Dana White Says The UFC Brought In Mirko Cro Cop So They Could Kill PRIDE
Posted by Dustin James on 08.08.2008
Did Dana White ever really think Cro Cop was going to make an impact?
During a recent interview with MMAConvert.com, UFC president Dana White revealed the true reasoning behind the UFC's signing of Mirko Cro Cop:
"Fifty times we thought it was over and we were buying PRIDE, then we hear they were talking to these guys and these guys and kept string us along. So when Mirko Cro Cop's deal came up, we went after Mirko aggressively, signed him, and that really started to unravel PRIDE. He was really tight with them, so once we were able to take him away, all the other fighters started talking to us too. And that was basically the last nail in the coffin for those guys. It was really a business move to buy PRIDE. That's why we signed Cro Cop.
It wasn't like we brought Cro Cop in and thought he was going to take over the heavyweight division or anything. I think that's what the fans thought—the hardcore fans who really knew a lot about PRIDE—but it was a business move to kill PRIDE."
Dana White is a magnificent bastard. I'm glad the UFC killed Pride FC. Pride was garbage and so were most of their fighters. Obviously there are exceptions. However top to bottom the UFC's fighter roster owned Pride's any day of the week.
Posted By: Optimus Crimelord (Registered) on August 08, 2008 at 08:32 PM
How stupid are you?
Pride had the best fighters in the world for a while.
Rampage and Anderson Silva who have both been UFC champions were from Pride.
The two best P4P fighters in the world Fedor and A Silva were from Pride.
Get a clue noob.
Posted By: RedVexx (Guest) on August 08, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Gotta admit, Dana is a smart business man. Pride was just as good a company as UFC, but lacked the American stamp of approval. Not that America is so great or anything, but its what won the war between UFC and Pride. You think they would have tried to expand there reach(Pride) alot sooner than they did.
Posted By: Kol (Guest) on August 08, 2008 at 09:47 PM
LOL, yes... there were a few exceptions- notably the current UFC Heavyweight Champ.. the UFC Middleweight Champ... and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ.
Yeah- UFC's roster owned it... enough that when they bought out Pride, it was the Pride guys who were able to walk through the UFC to get the belts.
Posted By: cyks (Guest) on August 08, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Not that Pride vs. UFC matters but Anderson Silva was not a "Pride Fighter" or a "UFC fighter" he had five fights in Pride.
That said, I'm glad Pride is dead. Most of the best fighters are now under one org, and it is a legitimate org.
Posted By: KSti (Registered) on August 08, 2008 at 10:40 PM
pride was better
ufc is trash with trash fans
Posted By: L I A M (Guest) on August 08, 2008 at 11:00 PM
The UFC did NOT put Pride out of business. Pride self destructed. Due to various reasons, they lost their TV deal, and that was the beginning of the end. The UFC and Dana had nothing to do with the downfall of Pride.
Posted By: The Hope (Guest) on August 08, 2008 at 11:16 PM
@Optimus overlord
really idiot thars why when couture went 5o pride he got beat that's why when liddel went to pride he got beat
that's why most of prides stars are in ufc's top 10 today and have been ufc's champs and some currently were and are big nog, jackso, anderson silva
also considering pride had actual WORLd fighters not just u.s ones and at least they had a ranking system the WORLd mma over respected unlike ufc's bogus if u blow dana u get places ranking!
FEDOR nuff said!
Posted By: fyi (Guest) on August 09, 2008 at 02:57 AM
The WWF did NOT put WCW out of business. WCW self destructed. Due to various reasons, they lost their TV deal, and that was the beginning of the end. The WWF and Vince had nothing to do with the downfall of WCW.
Posted By: The Hope (Guest) on August 08, 2008 at 11:16 PM
...........What?
Posted By: The Stealer (Guest) on August 09, 2008 at 06:53 AM
While we are all singing the praises of Pride, lets not forget Rampage's comments about how he was asked to throw fights in Pride. Or their very questionable drug/steroid testing policies
Posted By: redhotrash (Guest) on August 09, 2008 at 09:23 PM
you guys are stupid. notice majority of ufc champs are directly FROM pride?
Posted By: ced316 (Guest) on August 09, 2008 at 10:23 PM
you must be retarded, majortity of the champs in the UFC are from Pride?
Forrest, GPS, Silva, Penn? Those guys are UFC guys not Pride fighters. They made themselves in the UFC
Posted By: iLLmatic (Guest) on August 10, 2008 at 11:58 PM
I like the UFC and business is business, but I hope Dana realizes that that Affliction, EliteXC, or whomever may have the same plan.
Where would the UFC be if Anderson, GSP, Penn, Chuck, and Forrest all left for bigger paychecks with another org?
Posted By: User (Guest) on August 11, 2008 at 09:48 AM
"...I'm glad Pride is dead. Most of the best fighters are now under one org, and it is a legitimate org."
~Posted By: KSti
Anybody find this eerily similar to Vince McMahon's raid on all the independent pro wrestling promotions prior to the rise of the WWF? UFC has already shattered professional boxing's ppv revenue record, and the company is still in the growing phase. If Dana keeps moving in on other organizations like he did on Pride we really will see a collection of the best fighters in the world all under one banner.
Posted By: Cortez (Guest) on August 11, 2008 at 12:01 PM
