Huge Rumor: Fertitta Brothers Buy PRIDE for 65 Million? *Updated*

Twist of Lemon

MMA Moderator

Sorry Dan, I had to merge this, Just trying to keep all the news on this to one thread or else there would be more then needed lol

However PRIDE Has called a US Press Confrence on March 27th,..annoucing of the sale maybe?

tapout189

wow...this could be sweet. They need to have 8 UFC and 8 Pride for some of these tournaments. could you imagine...a cross brand open weight GP? that could be one of the biggest events in MMA history

My lil brother and another guy on the Dorm grappling
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vak33XwdljI

Twist of Lemon

MMA Moderator

Fedor News: "The Octagon© has many sides" Ôåäîð Åìåëüÿíåíêî. Îôèöèàëüíûé ñàéò

New news item posted on Fedor's website, it hasn't been translated into his english site yet so I'll provide a rough translation:

"Fedor resumed his training after vacationing with his family in Belgrav, and he has learned of the news of UFC buying Pride. "The Octagon has many sides. I am healthy and preparing with my club."

O_O

King TE

O.O.

Fedor pWning it up in the Octagon :jawdrops:

Nicky Talent

Fedor............vs..............Couture????? Maybe????

My god

It sucks that this is gonna happen, but it just sounds so diesel

Twist of Lemon

MMA Moderator

UFC president Dana White told Sherdog.com Saturday night in Las Vegas that there is not a concrete deal in place for Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta to purchase PRIDE at this time.

When questioned about reports claiming PRIDE president Nobuyuki Sakakibara had informed his American staff that PRIDE was in the process of selling to the Fertittas, White quipped: "I ran Wanderlei Silva out there and said he was going to fight Chuck Liddell because Mr. Sakakibara said it was done. So take that for what its worth."

White was adamant about the lack of a deal despite the flurry of reports claiming an agreement had been reached.

"Like most things," he said, "about 70 percent of what you hear is bullshit."

Dmac

And like most things, 70% of what you hear will be true but denied.

Twist of Lemon

MMA Moderator

Thanks to gryphon for this, I believe the mystery is solved this is the first report I have seen that makes sense. Dana insisting zuffa has not purchased pride, yet he is suppose to be at the press conference, and also fits the rumors of all the other stories going on about ufc involvement with pride.

And for the haters who will ask what this says, you get the idea of it, gryphon does his best translating this to english, he does this for us not because he has to.

"[MMA][PRIDE][UFC]PRIDE'S?New president come from TV station?

"miruhon net"site(this site sells digital magazine online) report about PRIDE

They say

"new PRIDE is controled not by Zuffa but by new company"

"new company include zuffa capital,but it is not over 50%. Japan TV station "TOUKAI TV" etc take part in it too. So Zuffa does not have total power."

"New president come from TOKAI TV too. Their mission is comeback of sponsor FUJI TV network. So he become 1st president"

(TOKAI TV is part of FUJI TV network)
JPN MMA News-from SAMURAI NATION - PRIDE'S¡¡New president come from TV station?


hrmmmmmmm

Dmac

Fertitta Brothers Officially Purchase PRIDE

The Japanese newspapers reported today in Tokyo, Japan that the UFC has bought Pride. Rumors of the sale have been circulating for a while, but the deal now appears to be done. One of the newspapers in Japan, SportsHochi, reported that Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, who own UFC parent company Zuffa, will start a new company, thus disbanding Dream Stage Entertainment, the parent company of Pride. DSE/Pride President Nobuyuki Sakikabara, who brought Pride to the United States and was successful in making the Pride brand one of the most compelling MMA promotions in the world, is reportedly resigning from his position.

The new company that will operate Pride apparently won't be run directly by UFC or Zuffa, but will be its own entity owned by the Fertittas, so that Pride and the UFC will operate separately. It is also being reported that the two promotions will hold a joint super show once per year. SportsHochi reports that Pride 34 on April 8th will be the last Pride show run by DSE.

Credit - MMANews

Twist of Lemon

MMA Moderator

So will Pride be a Japanese or a United States promotion? Apparently, Pride looks to continue to do shows in both Japan and the United States. Intentions are to still have the Light Weight Grand Prix starting in May. The GP being made up of 3 shows, all taking place in Japan. And, the New Years Eve show is still in the plans to take place in Japan. There are also plans to do 2-3 more shows in the United States this year.

There will be a press conference held in Tokyo, Japan at the Roppongi Hills Arena on Tuesday 3/27 which will be open to the press and fans alike.

Just apart of the post that Dan left out lol, hopefully this press conference shuts everyone up cause honestly...this shit is getting annoying as hell, I dont even want to post about it anymore