The Official MMA Discussion Thread

[CoutureLegend]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Was indeed a nice event overall. Really enjoyed it.<p> </p><p> edit: looks like Nate The Great will be in Strikeforce again. Didn't on of the UK promotions had him at first? I remember Brad having a scoop on that a month or 2 ago.</p><p> </p><p> Jardine also on the card. With Healy, Stinson & Lawler I guess the card will be pretty decent at the very least. Not p4p-wise, but decent. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> It does need a women's fight. Just as they injected their part of the sport by promoting the sh*t out of Rousey vs Tate, it goes downhill again. Rousey will fight Kaufman in a couple of months, and then what? A whole bunch of nothing.</p><p> </p><p> If WMMA taught me anything, it's to keep your division flowing by creating some 'current' to keep things moving. No fights = no evolution. Luckily that new Invicta promotion seems to be doing the job for them.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yeah Marquardt was with BAMMA but he asked for his release as there was issues with them not being able to afford his contract or something along those lines. Was always a strange deal to me anyway, glad he's out of it!</p><p> </p><p> I'm surprised they have Gracie/Jardine on the main card & not Healy/Hirota.. Way more relevant fight but i guess Jardine still has that 'big name'. </p><p> </p><p> If/when Rousey gets past Kaufman, there's the 'superfight' with Cyborg who is due back in December & she has apparently been working hard during her suspension to come back at 135. However Strikeforce need to get out there & sign Sara McMann! Rousey vs. McMann would be a HUGE megafight! 2 Olympic medalists in there respective fields fighting for a world title in MMA would be unbelievable for the sport & if done right, could be a big draw.</p>

[Blackman]

<p>That is, if McMann can make it past Baszler in july, which will not be thàt easy. If she does get past that, they might just be able to sign her directly and have the fight set up after just one no.1-contenders match with someone like Coenen. But now we're already assuming way too much.</p><p> </p><p>

Just saw the past Invicta matches btw as I missed the event. There were some boring ones (Gutierrez comes to mind) and some good ones. Pene vs Ward was AWESOME btw. I don't believe I've seen that good a fight recently. And I've seen most of the UFC stuff. Some of them seemed awesome as you were familiar with the fighters, but damn... I'm pretty sure that'll be a MotY candidate, especially for women's MMA.</p><p> </p><p>

As for Jardine on the main card: I guess the Gracie name has a part in that too. Strikeforce is kinda like TNA: names over talent. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Makhai]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>That is, if McMann can make it past Baszler in july, which will not be thàt easy. If she does get past that, they might just be able to sign her directly and have the fight set up after just one no.1-contenders match with someone like Coenen. But now we're already assuming way too much.<p> </p><p> Just saw the past Invicta matches btw as I missed the event. There were some boring ones (Gutierrez comes to mind) and some good ones. Pene vs Ward was AWESOME btw. I don't believe I've seen that good a fight recently. And I've seen most of the UFC stuff. Some of them seemed awesome as you were familiar with the fighters, but damn... I'm pretty sure that'll be a MotY candidate, especially for women's MMA.</p><p> </p><p> <strong>As for Jardine on the main card: I guess the Gracie name has a part in that too. Strikeforce is kinda like TNA: names over talent.</strong> <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Huh? Strikeforce is about playing out this new contract so Showtime doesn't sue "FORZA" for breach of contract... that's the only thing Strikeforce is about these days. If they have "names" or "talent" it's in the UFC or will be shortly. They're just throwing Showtime the worst possible fights that can still hit 400k viewers on Showtime to keep SHO subscribers (see:me) paying 13.99 a month. </p><p> </p><p> Strikeforce isn't a real company, it's just a zombified corpse the UFC is using to keep guys from Bellator/One FC.</p><p> </p><p> As to Invicta... Coenen is being groomed for the 145lb title and Sara McMann and Liz Carmouche for the 135lb title, 115lbs and 105lbs aren't deep enough divisions for them to have belts yet, but this is assuming they get the TV deal that they're looking for long-term. </p><p> </p><p> Personally, I think ZUFFA is getting ready to drop Strikeforce in 2013 and has funded Invicta. They have a good relationship with Shannon Knapp and it would make a ton of sense to do it because the hardcore fans would absolutely crush the UFC for setting WMMA back a good 3 years. Terrible PR. I'm hopeful in 2013 Strikeforce will be folded and Invicta FC will takeover the Showtime slot they once occupied, pleasing everyone. But I'm probably reading way too much into way too little.</p><p> </p><p> As to the quality of Invicta 1? It was a really good Battle at the Barn show... Which is to say the ladies are about 10years behind the men in-terms of development. They're also about 10-yrs behind in pay, so that makes a lot of sense really. I mean D'alelio-Mariscal was sadness, so was Randi Miller's debut Davis-Calanoc was laughable and Coenen-Ruyssen was a snoozer... but Ashley Cummins looked great, the co-main was fantastic, and Young-Smith(while technically atrocious) was an absolute blast. Mixed bag.</p>

