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[Warchief]

Dana White and his fighting league seemed to be on top of the world in March of 2007. White, and his bosses the Fertittas, purchased the No. 2 fight organization in the world, Japan’s Pride, for roughly $65 million effectively snuffing out the only viable competition.

Two problems hit UFC before the finish line. Pride’s fighter contracts weren’t ironclad & didn’t automatically transfer over to Zuffa plus guys like Gary Shaw (boxing promoter) and Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban decided to throw their bucks into the cage.

tito3.jpgUFC was forced to lock up most of the Pride stars to new contracts for unheard amounts by UFC standards. Much of it appears to be money poorly spent. Stars like Wanderlei Silva, Shogun Rua and Cro Cop have combined to go 1-4 in UFC. White was so disatisfied with Cro Cop, he exercised an option in the Croatian’s contract to release the heavyweight star.

It’s not huge news and has little impact with most American MMA fans. Cro Cop showed newer fans little in his lackluster performances.

It’ll be a different case if U.S. stars like Tito Ortiz, Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia jump for what they view as greener pastures. Those guys, all former UFC champions, would give a huge boost to smaller fight organizations.

tito2.jpgOrtiz is going to present a real problem in the coming months. His UFC deal ends after one more fight when he battles Lyoto Machida at UFC 84 in May. That gives the former UFC light heavyweight champ a chance to bash the organization and White for three months.

The early shots fired between the two on NBC’s MMA Fight Weekly were pretty nasty.

UFC MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF FIGHTER MASS EXODUS « Mr. Sunshine

[LethalStriker]

I really don't think that Sylvia is going anywhere, he's just negotiating for more money.

Tito I could do without, never was really that much a fan of his. He's not a real fighter, he just does it for the money and attention.

[Ramma]

I think there is no doubt that the UFC has its throat exposed right now... if they aren't careful, someone will go in for the kill.

Losing Arlovski, Tito, and even Cro Cop (1-2 in the UFC or not, people still watch his fights) will send $$$ to other organizations. Add the fact that they are tied up in a lawsuit with Randy and could lose him as well. That is 4 of the biggest names in MMA, in 1 year. All names that will sell fights.

Additionally, DREAM seems to be getting a lot of talk, hype, and excitement.. much more than EXC, M1, HEROES, etc.

If DREAM can keep signing names and give us good shows (with the two GPs they have coming up, I can't imagine we will get anything but good fights).. DREAM will be real competition and fighters will follow. UFC could be in serious trouble.

[Krazikarl]

Since when is 3 fighters a mass exodus? Like somebody said above: I dont think that Timmy is going anywhere. Tito isnt really a fighter anymore it looks like, so the only head scratching loss is AA. But the UFC has grown enough so that it can absorb one bad fighter loss.

[the_dark_angel_4ever]

It's been brought up before, and I'm sure Dana will do it again when Tito leaves, but he hasn't finished someone NOT named Ken Shamrock in 7 years.

[LethalStriker]

DREAM isn't really going to be that big of a threat to UFC stateside. Pride was never that big of a brand name in America even at its height. When given the option of ordering an American product and a foreign product Americans are generally going to order the American one.

[Krazikarl]

Originally Posted by Ramma

Additionally, DREAM seems to be getting a lot of talk, hype, and excitement.. much more than EXC, M1, HEROES, etc.

If DREAM can keep signing names and give us good shows (with the two GPs they have coming up, I can't imagine we will get anything but good fights).. UFC could be in serious trouble.

Completely disagree.

PRIDE at its peak had no hope of competing with the UFC in its power base (the US and Europe). Remember that at the end when PRIDE put on big US shows (with Fedor, Shogun etc etc) they had to give away massive amounts of tickets to their show and the PPVs did something like 30k buys. Thats not competition with the UFC.

DREAM doesnt have the same fighter talent level as the big PRIDE shows and it has no intent of coming to the US as far as I can tell, so how the heck is it going to compete with the UFC in the US/Europe when the bigger and badder PRIDE absolutely couldnt?

Remember that the hardcore fan community is very small compared to the UFC fan base, so just because the hardcore community is excited about something most certainly does not mean that it will be a success or a competitor for the UFC

[TheDirtySis]

I dont know.....even if those 3-4 guys find contracts elsewhere it is hard to believe it will be with all 1 company. It wont be good for them to lose those fighters but I just dont see any other org competing right now. The 2 closest comp would be EXC and Dreams but niether have a real good LHW or HW pool which we all know brings in the most money. However I will say that Dreams 2 GP's are looking really good at this point.

Im not against another org competing but I just have a hard time believing it will happen anytime soon. Anyways thats just my opinion.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

Completely disagree.

PRIDE at its peak had no hope of competing with the UFC in its power base (the US and Europe). Remember that at the end when PRIDE put on big US shows (with Fedor, Shogun etc etc) they had to give away massive amounts of tickets to their show and the PPVs did something like 30k buys. Thats not competition with the UFC.

DREAM doesnt have the same fighter talent level as the big PRIDE shows and it has no intent of coming to the US as far as I can tell, so how the heck is it going to compete with the UFC in the US/Europe when the bigger and badder PRIDE absolutely couldnt?

Remember that the hardcore fan community is very small compared to the UFC fan base, so just because the hardcore community is excited about something most certainly does not mean that it will be a success or a competitor for the UFC

Dammit I've gotta start reading all of the replies before I type mine out.

I compare DREAMS (Pride before) vs UFC to MLB vs Japanese Baseball. Both are massively popular in their home countries with the other being largely ignored except by a small base of hardcore fans.

I still don't see any orgs having the money to pay Tito what he wants. Atleast not if they intend to turn a profit.

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

Originally Posted by Krazikarl

Since when is 3 fighters a mass exodus? Like somebody said above: I dont think that Timmy is going anywhere. Tito isnt really a fighter anymore it looks like, so the only head scratching loss is AA. But the UFC has grown enough so that it can absorb one bad fighter loss.

Its not really a 'mass exodus' but I think could see how one would label it as that. These are 3 of the biggest names in all of MMA. And if they leave UFC,theyre gonna make Cuban,Shaw,and themselves a whole lotta money.

IMO


Sylvia isnt goin anywhere.

As for Tito leaving its unlikely he'll change his mind,but UFC could stop him from going. If Dana were to tell him if he beats Machida,he gets the pay offs he wants,he'd likely stick around,not only that but become more motivated to win.

Then again if Tito does chose to leave,he could probably milk Shaw or Cuban for whatever he wanted,and dominate the rankings in their companies while doing it. Its win win for Tito.


Arlovski is a toss up to me. Hopefully he doesnt go anywhere. But if he did leave UFC,I could see why. He beats Werdums ass,doesnt get another fight for nearly a year,Werdum at UFC 80 fights and "earns" a title shot.