UFC buys Strikeforce in huge shocker announced by Dana White
by David Bixenspan on Mar 12, 2011 1:31 PM EST
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Ariel Helwani just posted this exclusive interview with Dana White announcing the purchase of Strikeforce by UFC parent company Zuffa at MMAFighting.com. Strikeforce will be run by Scott Coker as a separate organization with White saying that their operations will be "business as usual." Key points from the interview:
- Fighters may be able to move easily from UFC to Strikeforce if needed, but there will be no co-promotions/superfights.
- He made sure to give props to Scott Coker and pointed out he's never had a bad word to say about him and has known him for years, going back to when he promoted the K-1 USA shows.
- He wasn't clear in talking about if UFC will take Strikeforce production in-house or if Showtime will continue to produce the shows.
- As far as those who Strikeforce works with that White has issues with, like M-1 Global, Coker will still be running Strikeforce so he says it won't be an issue.
- Strikeforce's deal with Showtime is good for about 2 more years and he's not sure what will happen when it expires.
- As far as women in MMA, White's only issue is with what he feels is a lack of depth to create a division in UFC but Coker et al at Strikeforce are free to do whatever they want.
- White has only seen a few Strikeforce shows.
- He stressed that Zuffa has the largest MMA library in the world.
- He doubts he'll buy Bellator.
The key seems to be "business as usual" which he said over and over. Strikeforce will still be run by Scott Coker separately with both UFC and Strikeforce competing for rising stars and trying to sign fighters who left the other company when their contract expires. Whatever deals are in place with Strikeforce are still good and shouldn't be impeded. In terms of being hands off (not the actual ownership), White compared it to CBS spinning Viacom off as a separate company.
More later as it comes in...
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Yowza.
There goes whatever fighter leverage was left.
Peter Aerts vs Semmy Schilt, K-1 World GP Semi-Final 2010: Fight of the Year
by StreetofCrocodiles on Mar 12, 2011 3:09 PM EST reply actions
Nutty
“Business As Usual” … until it’s not. If we go by what Dana has said I can’t see a lot of benefit to this purchase other than a tape library and first dibs on fighters when current contracts are up. I believe Coker will remain in charge but I don’t believe there won’t be some sort of oversight or veto power from those in Zuffa. I’ll write a commentary Sunday morning as there’s a lot to digest.
When I recover from today’s celebration, I’ll be posting my final “Heavyweight War of 2011”, considering how it’s all a moot point now. Exciting stuff going on, for better or worse.
Twitter me @kkelchner621
Read me at Cageside Seats
by Kaleb Kelchner on Mar 12, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions
I think you're right
I agree with everything you said, not to mention that Dana is probably biting off more than he or his fans can chew. I’m not sure Dana needs the increased workload or the overexposure that promoting another 20+ Strikeforce shows a year will bring.
by Keith Harris on Mar 12, 2011 8:56 PM EST up reply actions
Paul Daley comments on Facebook:
“Business as usual, what if i dont wanna fight for DANA WHITE/ZUFFA?……Dana white bans me for life from the UFC, Then buys STRIKEFORCE, and thinks im still gonna be EASY and fight on one of the most anticipated fights of the year (vs Diaz)? Which will no doubt make ZUFFA/Dana White money. Daley vs Diaz still on?…..Someone better holla at my manager real quick.”
Peter Aerts vs Semmy Schilt, K-1 World GP Semi-Final 2010: Fight of the Year
by StreetofCrocodiles on Mar 12, 2011 3:53 PM EST reply actions
daley won't get a better pay day
Something his manager should already have considered
by KJ Gould on Mar 12, 2011 4:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Well this was surprising news but maybe it shouldn’t be considering Zuffa’s history and the fact that expenses were going up for SF. But regardless looks like Dana and company once again are a step ahead of the game business wise, now yet another mma org is theirs and that ish eating grin on Dana’s face is even more permanent. For now though it’s business as usual but in about 2 years we can expect SF to be no more and the UFC to get a nice boost of new talent. Until then it should be a pretty fun few weeks because alot of people are going to be scattering around seeing where they fit in the new mma landscape.
Meltzer is gonna get on his radio show and talk about how he's heard rumors about this for a while
but why didn’t he report it? This guy is so out of the real loop it ain’t funny
Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...
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