[brashleyholland]

Nate had a deal with BAMMA whereby they paid him a hefty signing bonus. He was on somewere in the region of $20,000 to fight, $20,000 to win. BAMMA couldn't afford it.

 

They wanted him on the December card, and advertised him for it. At the 11th hour they announced he had been pulled as they couldn't find an opponent. At the same time they announced him for a card in Feb against Yoshiyuki Yoshida.

 

The Feb card never happened, BAMMA lost their TV deal with SyFy and there were lots of internal issues. At that point Nate's management (Lex McMahon) made the call to terminate their partnership. I'm told, but have not been able to verify, that as part of this Nate had to pay back a significant amount of his signing bonus.

 

Nate was basically kept on the shelf for 3/4 of a year by BAMMA's inability to get him fights. Felt sorry for him, he's a good guy.

[ampulator]

Why the heck did he need to give back the signing bonus? It's not HIS fault that they couldn't get him any fights. Isn't that what a signing bonus for? To show you are going to use him in good faith?

[Blackman]

Yes but his party breached the contract. There's probably a clausule in there for that. Sucks for him.

 

@ Makhai: You draw a reasonably realistic future scenario. Here's hoping it would come to pass. Some of the laughable fights I skipped through as you could already see from some youtube comments that they weren't worth watching. I'm still hoping they fully engulf Strikeforce as it is indeed just a shell of its former self, and have (bi-)weekly shows under the UFC name.

[CoutureLegend]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Makhai" data-cite="Makhai" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Huh? Strikeforce is about playing out this new contract so Showtime doesn't sue "FORZA" for breach of contract... that's the only thing Strikeforce is about these days. If they have "names" or "talent" it's in the UFC or will be shortly. They're just throwing Showtime the worst possible fights that can still hit 400k viewers on Showtime to keep SHO subscribers (see:me) paying 13.99 a month. <p> </p><p> Strikeforce isn't a real company, it's just a zombified corpse the UFC is using to keep guys from Bellator/One FC.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm not sure whether this is true or not, but i've heard that Zuffa is making money off of the Strikeforce/Showtime deal. It's apparently a good deal for them which is why Dana White has been saying recently that Strikeforce isn't going anywhere. However even if thats not true, the Showtime deal runs until the end of 2013 so Strikeforce is here to stay for awhile yet.</p><p> </p><p> Having said that, i've actually enjoyed the events they have been puttin on recently, although it does suck to see such a highly ranked fighter like Gil Melendez being forced to stay in a promotion with limited opposition.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Makhai" data-cite="Makhai" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I'm hopeful in 2013 Strikeforce will be folded and Invicta FC will takeover the Showtime slot</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> When the whole Strikeforce/Showtime deal was up for negotiation last year, i heard that Zuffa wanted to keep Strikeforce around in order to keep ProElite off of Showtime, so yeah i think if they do end up ending the deal then i expect ProElite to get the Showtime contract.</p><p> </p><p> Haven't saw anything about there second event, but surely HDNet will show Invicta FC 2?</p>

