http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=6209923 NEW YORK -- Zuffa Inc., the parent company of the UFC, has purchased rival mixed martial arts promoter Strikeforce, though they will continue to operate as separate entities. Financial terms of the sale were not available. Strikeforce spokesman Mike Afromowitz confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Saturday night. "Right now the plan is to operate on our own," Afromowitz said. "Business as usual." UFC president Dana White told MMAFighting.com and The Canadian Press that Zuffa had purchased Strikeforce. An official announcement will come Monday in Las Vegas. Negotiations between representatives for Zuffa and Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, which also runs the NHL's San Jose Sharks, have been in the making for months, various parties familiar with the deal said. Three years ago Silicon Valley agreed to a partnership with Strikeforce's parent company, West Coast Entertainment, a San Jose-based promotion created by Scott Coker in 1985. A kickboxing-based organization, Coker did not move to promote MMA under the Strikeforce banner until 2006. Coker and Silicon Valley shared an even split of the company. Coker did not respond to requests for comment regarding the deal with the UFC. White told MMAFighting.com that Coker would remain in charge of Strikeforce and retain his staff of around 10 employees. The company would run separately from UFC and exhaust its contracts with Showtime television. Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, declined through a representative to comment. The network has a deal with Strikeforce that runs through early 2012, sources said. As it did with WEC at the start of 2011, it is expected UFC will fold Strikeforce under its banner at the conclusion of the partnership with Showtime. The UFC attempted to create an under-one-roof competitor with its purchase of the Pride Fighting Championships in 2006, however it chose to dissolve the company months later. With the WEC, Zuffa hoped to build another relevant brand to take to pay-per-view, but again the decision was made to bring those fighters under the UFC banner. Current contracts between fighters and Strikeforce are transferrable to Zuffa, sources with knowledge of the contracts' language said. Strikeforce will feature two events beginning in April, notably a card on April 9 in San Diego. Cesar Gracie, jujitsu coach for Strikeforce welterweight titleholder Nick Diaz and Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, both of whom are set to defend their belts on the card, expressed concern over the impact one dominant MMA brand would have on top to mid-tier fighters. " This to me screams of a shady back room deal with a gun figuratively held to Cokers head. Why did he sell to the UFC when that didn't seem to be his intention or on the agenda? Couture has confirmed exactly what i think of this deal. Although he's sitting on the fence over the negative or positive aspect of this we know he must be against it as he went to court against the UFC 3 years ago when the UFC nixed his intentions to fight Fedor at Affliction. Its pretty clear from his statement that he's very worried about the future of fighters and the lack of leverage they now have. As unless they play ball there is simply very little avenues for to make money or even feed their familys. Off the back of this as expected there's a cull of 60 fighters. Thats HUGE number. In addition there is no union to protect the fighters and its completely unlikely that one will ever exist when the UFC is an independent franchise accountable only to itself.
Dana is completely opposed to the Ali Act that boxing has. There's no chance of a Union and there's no way it can be enforced by anyone other than the UFC. Even if there was one those who joined or who were in opposition to Dana would be out on their ear. He has the final say in everything. Thats too much control for one man.
Without a Union or Goldenboy type rival to the UFC with someone like Randy as the figure head things will never change. But no one in MMA has the type of financial clout that Oscar has in boxing so it is very unlikely without the support of a rich businessman or TV network. Then who's too say they wouldnt be worse than the Buritto's Bros and White. But atleast fighters will have the option, even if it's the lesser of two evils, but this point is moot Promoters have been screwing over athletes for as long as combat sports have existed. Even the likes of Joe Louis and Ali are not exempt from this
And this is the crux of the point. As much as people moan about boxing the reality is the revenue simply isn't there in MMA much less for the UFC. If the bill makes $20m and DKP take $15 and Tyson makes $5m thats an unfair shake but your not that poor. Boxers make substantially more so the trade off's are better even for the likes of Ali Holmes Tyson Byrd Witherspoon etc because the pot is sooo much larger. The UFC is completely different kettle of fish. They control the fighters rights, their contract, their sponsors, any 3rd party means they use to make money, their IP rights, lock stock the whole lot. And at the end of it all a bill that grossed say $2m you might get a salary despite top billing of $20k. That would NEVER happen in boxing. All fighters are free agents. Even journeymen dont get out of bed for that. **** me Micheal grant made $100k for fighting Tye Fields in front of a handful of people. And for a fact it will get worse.
I agree one corp has all the leverage now. Hopefully bellator grows enough to become competitive with the ufc. If they do I wonder if they too will eventually sell out to Zuffa?
I think Zuffa will be much better off now picking off the best fighters in any org such as Lombard one by one rather than purchase a Bellator out right The UFC is now in a position to bid for fighter with the likes of Bellator in no way prosperous enough to compete and without the worry of a Strikeforce pushing the bidding up by trying to sign the same fighter aswell
eventually fighters with a bad history with Dana will go to Bellator. It will grow. But I agree, that tactic of enticing the best talent of competing orgs and counterprograming will make it difficult for bellator or any other org to gain momentum.
I cant see it growing. Strikeforce did indeed grow using mainly fighters with a bad history with the UFC such as Frank, Josh, Fedor, Reem, Nick ect. But if Bellator hasnt got the clout to keep Lombard (time will tell) they certainly havent got the clout to sign all these fighter. And they will need to sign all of them to be taken seriously
Nope that wont happen. There's no one that can challenge the UFC. The only market that had a glimmer is Japan. But thats unlikely because the K-1 and DREAM are dead.
a little pessimistic arent you stoo? Their will always be a #2 org, it has happened before, it will happen again. Maybe it wont be bellator, especially if they stay on MTV 2 a channel which I dont have!
The playing field is VERY different this time. There are simply no viable alternatives. Japanese MMA is dead. That leaves only the West. Bellator is nice but even they struggle to break even. Without a quality stable and TV deals they're going nowhere.
Not really Yaca, there will be a number two org I guess. But that doesnt automatically guarantee it being on the level of Strikeforce does it In MMA I think it's fair to see that everything Strikeforce was was built of the back of Shamrock and Cung. The Heaveyweight tourney and Dream co promotions were a step in the right direction and saw SF's credability jump in leaps and bounds. Only in the last 12 months could you honestly say it was the number two org with any relevant standing. And it got stopped in it's tracks on Saturday. How do you see Bellator fairing any better?