UFC May Ban Fighters That Sign With EA (Pasta Padre)

[doom41]

As most of you have said, this will not effect the top fighters. Dana is a businessman, and if he ever gets the chance to sign Fedor or any other top name in MMA, he will do it. No matter what video game Fedor may be on. I do see Dana refusing to deal with some up and comers who sign with EA.
This could really have a big effect on the ultimate dirrection of MMA as a sport. If you don't think a video game has much to do with helping to build the fanbase for a particular sport. Ask the NFL or NCAA how important their licensing agreements with EA are to them. If EA were to make a game that surpasses Undisputed, then the popularity of every fighter in that game would skyrocket, and so would whatever promotion that they are fighting for.
If Dana can scare all the up and comers into not dealling with EA then he can further cement UFC as top dog of MMA, and make it really hard for EA to make a game to rival Undisputed.

[Titus001]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ips/index.html

"Causing a stir over the weekend were rumors -- now confirmed by SI.com -- of the UFC's attempt to make it difficult, if not impossible, for fighters to sign a licensing agreement that would put their likeness in the recently announced "EA Sports MMA" title, which is set for release next year.

Beginning the week before July 4, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, at the behest of Dana White, called managers with this message: If you've been in the UFC and think maybe you want to come back someday, or you haven't had the pleasure and plan on fighting in the Octagon, you better not sign that EA licensing agreement.

White is said to be adamant that aligning with EA is no different than declaring war on the UFC and its wildly successful THQ-produced UFC 2009 Undisputed, which sold more than a million copies in its first month. Fighters, from world-class to journeyman, were told the prudent choice was to decline money offers from EA -- deals with fighters on the level of Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Nick Diaz, Mo Lawal and Jake Shields, range from $5,000 to $15,000 for a one-game, two-year nonexclusive deal, according to multiple sources.

In Miller's case, potential consequences weren't enough to prevent him from aligning with EA, the middleweight told SI.com. However other fighters, such as Nathan Diaz -- who avoided signing UFC's exclusive licensing game agreement with THQ, which provides most fighters with zero compensation and was at the center of the controversy that saw Jon Fitch banished from the UFC for 24 hours -- decided against participating in the EA sports title, according to his management.



Former five-time UFC champion Randy Couture is believed to be the only fighter currently under contract to Zuffa who will appear in the EA version. "The Natural" managed to ink an exclusive deal during his 11-month courtroom fight with the UFC. Couture, who is expected to appear on the game's cover, told SI.com he attempted to bring both sides together after falling back in favor with the UFC, but a compromise placing UFC fighters in the EA game never materialized.

For the UFC to stick to its guns, the company would effectively tell Fedor Emelianenko, MMA's top-ranked heavyweight, Shields, a highly regarded welterweight, and other top-class competitors they aren't welcome. That seems like a steep and foolish price to pay, but the Zuffa-led UFC has a long history of winning trench-war like this.

The UFC is partial to signing fighters it sees as willing participants and partners. Why sign and market a mixed martial artist to the point that he's championship caliber in the UFC, while at the same time build that fighter's profile for a rival video game?

That hypothetical thinking, said one source, is what brought White to dispatch Silva."

[Gotmadskillzson]

Quote: Originally Posted by Titus001

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ips/index.html "Causing a stir over the weekend were rumors -- now confirmed by SI.com -- of the UFC's attempt to make it difficult, if not impossible, for fighters to sign a licensing agreement that would put their likeness in the recently announced "EA Sports MMA" title, which is set for release next year. Beginning the week before July 4, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, at the behest of Dana White, called managers with this message: If you've been in the UFC and think maybe you want to come back someday, or you haven't had the pleasure and plan on fighting in the Octagon, you better not sign that EA licensing agreement. White is said to be adamant that aligning with EA is no different than declaring war on the UFC and its wildly successful THQ-produced UFC 2009 Undisputed, which sold more than a million copies in its first month. Fighters, from world-class to journeyman, were told the prudent choice was to decline money offers from EA -- deals with fighters on the level of Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Nick Diaz, Mo Lawal and Jake Shields, range from $5,000 to $15,000 for a one-game, two-year nonexclusive deal, according to multiple sources. In Miller's case, potential consequences weren't enough to prevent him from aligning with EA, the middleweight told SI.com. However other fighters, such as Nathan Diaz -- who avoided signing UFC's exclusive licensing game agreement with THQ, which provides most fighters with zero compensation and was at the center of the controversy that saw Jon Fitch banished from the UFC for 24 hours -- decided against participating in the EA sports title, according to his management. Former five-time UFC champion Randy Couture is believed to be the only fighter currently under contract to Zuffa who will appear in the EA version. "The Natural" managed to ink an exclusive deal during his 11-month courtroom fight with the UFC. Couture, who is expected to appear on the game's cover, told SI.com he attempted to bring both sides together after falling back in favor with the UFC, but a compromise placing UFC fighters in the EA game never materialized. For the UFC to stick to its guns, the company would effectively tell Fedor Emelianenko, MMA's top-ranked heavyweight, Shields, a highly regarded welterweight, and other top-class competitors they aren't welcome. That seems like a steep and foolish price to pay, but the Zuffa-led UFC has a long history of winning trench-war like this. The UFC is partial to signing fighters it sees as willing participants and partners. Why sign and market a mixed martial artist to the point that he's championship caliber in the UFC, while at the same time build that fighter's profile for a rival video game? That hypothetical thinking, said one source, is what brought White to dispatch Silva."

So let me get this straight.....The Natural Randy Coutoure will make a game for EA, but wouldn't be in NONE of the 4 UFC games that came out in the past 7 years ?????

Good lord how much did EA pay him ? A million dollars ?

For shame Randy, for shame.

But anyway.....Mayhem fought in the UFC before and got his *** kicked by GSP. Nick, Jake and Robbie wasn't planning on coming back to the UFC anyway. And Fedor wasn't coming either.

So really.......UFC got nothing to lose.

[Wet Bandit]

Quote: Originally Posted by Shinyhubcaps

After the inevitable lawsuits and missed opportunities on up-and-comers, this will either fall apart or allow a rival "EliteXC" sort of promotion to take up market share. It won't be seen through to fruition, especially from an Internet rumor.

A promotion like Elite XC isn't going to take up market share by getting a couple up-and-comers.

Some people still drastically underestimate the power of the UFC brand. In the US, the UFC is MMA. The two are just synonymous at this point.

A rival promotion carving out any notable market share isn't going to happen without a significant sea change, and that's not gonna be a result of the UFC losing out on a few up-and-comers. The UFC has been willing to let former champions walk because they know how golden their brand is. Companies have been going bankrupt trying to compete with the UFC. For better or worse, the UFC knows the power of its brand, and that's why they're willing to play hardball on stuff like this.

[coachchris]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wet Bandit

A promotion like Elite XC isn't going to take up market share by getting a couple up-and-comers. Some people still drastically underestimate the power of the UFC brand. In the US, the UFC is MMA. The two are just synonymous at this point. A rival promotion carving out any notable market share isn't going to happen without a significant sea change, and that's not gonna be a result of the UFC losing out on a few up-and-comers. The UFC has been willing to let former champions walk because they know how golden their brand is. Companies have been going bankrupt trying to compete with the UFC. For better or worse, the UFC knows the power of its brand, and that's why they're willing to play hardball on stuff like this.

This.