Oh my god has it finally happened? Rumors, yes just rumors at this point, but inside sources (I'm looking at you Josh Gross of Sherdog), that Pride FC President, Sakakibara, is flying toward Las Vegas as we write, to meet with Dana White and the other owners of the UFC. The deal is reportedly for $65-$75 million dollars. Pride FC has been in dire straits ever since losing their television deal in Japan, and a barrage of talent defections, as well as rumors of corruption due in part to an illegal relationship with the dreaded Yakuza.
So are we excited? Is this good for the sport? How will this affect the world of MMA?
IT SUCKS BALLS! This is the worst possible thing that could happen to MMA right now! Why you say, because it makes the UFC into a giant corporation (like it wasn't on its way already) that has the ability to monopolize the sport, ending the spirit of competition between companies, and bringing the sport into a Pro Boxing situation, with Dana White in the role of Don King. But what about the IFL, K-1 Hero's, and Elite XC? The IFL is the minor leagues of MMA (so what does that make King Of The Cage, Cage Rage, ICON, & Bodog, ect.) and their little team concept, cannot compete with the talent of the UFC, without the Pride FC stable of fighters added into the mix. K'1's chances of catching on here in the US, are about as good as the chances that Paris Hilton won't catch an STD. Elite XC is too new, and this newest UFC expansion puts them far behind in ability to compete. Lest we forget, the UFC already bought the WEC and is running that promotion as their personal minor league circuit.
MMA is on the verge of going mainstream, and become the wildly popular sport that it should be. However, we are soon to find one organization (UFC) controlling the fate of today's best fighters. With no reasonable competition, fighters must sign with the UFC, for what ever they are offering, or risk being blackballed, and stuck on a second rate show that few people see, and for less money than they should be making. They cannot bargain by saying, hey, pay me what I'm worth, or I'm going to fight in front of 105 people in a parking lot for King Of The Cage.
Ah but the super-fights, think of the super-fights! Fedor Emelianenko vs Mirko Cro Cop 2, Andrei Arlovski, or Randy Couture. Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva (finally), or Wanderlei vs Tito Ortiz 2. Takanori Gomi vs Sean Sherk or BJ Penn 2, or Paulo Filho vs Rich Franklin, vs Paulo Filho, vs Anderson Silva! Yeah right, think of all the great boxing matches Don King let happen over the years. Dana White and the UFC will play favorites (worse than they do now) and protect certain fighters, while giving the tough fights to men they don't like, or that negotiate for more money, or speak out for themselves, or even just for being a former Pride FC fighter.
Mainly, and please forgive me for the comparison, but its like when the WWE bought its rival WCW. At first it seemed heavenly, the top dogs together merging talent and making an ultimate show. But then, ever so slowly, the element of surprise and hypotheticals is gone (you know, the bar conversation topics that propel life along). Remember the buzz when Cro Cop came to the UFC, gone. Remember how great it was when BJ Penn, or Royce Gracie shocked the MMA world by showing up at a UFC event? Won't happen, because the best will be in the UFC, and rest will be in Bodog or worse. Choice is gone from the fans. If we buy more Elite XC PPV's, it makes the UFC put that much more into their PPV's, in hopes you will buy it. Now, the UFC owns it all. They'll give you what they want, and you have to deal with it. No more power to the people.
Maybe I'm chicken little and the sky is falling. Maybe Dana White and the UFC brass will give us those super-fights, and finally fill the PPV's with all great fights. Or maybe, they'll give us just enough, to stay beyond the reach of attempted competition, and jack the PPV price up to blistering pro boxing levels. It looks grim to me. One thing I know, I'm selling my IFL stock immediately.
No comments:
Post a Comment