UFC Buys Strikeforce

[Built Ford Tough]

The UFC has taken another giant step toward global domination in the mixed martial arts world by purchasing its main U.S. competitor.

 

Company President Dana White announced Saturday in an interview with mmafighting.com that Ultimate Fighting Championship’s parent company Zuffa had bought rival Strikeforce for an undisclosed amount.

 

“I’ve been saying for a year-and-a-half that we need more fighters,” White told Ariel Helwani.

 

“Let’s face the facts, Strikeforce has a brand that fans have come to like,” he said. “ They do have a following, people enjoy the fights that they’re putting on, and it made sense to us.”

 

White has often said the UFC’s long-term plan is to make MMA “the biggest sport in the world.”

 

But to attain that goal, the company needs to hold more fights, more often, which means the roster needs to grow.

 

White refused to say exactly how long the deal has been in the works, but he said it happened “quickly.”

 

The UFC released no official comment Saturday, but a spokesman said there would be an announcement Monday.

 

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/othersports/2011/03/12/17593171.html

 

I defintiely didn't see that coming.

 

UFC has pretty much got a monoploy in the North American MMA market now.

 

EDIT: Just read that they won't be merging the two companies. Strikeforce will still operate under that name, its fighters will still fight for them and Scott Coker is still the CEO. UFC may send some of their fighters over to give them more depth, but guys like Overeem, Fedor, Diaz etc... are all still going to be fighting under the Strikeforce name and not the UFC.

Edited March 12, 2011 by Built Ford Tough

[Macasero]

i think it's more like what they did in WEC. They let them run things a bit then eventually absorb them.

 

Big Foot Silva/Fedor VS Brock

Overeem VS Cain

 

you add in diaz, mousasi, hendo

 

man, UFC is getting deeper and deeper. And by all means necessary cut Josh Barnett.