Fighters Only

Issue 076

June 2011

UFC Parent Company Buys Strikeforce

In a history-making move for mixed martial arts Zuffa has bought top competitor Strikeforce. Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, made the unexpected acquisition in mid March for an undisclosed sum. The buyout means the Las Vegas company now has the vast majority of the world’s top-tier MMA talent under contract.

“We’ve spent countless hours getting this sport regulated and taking the Octagon all over the world,” explained UFC president Dana White on the purchase. “Acquiring the Strikeforce assets allows us to continue to develop this sport into a global force.”

White has stated it is “business as usual” between the two companys, with fighters free to switch to the other promotion should their contract end with one. There are mixed signals on whether certain fighters could cross over mid-contract, however, industry insiders speculate the two entities will merge when Strikeforce has fulfilled its current broadcasting contract with subscription cable channel Showtime.

Former Strikeforce co-owner Scott Coker, who will remain as CEO, said: “Fans can continue to expect quality Strikeforce shows and we look forward to giving our athletes an even broader platform on which to perform.”

Strikeforce’s co-owner Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment was reportedly seeking a buyer for its share of the fight promotion and fielded offers from former EliteXC parent ProElite before settling on the Fertitta-managed Zuffa.

Frank Shamrock Accused Of Offering Kimbo Fix

Rapper and former EliteXC matchmaker Jared Shaw has accused MMA veteran Frank Shamrock of offering to fix a fight against street fighter Kimbo Slice. UFC legend Ken Shamrock was due to square off with the brawler at EliteXC: Heat in October 2008 until a cut sustained before fight night meant he wasn’t allowed to throwdown.

During a mad scramble for a last-minute opponent Shaw alleges Frank Shamrock proposed he step in for his brother to take

a dive.

Shaw told Sherdog: “Frank Shamrock pulled me in the back of a room, turned the music up and offered to work the fight against

Kimbo Slice. I almost threw up in my own stomach because I had thought for the past six months prior to that moment he and Cung Le had fixed their own fight.” Jared, son of one-time EliteXC owner Gary Shaw, detailed: “I was like, ‘Uh, Frank, I don’t fix fights.’ And he was like, ‘I’ll make up for my brother and…’ I was like, ‘Yo, are you not hearing me? I don’t do that.’”

Frank Shamrock dismissed the claim saying: “The whole thing’s goofy. I can tell you what I probably honestly said is, ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll make him look like a million bucks.’ But I would have never [offered to work the bout]. That’s

just silly.”

Shamrock added that he intended to “kick the crap out of him with style” and clarified: “I have never been approached to throw a fight, carry a fight. I’ve never participated in the carrying of a fight or the throwing of a fight.”

Shaw stated he wasn’t trying to ruin Shamrock and that: “[Frank] tried to do what was best for the company because he had a piece of the company back then. He was a percentage owner. I’m not hating on him.”

$30m

Strikeforce was expected to make $30m in revenue for the fiscal year ending June 2011 before the Zuffa buyout

25:1

Ratio of staff numbers at a meeting between UFC and Strikeforce marketing departments. Before its sale Strikeforce had 13 full-time staff

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