Dave Meltzer Wrestling Observer
The press conferences for both the Pride sale and the EXC/K-1 tie-ups both take place over the next 24 hours. The latter probably won't have anything significant that isn't already known. Anyway, here is what is believed will be announced tomorrow. They will not say UFC bought Pride but that a new company has been formed, and that Nobuyuki Sakakibara will step down. The new president, expected to be a figurehead guy whose name has not come out, largely for the Japanese public, is expected to come from Tokai TV, which is the Nagoya/Shizuoka local Fuji Network affiliate. This would be the equivalent of maybe the CBS affiliate in Chicago or San Francisco, as opposed to the network itself having any involvement in the deal. Obviously the goal is to get back on the network itself and restore Pride to near what it once was. Sakakibara came from that station, which has done some local Pride preview shows in the past as well as aired Hustle TV shows. Sakakibara said it is good news and that's why the public is invited. It will be presented as if this merger/new corporation will make for a stronger company. Nikkan Sports in Japan reported yesterday that Pride has been sold to UFC due to the company being in major financial straits, that the 4/8 show will be the last show of Dream Stage but there will be future shows still using the Pride name. Sakakibara was quoted in the story saying he raised Pride like it was his daughter, and now it's time to find her a worthy groom. As noted, Dana White claimed the Fertitta brothers have not bought Pride. This much is for sure. Something will be announced tomorrow, and whatever it is, is more something for the Japanese public. It would not be a good story for Japanese fans to hear that one of their major companies was purchased by Americans. Whether what is announced tomorrow is all truth, some truth, or very limited truth is probably something that won't be fully known for a few months until we see how things operate.
--Not only will Showtime, EXC and K-1/Hero's be represented at tomorrow morning's press conference at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but there will be a few surprise promoters with the idea of announcing all the groups are getting together. Think 1980's Pro Wrestling USA but with fewer stars and no good television. Also expected to be represented as Strikeforce (no surprise, since they are in bed with EXC for PPV and promoter Scott Coker also is the K-1 promoter), Cage Rage from England (which runs head-to-head with UFC on 4/21) and Bodog (key here is if Fedor is announced or not) are all expected to publicly unite. As those who remember this being attempted in wrestling, I hope they can at least all agree on what to get for lunch after the press conference before it falls apart.
LATEST NEWS ON ALMOST ALL MAJOR MMA PROMOTIONS Dave Meltzer 3/26 4:45 CST
