Friday Night Throwdown 3.28.08: The Final Throwdown

Posted by Chris Cosme on 03.28.2008

In the final Throwdown here on 411Mania, Chris Cosme analyzes what was the bigger acquisition for Zuffa: PRIDE or WEC? With a show like WEC 33 on Wednesday night, is the choice more obvious? Plus, thoughts on the potential Silva-Jones fight and if Brian Stann is the real deal. All this and more in the final Throwdown!



In March of 2007, the parent company of the UFC purchased the rights to PRIDE FC. It was supposed to be a purchase that would revolutionize the sport as we now know it. We would get fights that would answer the question: Who is the real undisputed champion in the world? But to most diehard fans, the real question was which organization was superior between PRIDE and the UFC.

Unfortunately, we never got the real opportunity to find that out. Zuffa was unable to answer those questions to us, which is no fault of their own. It seemed that what Zuffa bought more than anything was PRIDE's library of historic fights and a few contracts that transferred to the UFC. Zuffa's PRIDE Worldwide division, which was supposed to be able to keep PRIDE alive in Japan never materialized.

The staff was laid off due to never being able to get a TV deal in Japan. The reason being the Yazuka mafia rumors floating around DSE, the parent company of the PRIDE; that there was some shady dealings going on. With no major TV deal in Japan, Zuffa had no choice but to accept the fact that PRIDE wasn't coming back. Thus on October 4, 2007; PRIDE was officially dead.

When everyone was drooling over the acquisition of PRIDE, Zuffa made another purchase that was under the radar. In 2006, Zuffa bought the rights to own the WEC organization. A promotion started in 2001 in Lenmore, California. Most of their fights were shown on HDNet from 2001 to 2006.

Once Zuffa purchased the WEC, it's main goal was to get a television deal. Much like their deal with SPIKE, Zuffa scored with a television deal with the new Versus channel. And on June 3, 2007 the WEC was on cable television and it was a smash hit. And it has been ever since.

The question now just has to be asked: Which purchase ended up being the better deal? If you think it was the purchase of PRIDE, you might have to really look at the big picture. If you think the purchase of the WEC was the better acquisition, then you're probably in the minority.

Many pundits feel that the purchase of PRIDE gave fight fans some big time fights. We were able to see two title unification matchups with Jackson-Henderson and Silva-Henderson, and the fight years in the making between Liddell and Silva. But you have to honest to yourself, did you really feel those two unification fights were a PRIDE-UFC title fight?

The feeling here is that in both fights, the winner was going to be the UFC champion and having the PRIDE belt as an added bonus. Anderson Silva and Quinton Jackson were never awarded with the PRIDE belts after their victories over Dan Henderson did they? Hell, no one even knows if Jackson and Silva received those belts after the fights.

You can say that the belts were now retired and now PRIDE is nothing more than a memory. We now have organizations like WVR and DREAM trying to resurrect the Japan MMA scene since the death of PRIDE. PRIDE has left an aura in Japan that will not be soon forgotten, and now these organizations are trying to pick up the pieces of what is left.

The impact made by the WEC in the States is impressive to say the least. Zuffa made the right moves in separating WEC brand from the UFC brand. They also landed a separated television deal that wouldn't over saturate the sport in the sense of being on only one channel. The WEC is easily what is giving the Versus channel some of their biggest ratings ever on the channel.

The point is that at the end of the day, the purchase of the WEC has been very more profitable than the purchase of PRIDE. You can say that getting the WEC was a HUGE steal for Zuffa. You have a organization that carries the most exciting fights in the lower weight classes with guys who are not even in the UFC.

In the WEC, you have highly marketable stars like poster boy Urijah Faber and the new Light Heavyweight champion Brian Stann. You have former PRIDE and UFC vets establishing themselves in the WEC like Paulo Filho and Chael Sonnen. Most importantly, Zuffa has done it share to make WEC successful as an alternative to the UFC.

At the end of the day, the WEC has been the bigger purchase and it will be around for a very long time. As for PRIDE, the memories will never be forgotten but the fact remains that PRIDE is dead. And we all have to accept it…whether we like it or not.

Silva-Jones Jr. is not worth it.

I'm sorry but this just isn't good for the sport if this fight were to materialize. It goes to show you that Anderson Silva is bored ripping through any middleweight the UFC puts in front of him. Although, it is quite interesting if this were to happen. The problem is that Silva is in his prime and Jones is past his pure and simple. Now if it were the Roy Jones that was pound for pound the best pure boxer in the world, then by all means make it happen.

But since he is way over the hill, I can't blame Dana White in saying no to this. If anything, boxing benefits more than MMA if Jones were to defeat Silva. What does Silva gain if he were to defeat Jones? All boxing experts will say that Jones is past his prime, etc. If Jones wins, MMA pundits will say that the fight should have never taken place.

The risk just outweighs the reward.

WEC 33 delivered the goods again!

I have to say with a card that was raided in not having two title fights, last night's WEC card exceeded expectations. Only two fights went to the judges and we got our share of knockouts and submissions. The lightweights delivered again and we have a new champion. More on that a little bit later.

Marcus Hicks and Chael Sonnen solidified their place in line for title shots. Hicks has won three straight WEC fights with none going to the judges. Hicks overwhelmed Ed Ratcliff from the opening bell and then choked him out. Hicks has a well rounded game and will give new lightweight champion Jamie Varner fits later this year.

Sonnen had plenty to lose in his fight with new comer Brian Baker including a title shot. That didn't matter as just BULLIED Baker for three rounds. He dominated the fight with outstanding takedowns and textbook GNP. Might I add, the GNP was just brutal and in typical Team Quest fashion. He is the one man that will give Paulo Filho a hell of a fight when the two meet again.

Richard Crunkilton and Sergio Gomez had a brutal war last night. That cut that from a Crunkilton elbow, made Gomez look as if he was stabbed in the back of his head. Give Gomez credit in showing the tenacity to come back and not get pounded out. He has to work on his ground game because he already has the power in his hands. As for Crunkliton, he has to climb the ladder once more to get a title shot.

Finally, is Brian Stann the real deal or what? Many felt that he would get rocked friom the opening bell by former champion Doug Marshall. In the end, he caught Marshall with a textbook left hook and became the new champion. I may be going a bit far in saying he is the real deal, but he looked damn impressive in weathering the storm and knocking out Marshall.

His ground game hasn't been tested as well as his cardio, but to be 6-0 early in your career and champion says a lot. Only time will tell how far Stann will go, but the WEC has to go out and get some veterans to test the new champ because that division is thin. As for Marshall, he showed tremendous class in help wrap the strap across Stann after the fight. Rest assured, the Rhino will be back and these two will clash again.

Overall, I'd give it a 8.0 out of 10. With only one title fight, the undercard did it's part to carry the show. Now we can all look ahead towards the Pulver-Faber title fight in June. That's a fight worth spending money on, the legend against the future. Should be exciting.

ThrowdowN CentraL

Well folks, this is my last Friday Night Throwdown here on 411Mania.com. I was grateful that the guys here on the site gave me the opportunity to write for our MMA Zone. I had a great time writing about the sport that I love with a passion. I want to thank my former editor Caleb Newby and Ashish for giving me the freedom to express myself without being censored. I only speak the truth right?