[King Imp]

I think it's kinda hard to judge based on what one fighter does against another. I mean, take Serra's fight with Lytle for example. Serra didn't exactly look great in that fight and many believed that Lytle actually won. Well, look where Serra is now.

[MM2]

I think it's kinda hard to judge based on what one fighter does against another. I mean, take Serra's fight with Lytle for example. Serra didn't exactly look great in that fight and many believed that Lytle actually won. Well, look where Serra is now.

Yeah, but I think they set up the Lytle/Hughes fight for Hughes to come back and dominate. Lytle is more of a striker, with a little bit of a ground game, but not like Hughes. I think Dana White wanted Hughes to go in and destroy Lytle on the ground, and it didn't happen.

Obviously that we've seen Serra beat St. Pierre, it makes you realize how hard it is to defend a title for an extended period of time. Anyone can beat anyone, no one is unbeatable. It makes you really respect what Liddell has done for the past couple years since his loss to Couture. I can't wait for this Rampage/Liddell fight, I hope Rampage comes prepared, I want to see some great exchanges.