"IIRC Barnett said that the reason he doesn't have a deal with the UFC yet is due to contract problems with DSE."
He said that he had problems with $$$ and other things in his contract with DSE, so when he had an opportunity to transfer his contract to Zuffa he didn't because he wanted the problems taken care of.
So right now he is a free agent and is taking offers from several promotions.
I will be very suprised if PRIDE ever holds an event again.
Not saying that fertittas wouldn't like to bring back PRIDE. Just considering all the problems Pride had in his management, as businessmen they probly will abandon the project.
They will set it up as a Japanese proving ground for the UFC in my opinion. Then UFC fighters will also participate in cards over there. They want to have a TV deal back in place before they run any shows though.
Zuffa and the UFC made a big mistake dropping Pride. Money is a big loss but they are losing control of the MMA base.
Pride did offer good fights, a large venue and they did it without a big PPV base. Sure they lost money, but who doesn't. They UFC was stupid enough to buy them and then let them fade. Dumbest thing they have done in a long time.
If I bought Pride:
1. Continue with Pride rules! Why? Because they did not protect the fighters. In the UFC, the ref and the rules can protect you in bad positions. But in Pride, you had to defend yourself 100% of the time. No more turtling in Pride since you could kick a downed fighter. Also, it made for more interesting fights. On PPV, the rules can remain the same. No one to regualte it. You allow the Japanese to run it.
Have the champions unified through the UFC and have Pride weed out the weak. Make the UFC the big show and Pride the proving ground. The only thing that has beaten the Pride fighters is the UFC rules. Dont get it twisted. Wanderlei will be almost unbeatable in Pride. But without his weapons and so many things he can't do, he's a kickboxer in the UFC.
We need a change. Allow Pride to be that change. Allow the PAYING Japanese fans to pay to see good fights. They always have. How hard is that?
The UFC is making a major mistake. There will be another Pride-like organization popping up. Taking all the good fighters because they can pay more. The UFC hasn't learned that lesson yet?
Considering that Pride was losing money without the TV deal in Japan I think it's safe to say only an idiot would run Pride without first securing a TV deal. It's not rocket science people, think about it.
" Dont get it twisted. Wanderlei will be almost unbeatable in Pride. But
without his weapons and so many things he can't do, he's a kickboxer in
the UFC."
My guess? Pride is dead, but it will return in the form of another Ultimate Japan. They may throw one more Pride together as a way to pimp Ultimate Japan.
As much as I love and miss Pride, it makes more sense for Zuffa to spend the money building 1 brand than 2.
the main problem why pride had problems was no tv deal.
i think what dana said about not doing pride until they get a us or jap tv deal is the truth. if they ran cards now without a tv deal they'll still run into the same financial problems. but because pride is under new management and no more yakuza ties that should make finding a tv deal easier. moreover, pride is a well known brand in combat sports and mma in japan and folding it and trying to set up ufc instead continuing pride is a stupid decision.