[brashleyholland]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="ampulator" data-cite="ampulator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Why the heck did he need to give back the signing bonus? It's not HIS fault that they couldn't get him any fights. Isn't that what a signing bonus for? To show you are going to use him in good faith?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yes but his party breached the contract. There's probably a clausule in there for that. Sucks for him.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Nobody breached a contract - it was a mutual termination. "We'll void your contract so you can take fights in Strikeforce/UFC where you would have to be exclusive, in return, you give back some/all of the signing bonus we gave you. Fair deal. </p><p> </p><p> What happens with most signing bonuses is that they're not all paid out at once. You get a sum up front, or nothing up front, and the sighing bonus is paid out over a number of fights. Can't remember what it was off the top of my head, but Overeem got a HUGE bonus for signing with the UFC, to be paid out in instalments over his next three bouts. If you don't complete the required number of fights for whatever reason (they cut you, you quit/retire) you don't get the remaining instalments. If you don't fight at all, you get nothing. </p><p> </p><p> In the Nate's, I'm told he had to give 'a significant amount' of the signing bonus back - I'm sure he kept a fair wedge for his troubles though, otherwise he'd have gained nothing for all his time on the shelf.</p>

[ampulator]

What's up with BAMMA anyway? Just a year ago, it was talked about like a local threat to the UFC. Now it's having financial trouble. What's up?

[Makhai]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Couture=Legend" data-cite="Couture=Legend" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><strong>I'm not sure whether this is true or not, but i've heard that Zuffa is making money off of the Strikeforce/Showtime deal.</strong> It's apparently a good deal for them which is why Dana White has been saying recently that Strikeforce isn't going anywhere. However even if thats not true, the Showtime deal runs until the end of 2013 so Strikeforce is here to stay for awhile yet.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It is, but the events themselves are losing them about 500k a piece. And that's just going by reported salaries info that we know are bullshit. (see: Gegard's epic 2k) At the end of the year, Strikeforce is probably in the red.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Having said that, i've actually enjoyed the events they have been puttin on recently, although it does suck to see such a highly ranked fighter like Gil Melendez being forced to stay in a promotion with limited opposition.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> His screw-up. If he didn't sign that deal with Strikeforce, he's in the UFC today. He wanted to stay, and he's the biggest male star in the promotion right now. Boo-hoo.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>When the whole Strikeforce/Showtime deal was up for negotiation last year, i heard that Zuffa wanted to keep Strikeforce around in order to keep ProElite off of Showtime, so yeah i think if they do end up ending the deal then i expect ProElite to get the Showtime contract.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's an 8 card deal that starts with this upcoming card. They're on pace to get 4-5 done this year and 3 more before next Mayish isn't out of the realm of possibility. </p><p> </p><p> Also from what I've heard re-uping had more to do with driving a stake through M-1's heart than it was about Pro Elite.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Haven't saw anything about there second event, but surely HDNet will show Invicta FC 2?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Invicta FC 2 is slated for July 28th and the full card was released this week and it looks quite good. </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';">MAIN CARD</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Shayna Baszler vs. Sara McMann</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Hitomi Akano vs. Alexis Davis</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Liz Carmouche vs. Kaitlin Young</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Milana Dudienva vs. Amanda Nunes</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Kelly Kobold vs. Vanessa Porto</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Barb Honchak vs. Bethany Marshall</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Julia Budd vs. Elina Nilsson</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Carla Esparza vs. Sarah Schneider</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> PRELIMINARY CARD</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Angelica Chavez vs. Kikuyo Ishikawa</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Sarah Moras vs. Raquel Pennington</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Jessamyn Duke vs. Suzie Montero</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Cheryl Chan vs. Jocelyn Lybarger</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:8px;"><span style="font-family:'Palatino Linotype';"> Liz McCarthy vs. Jessica Philippus</span></span></p><p> </p><p> I wouldn't count on HDNet for Invicta, mostly because Shannon seems smart enough not to take a T.V. deal that makes them nothing. HDNet deals are basically freebies, you get exposure, they pay for any production, that's that. It's just a T.V. deal to say you have a T.V. deal, honestly. The free stream makes more sense just because it can at least be monetized via the store/ads at some point.</p>

