UFC Purchases Japan’s Pride

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Ultimate Fighting Championship pinned down a major acquisition deal Tuesday, purchasing Japanese-based Pride Fighting Championships.

The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, combines the two biggest and most popular mixed-martial-arts franchises in Zuffa-owned UFC and Pride.

Both Pride and UFC will remain separate franchises and retain their respective champions, but fighters from both franchises will battle each other in an as-yet-unscheduled "Super Bowl" pay-per-view event, according to UFC president Dana White.

"The only chance you’ll see in Pride is that they’ll fight the UFC fighters in mega-fights," he added. "This is a history-making event, and we will put on events that will blow people’s minds."

With other MMA franchises like the International Fight League competing for viewer eyeballs, White said the deal solidifies the UFC’s No. 1 global status in the category.

"The future of mixed martial arts because of this combination will be bigger and brighter," he added. "What we’ve created is a global platform [for the sport]."

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.