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Post by murdaspace on Jun 10, 2008 10:15:15 GMT -5
i read this on mma junkie
Previously, White promised a major announcement to come this Thursday that “is going to blow people’s minds.” Could he be spilling the beans early? And what’s Lesnar’s role in all this, unless the major deal is somehow WWE-related?
Which is a distinct possibility, of course. MMAPayout had this to say:
[F]inancial giant Morgan Stanley has reportedly been working on a collaborative/financial deal between Zuffa and another party…
Sources have told MMAPayout.com that a significant licensing deal may be part of the planned announcement. Licensing and merchandising has long been identified as a major untapped revenue stream for the UFC. Adding even more intrigue is WWE’s rumored involvement in the deal. The WWE also has a press conference scheduled for Thursday.
Last night a poster on the Underground Forums added the following rumor “from a reliable source” to the mix: “a group of investors led by Dana White have agreed in principle to purchase the UFC from Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta for an undisclosed amount. Included in this investment group is WWE’s Vince McMahon who will now own a minority stake in the company. They also have plans on taking the company public by years end.”
It’s possible that today’s announcement will be about a licensing deal with a tangential relationship to the WWE, and White’s saving the real mind-blower — which he said would require the renting out of a separate venue for his employees — for Thursday. We’ll let you know what comes of it…
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Post by shogun on Jun 10, 2008 10:17:22 GMT -5
Here's some advice - NEVER EVER believe anything pisted on the underground. It's about as reliable as Sherdog.
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Post by brethitmanhart on Jun 10, 2008 10:19:16 GMT -5
Nah I can't see the WWE buying them out. The UFC isn't a threat to the WWE so Vince won't want to buy it. It's not like WCW was and isn't taking any business away from them.
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Post by murdaspace on Jun 10, 2008 10:20:03 GMT -5
ufc is most def talking ppv business away from wwe
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Post by brethitmanhart on Jun 10, 2008 10:22:49 GMT -5
ufc is most def talking ppv business away from wwe Yeah they could be in fact. I would much rather watch the UFC over the WWE nowadays. The UFC is based more for adults though, the WWE is turning their attention to the younger audience. |
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Post by tibbs1984 on Jun 10, 2008 10:22:52 GMT -5
If wwe bought UFC outright then mattel would have gotten the master toy license.
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Post by shogun on Jun 10, 2008 10:22:58 GMT -5
Dana White's a control freak, and so is Vince, so I don't think they'd even be able to sit in the same room together, never mind share a business... I wouldn't believe it. This is a rumour that's circulated on and off for years.
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Post by carly1988 on Jun 10, 2008 10:24:25 GMT -5
WWE takes a direct hit from the sport of MMA. Boxing is as well. People want to see pure fights now scripted fights or 2 guys dancing around for 15 mins with random punches thrown. I will find it funny though if WWE buys UFC and then Jakks is stuck with WWE/UFC again haha
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Post by brethitmanhart on Jun 10, 2008 10:24:40 GMT -5
If wwe bought UFC outright then mattel would have gotten the master toy license. UFC buying TNA? OMG  Just messing. Also White wouldn't have to be in the same room as Vince if the WWE bought it out. HE would get pushed into a bad role in the company and eventually sacked. Look at Eric Bischoff. |
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Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai
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Post by Johnny Lawrence - Cobra Kai on Jun 10, 2008 11:04:46 GMT -5
UFC does eat into WWE's PPV business, even though their audiences don't completely overlap. I wouldn't call them direct competitors, but you have to think if someone plops down $50 (give or take, depending on whether you order the HD feed) for a UFC PPV, they might think twice about buying a B-level WWE PPV that same month.
I know for me personally, I've had some eyebrow-raising DirecTV bills on months where I gave in and ordered multiple MMA and WWE shows.
As far as WWE buying the UFC: I could see them doing it as an investment. But the problem with that is, Vince McMahon wouldn't be able to resist making it more than a financial deal. He'd eventually try to influence the PPV schedule, the crossover with WWE, and the UFC product itself.
Vince is said to be completely uninterested in getting involved with MMA, so I'm not sure this is a valid rumor. Unless Shane McMahon (who is apparently a big MMA fan) finally talked daddy into it or something.
Keep in mind -- The rumors are flying fast and furious right now. There are dozens of MMA blogs and websites out there competing for scoops. When Dana White promises a huge announcement with a week's notice, you can bet the next seven days will be filled with "unconfirmed" and unsourced reports from guys trying to be the first to get the scoop. Take it all with a grain of salt until Dana White confirms.
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Post by shogun on Jun 10, 2008 11:17:17 GMT -5
Take it all with a grain of salt until Dana White confirms. Best advice. |
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Post by cmpunkgts on Jun 10, 2008 13:28:15 GMT -5
Dana White confirmed in the Interview with CNBC that he is NOT partnering with WWE in any way and put the rumor to rest.
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Post by Ian from 616Entertainment. on Jun 10, 2008 15:23:55 GMT -5
The UFC is brining in more money with their pay per views than the WWE is almost over the entire year. I know for a fact that UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz II outsold WreslteMania that year, which was a big shock to a lot of people. That fact of the matter is that MMA is bigger than wrestling, and now is the time that it's really beginning to show.
Doing anything with the WWE would be a large step backwards.
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Post by jjkotm on Jun 10, 2008 16:12:17 GMT -5
This is the popularity constrast some people don't realize:
-Many more people watch wrestling than UFC on TV
-However, a far greater percentage of viewers buy UFC PPV's than WWE ones.
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DWright
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Post by DWright on Jun 10, 2008 17:35:16 GMT -5
This is the popularity constrast some people don't realize: -Many more people watch wrestling than UFC on TV -However, a far greater percentage of viewers buy UFC PPV's than WWE ones. Of course they do. The UFC puts out a live show what, every 3 months? The WWE puts out a live show every Monday and a taped show every Friday. The UFC plays repeats on "Unleashed" and the Ultimate Fighter... |
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Post by Patrick Bateman (original) on Jun 10, 2008 19:01:31 GMT -5
From what I understand. He is actually in talks with Floyd Mayweather to purchase UFC. That is the person he is talking to. I don't know if it will happen but that is the person he is in negotiations with.
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PdW2kX
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Post by PdW2kX on Jun 10, 2008 19:50:02 GMT -5
Nobody is buying the UFC. Zuffa, in particular Dana, has come way too far and has way too much invested in their/his baby to even dream of selling out.
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Post by Mr. Old School™ on Jun 12, 2008 4:05:35 GMT -5
I don't believe for a second that Dana White and The Fertitta's would ever sell the UFC to anyone, let alone Vince McMahon. He'd ruin it, like everything else he's bought/created. WCW, ECW, WBF, XFL anyone??
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Post by zombiesx on Jun 12, 2008 7:33:00 GMT -5
Yeah I doubt it will happen.
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Post by ajstyles888 on Jun 12, 2008 8:43:16 GMT -5
I don't believe for a second that Dana White and The Fertitta's would ever sell the UFC to anyone, let alone Vince McMahon. He'd ruin it, like everything else he's bought/created. WCW, ECW, WBF, XFL anyone?? I agree with everything you just said. - Iron Heart |
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