[brashleyholland]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Makhai" data-cite="Makhai" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It is, but the events themselves are losing them about 500k a piece. And that's just going by reported salaries info that we know are bullshit. (see: Gegard's epic 2k) At the end of the year, Strikeforce is probably in the red.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> That's just the differential between ticket sales and salaries. The per event fee they get from Showtime (between $900,000 and $1,300,000) covers everything and ensures that the shows aren't loss-makers. </p><p> </p><p> That's partly why ticket sales have been so poor of late - there is little need to waste money on advertising/promoting live event ticket sales any more.</p>

[Blackman]

<p>Wow, I actually know at least one fighter of each matchup from the main card. I consider myself a savvy MMA fan now. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> (j/k). But yes, it looks good. I'll be trying not to forget this time, but it's still a long time to go.</p><p> </p><p>

As long as Nate wasn't screwed, it's all good. But i suspect fighters are not stupid anymore. But the whole 100page contract thing is a bridge too far.</p>

[Makhai]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="brashleyholland" data-cite="brashleyholland" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>That's just the differential between ticket sales and salaries. The per event fee they get from Showtime (between $900,000 and $1,300,000) covers everything and ensures that the shows aren't loss-makers. <p> </p><p> That's partly why ticket sales have been so poor of late - there is little need to waste money on advertising/promoting live event ticket sales any more.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I haven't heard they were making that much off the T.V. deal. I assumed the deal was similar small money as the old CBS-Showtime deal they inherited from Elite XC. Which would't save them from losing ~5-6M a year on event costs like this.</p><p> </p><p> Even if that is true, the UFC gross something like 6-8M for a 250k buy PPV and another 2M on gate. Jones-Evans and JDS-Mir combined probably cleared them 55M. So Strikeforce is 1000x more valuable to them as parts.</p>

[brashleyholland]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Makhai" data-cite="Makhai" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I haven't heard they were making that much off the T.V. deal. I assumed the deal was similar small money as the old CBS-Showtime deal they inherited from Elite XC. Which would't save them from losing ~5-6M a year on event costs like this.<p> </p><p> Even if that is true, the UFC gross something like 6-8M for a 250k buy PPV and another 2M on gate. Jones-Evans and JDS-Mir combined probably cleared them 55M. So Strikeforce is 1000x more valuable to them as parts.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's swings and roundabouts I guess - There isn't as much scope for selling advertising on Strikeforce events as the brand is nowhere near as strong as the UFC brand. They make an absolute mint from sponsorships/ad sales on UFC events. There's also the international distribution - Strikeforce has little, UFC is on all over the world. Even little things like merch sales can get into the six figures at UFC live events. </p><p> </p><p> Either way it's still really cheap TV for Showtime. Even if they were paying them $5m per three hour show - compare that to what it costs to make a 22 minute long episode of something like Friends and it's bargain basement. If it wasn't beneficial for both parties, it wouldn't be happening, contracts or no contracts.</p>

[damonster]

<p>Just saw this but don't know if true, dream is closing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Edit: UFC WITH EA SPORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Edit 2: Bibiano Fernandes signs with UFC debuts July 21</p>

[Blackman]

<p>Awtch...</p><p> </p><p>

UFC Undisputed >>> EA MMA.</p><p> </p><p>

Don't screw up this sport too, please.</p><p> </p><p>

And to think E3 couldn't get any worse... I'm a 360 owner, but I'm praying for gaming that Sony saves the conference.</p>

[brashleyholland]

Just saw this but don't know if true, dream is closing.

 

The official word is that they are not shutting down. A lot of their staff left in recent weeks, and the company line is that they will be back with a new structure either in time for NYE or early 2013.

 

If they're not dead, then this is the longest death rattle ever.

 

 

 

 

Edit: UFC WITH EA SPORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This has been on the cards for a while - the UFC games sold less and less despite getting progressively better reviews (first one sold 4 million, second one sold over 2 million, third one sold around 1 million). THQ have have been looking to get rid of a lot of their licences in order to survive, so it was only a matter of time before the UFC one was gotten rid off.

