UFC Officially Buys Pride FC

Crap crap crap crap crap. Well here we go, enjoy the all encompassing power of the UFC. Granted, the Fertitta brothers bought Pride FC, without, Dana White, and plan to run the company as a completely separate brand, with different people running each brand, or company. Still, since the Fertitta brothers are partners with Dana White, under the Zuffa banner, they will still be in a close relationship, and you can bet your ass they will be swapping fighters and changing rules.

At this point, it looks as though all Pride FC events, whether held in America or Japan, will have UFC rules (elbows allowed, no stomps, et cetera). 2 or 3 Pride events will be held in America, but the big show, Shockwave, will still be held in Japan. Interestingly, there is supposed to be a Super Bowl style PPV that will put the top fighters from each brand, if not champions, against each other.

The fighters are getting screwed here, because they have lost bargaining power, and fans, watch as your PPV rates skyrocket. And the little guys, yes those "other" companies Dana White so loves to make fun of, well, they're not dead yet.

In a big move to combat the now super-sized UFC/Pride FC group, MMA companies K-1 (Japan), Strikeforce (America), Spirit MC (Korea), and Cage Rage (England), Bodog (Russia/America), have joined up, and will be swapping talent as well as cross-promotional events. As reported earlier, there is already a PPV event with Elite XC and Strikeforce, and ICON (Hawaii) and King Of The Cage (America), plan to continue their shows and partner up with every MMA group.

So the arms race is on, but the UFC/Pride FC team is far ahead of the pack. Its far too soon to tell if this will be disaster or heaven for MMA fans, but at least the little guys are fighting back, and joining forces against the new evil empire. May the force be with them.