UFC threatens to ban fighters in EA MMA game?

[platoven]

Originally Posted by lifecoach

I understand business, so I have no problem whatsoever with Dana's position in the matter.

It's not exactly a legal business tactic so it's not "just business." It's an anti-competitive move.

[SP33DK1LLS]

I'm looking forward to the EA Sports game. Dana needs to realize that he isn't hurting anyone but the fans by doing this.

[TitaniumChin]

Another reason I never support the UFC or that little out of shape, pudgy faced wannabe superstar DW.

What a total douche. All the Fanboys love him and stick up for him regardless of how he treats the guys that make him rich, rich, rich. Fitch busted his ass and waited 8 fights to get a title shot and actually earned his placing unlike ****nar and Griffin.

Is this how you treat your guys...make them sign all their rights away just to make you millions forever. Talk about getting screwed.

Pathetic.

[baddy]

I hope the EA game is good, the THQ one pisses me off so much.

[themmaGoon**]

Banned from the UFC is not much of a threat for many of these guys.
Many of them have no interest in joining the UFC(You Fight Cheap

There is the option of fighting in Japan.
There is still the option to fight for Afflicton (I don't know how much longer though).
There is a promising little promotion called Strikeforce that is here to stay.
And there will continue to be more promotions.

EliteXC, IFL, and BodogFight are gone but others will replace them.
They also provided some good examples of things to do and things not to do.

Yes if Zuffa made that threat it is extortion but good luck proving that in court.

[TitaniumChin]

Originally Posted by PRIDE_Forever

Completely blown out of proportion. UFC at the end of the day will sign fighters if its good for business. Just look at their track record, they've taken back Ortiz, Couture, and Penn.

ya because they can't fight anywhere else with out a law suit. Why do you think Tito has been waiting so long to fight.
Couture gave in as it would easier to stop all the lawsuits and just end it.
Penn doesn't do it for the money. He has millions upon millions already.

How is this blown out of proportion.........?

unless the UFC owns every right you have as an individual then they will not sign you.

simple as that.

[SAIPULTURA]

dana gonna make ur slave just like before.

[Equites]

Originally Posted by Jacob14

Interesting article I read on GameSpot.

UFC threatens to ban EA MMA fighters? - GameSpot Rumor Control

What we heard: It isn't just the fighters in the octagon that employ merciless tactics to defeat their opponents, it would seem. Last November, a number of news outlets reported that welterweight contender Jon Fitch and his fellow American Kickboxing Academy members were cut from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Reportedly at cause for the move was a licensing disagreement between Fitch and the UFC on THQ's UFC Unleashed 2009, in which the fighter refused to sign away his name and likeness rights in a lifetime contract for the game.

While that issue ultimately came to a peaceful resolution, the UFC again appears to be strong-arming the mixed martial arts talent pool over the fighting organization's deal with THQ. As spotted by enthusiast blog MMA Scraps, a Mixed Martial Arts Underground forum poster with the username Golden Boy said yesterday that the UFC was prepared to ban all unsigned fighters who agree to be a part of Electronic Arts' upcoming MMA title.

"I hear that all [MMA] managers were informed that if any of their clients not currently under contract with the UFC sign to be a part of the EA game, the[y] will forever be banned for fighting in the UFC," Golden Boy wrote. Later in the thread, a poster using the handle KenP--who MMA Scraps identifies as notable MMA agent Ken Pavia--substantiated this claim, writing, "It's true. And they told me [they] want the word out."

EA announced its entrance into the MMA genre during its press conference at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. Though EA has yet to officially announce any fighters for the game, former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia told MMA News that he and fellow ex-champ Randy Couture had both been signed to appear in the game. EA Sports MMA is in development at Madden studio EA Tiburon, and the first installment is due in 2010.

The official story: Neither the UFC nor Ken Pavia's agency had responded to GameSpot's request for comment as of press time. EA declined to comment on the matter.

Bogus or not bogus?: Given the UFC's strong-arm business tactics in the past, this report seems entirely plausible. However, without firm confirmation from one of the parties involved one way or the other, it's impossible to say for certain.

Dana and Zuffa are the villains here, but all the fighters who just follow Dana's decrees just cause he's the one that writes their cheques, are equally culpable.

If the fighters got together and stood up to Dana, he would have no power. The problem is most of the fighters look at the small picture.

If they could strip away Dana's power by banding together and standing up to him, they could demand a bigger piece of the pie in the long run.

It's just a matter of when the fighters' greed comes to outweigh their fear of Dana.

[yugffuts]

ASSUMING this is true...

Dana/Zuffa get to hire people as they see fit. So where's the illegality? He can already not hire Barnett (for example) for any reason he wants (contract issues, prior steroid issues, headcase, whatever). So why not add 'supported competitive video game maker' to the list? It's not like there are guidelines in place for the UFC to hire people....? Can someone explain the illegality that's been suggested?

Is the illegality in not hiring people for the UFC, or trying to undercut EA's MMA game? And please, if you're going to comment on the legality, let us know if you're a lawyer or just some regular guy with his interpretation of the law...

[Notsoslimthug]

Originally Posted by YourfatherII

Im not entirely sure of that...i THINK the estimated value of the UFC must be in the hundred millions...not to be nit-picky but EA couldn't just spew out that kind of money and not blink...plus (hypothetically) if they did buy the ufc they would only lose all that money because they have no idea how to run that business.

Its the use of these strong arm tactics that got the UFC ahead of the curve. Btw I think its ridiculous to ban people from the UFC if they appear in the game, its unnecessary to go out a hurt people not in affiliated with your company. There is something called business ethics...dana white has none

They spent a bil to liscense the NFL. Don't think a few hundred mil would hurt too much.