 

A while ago (late last year/early this year, can't exactly remember) I was told by someone 'in the know' that EA was working on a kickboxing variant of it's Fight Night/MMA games. They were already looking at licencing the world's top kickboxers and the game was definitely more than just an idea.

 

Same guy told me today that the UFC/EA deal has effectively put paid to any kickboxing game. The thinking was that if EA MMA had done well enough, the kickboxing engine could have been worked into EA MMA 2, much like the old K-1 game that had K-1/MMA modes. With EA MMA selling so abysmally, there was talk of a stand-alone kickboxing game.

[brashleyholland]

What's up with BAMMA anyway? Just a year ago, it was talked about like a local threat to the UFC. Now it's having financial trouble. What's up?

 

They've ALWAYS been having financial trouble. And they were never really talked about as a local threat to the UFC...at least not in the conventional sense.

 

Firstly, BAMMA can't sell tickets. They book massive arenas, curtain most of them off (which doesn't make them any cheaper to hire), give away stacks and stacks of tickets and *still* end up with huge blocks of empty seats. Secondly, their TV deal's have got progressively worse, both in terms of what they pay and the exposure they get. Their last show was aired on a week's delay on some obscure extreme sport channel that shows skating shows, bull riding (which is about as popular in the UK as croquet is in the US) etc.

 

The issue with BAMMA being competition for the UFC was all their own fault. They positioned themselves as such. Before the Chris Lytle fight, for example, they spoke to Dan Hardy's manager (off the record, of course) about signing him if he lost...while he was still under contract with the UFC. Dan's manager told the UFC - which is why Dan was not cut after his fourth straight loss. BAMMA wanted Hardy for an event in Nottingham and the UFC took offence to the move, which was naughty.

 

There was also the issue that the UK economy has been pretty poor of late. With the UFC putting on smaller cards only once a year and BAMMA bringing over international names, the UFC didn't want to risk UK punters dropping their MMA money on a cheaper alternative (BAMMA) a few weeks before/after a UFC show.

[ampulator]

Hold are on... are you saying... BAMMA inadvertently saved Dan Hardy's job?

[Makhai]

It's swings and roundabouts I guess - There isn't as much scope for selling advertising on Strikeforce events as the brand is nowhere near as strong as the UFC brand. They make an absolute mint from sponsorships/ad sales on UFC events. There's also the international distribution - Strikeforce has little, UFC is on all over the world. Even little things like merch sales can get into the six figures at UFC live events.

 

Either way it's still really cheap TV for Showtime. Even if they were paying them $5m per three hour show - compare that to what it costs to make a 22 minute long episode of something like Friends and it's bargain basement. If it wasn't beneficial for both parties, it wouldn't be happening, contracts or no contracts.

 

Yep, and they're starting their own UFC clothing and apparel brand. They have the UFC gyms, the deal with 5th round for action figures, as well as the likeness rights that fighters don't see a dime on. Strikeforce has none of that... Make almost zero sense to keep them around beyond the non-reported FTC investigation.

[Makhai]

The official word is that they are not shutting down. A lot of their staff left in recent weeks, and the company line is that they will be back with a new structure either in time for NYE or early 2013.

 

If they're not dead, then this is the longest death rattle ever.

 

This... I honestly have no-idea why it took this long. After the K-1 money came in I would have shut that money sink down and cut my losses ASAP. But the Japanese are a proud, loyal people... maybe they hoped they could hang on long enough to force One FC to make a bid for them...

 

 

 

 

This has been on the cards for a while - the UFC games sold less and less despite getting progressively better reviews (first one sold 4 million, second one sold over 2 million, third one sold around 1 million). THQ have have been looking to get rid of a lot of their licences in order to survive, so it was only a matter of time before the UFC one was gotten rid off.

 

A while ago (late last year/early this year, can't exactly remember) I was told by someone 'in the know' that EA was working on a kickboxing variant of it's Fight Night/MMA games. They were already looking at licencing the world's top kickboxers and the game was definitely more than just an idea.

 

Same guy told me today that the UFC/EA deal has effectively put paid to any kickboxing game. The thinking was that if EA MMA had done well enough, the kickboxing engine could have been worked into EA MMA 2, much like the old K-1 game that had K-1/MMA modes. With EA MMA selling so abysmally, there was talk of a stand-alone kickboxing game.

 

Yep, THQ has been circling the drain since the UDraw fiasco... For those not in the know, remember how Atari sank itself going all in on E.T. back in the day? Well that's basically what they did here on a marginally successful tablet peripheral for the Wii. They decided to expand to the consoles, for no reason, sank a boatload into making that happen and they're all in a landfill now. Not even the surprise success that Saint's Row: The Third was can save them, and they don't have anything beyond UFC, WWE licenses and Saint's Row really. Darksiders is theirs, but nobody knows if that is going to sell.(it didn't last time) Company of Heroes is theirs, but that market is over saturated as it is.

 

This is also why the WWE is pushing WWE 13 so hard, because they've got to move that license to somebody and EA wants nothing to do with them from what I hear.

 

Either way, I'm with Rockstar, THQ doesn't make it to 2013.

[Blackman]

Quite frankly, I don't care about THQ. I've loved some of their games in the past, so I gotta be honest: it does affect me a little.

 

Games like WWE Wrestlemania XIX was simply awesome, even though the critics didn't love it. Beating up constructions workers with Goldberg and chokeslamming them off a 100ft building equals awesomeness. The WWE DoR ones were nice, and heck, even RAW 2. But they've made some poor decisions with their WWE license recently. I liked their recent UFC games and personally don't think EA will do a better job, but we'll see. Apart from those I didn't like any of their hundreds of titles (Metro, STALKER, Saints Row, ...).

 

Better just develop South Park quickly and then they can go out of business.

 

On-topic: Seems McMann needs to fight someone else first before the invicta card. Seems like she'll probably waltz through her, but you never know (flash KO?). Not that it matters. Coenen also lost to a relative nobody (Belgian btw) before her big title match and nobody cared. Happy to see yet another UFC event today, even though I don't really care about the matchups.

[brashleyholland]

On-topic: Seems McMann needs to fight someone else first before the invicta card. Seems like she'll probably waltz through her, but you never know (flash KO?). Not that it matters. Coenen also lost to a relative nobody (Belgian btw) before her big title match and nobody cared. Happy to see yet another UFC event today, even though I don't really care about the matchups.

 

Cindy is no mug, one of the better prospects in WMMA. The one loss she had was an appalling stoppage. Still can't quite figure out how she beat Coenen in her pro debut mind, although she has a lot of fight experience outside of MMA.

[Makhai]

Cindy is no mug, one of the better prospects in WMMA. The one loss she had was an appalling stoppage. Still can't quite figure out how she beat Coenen in her pro debut mind, although she has a lot of fight experience outside of MMA.

 

WMMA is filled with terrible stoppages. You're right though, The Battlecat isn't a can. People wanted her to face Cyborg in Strikeforce instead of Jan Finney. To be fair though, I thought that decision she won over Coenen was a bad one, and she got her ass kicked by now 125lb wrecking machine Shiela Gaff in M-1 before she was saved by a DQ. Then there's the fact she fought 2mo pregnant before she was supposed to face Gina Carano which prompted me to get into a debate over the cost of pregnancy tests with Aisling Daly over twitter... Good times.

[brashleyholland]

WMMA is filled with terrible stoppages. You're right though, The Battlecat isn't a can. People wanted her to face Cyborg in Strikeforce instead of Jan Finney. To be fair though, I thought that decision she won over Coenen was a bad one, and she got her ass kicked by now 125lb wrecking machine Shiela Gaff in M-1 before she was saved by a DQ. Then there's the fact she fought 2mo pregnant before she was supposed to face Gina Carano which prompted me to get into a debate over the cost of pregnancy tests with Aisling Daly over twitter... Good times.

 

You're a braver man than me arguing with Ash the Bash! :-D