As you might recall, EA Sports revealed that they’re developing an MMA game, cleverly titled “MMA.” That’s strange, because the UFC already has their own game through THQ (with their own fighters, naturally) that’s already out and selling reasonably well.
(Are they seriously trying to brand this thing with a tramp stamp?)
Then again, it’s also strange because according to UFC’s head hypermanic gorilla in charge, Dana White, EA Sports told him just last year that his sport, well, wasn’t one. Fast forward to today, and the war is on.
According to MMAWEEKLY.COM, in White’s eyes, there’s no coexistence for UFC and EA Sports:
“I went to EA Sports,” he said. “Know what EA Sports said? ‘It’s not a sport. This isn’t a sport. We would never get involved in something like this.’ We come out with a video game and now they want to come out with a video game? (Expletive) you.”
Yes, we’re certain someone at EA actually dropped an Effenheimer on Dana White and lived to talk about it. But with EA’s heft and superior programming behind their new video game, you would think that the temptation would be there for fighters to join their game instead. Not so fast, gentlemen. Via ARS TECHNICA:
Now that the sport has proven its popularity and legitimacy, EA wants to get into the game, but Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White has threatened to blacklist any fighter who appears in an EA MMA title.
“I’m not tap-dancing around this thing or whatever,” White said. “I’m telling you straight-up, I’m at war with them right now. That’s how I look at it.” What happens if a fighter agrees to an appearance in EA’s MMA title? Simple. “You won’t be in the UFC,” White claimed.
That’s just plain unequivocal, and White is certainly vindictive enough to enforce it. He holds the power in the sport, and whether EA can wrest it away from him with royalty checks to individual fighters is, um, unlikely.
1:22 pm on July 14th, 2009
and the Dana White man-crush continues…………………
1:31 pm on July 14th, 2009
It’d be funny if EA signed Fedor before Dana White gets him.
1:33 pm on July 14th, 2009
EA was right. This crap isn’t a sport. Regardless of whether they want in now, it still isn’t a sport.
Its a bunch of roided up morons blindly slugging away at each other. I love how they call it “Mixed Martial Arts” an they all list there style as Muay Thai or whatever, but there’s none of that to it. Its just brawling until someone gets choked out or bleeds too much. Brock Lesnar is the champ now. Enough said.
2:25 pm on July 14th, 2009
A guy has to know what battles to pick. The one with EA Sports might not be the smartest move for Dana White. Up until now, no other organization has been able to form a credible competing MMA syndicate to UFC. But Randy White may be forcing EA sports to give financial backing to a competitor. Dumb Dana. Don’t bite your nose to spite your face. That little MMA outfit on Versus cable channel could blow up if they get a fat contract with EA Sports.
3:20 pm on July 14th, 2009
That little MMA outfit on Versus… yeah, its called WEC and its owned by Zuffa. Incase your still lost, Zuffa owns the UFC… you know, with “Randy White” as the owner.
And as the highly intelligent Deacon said… Enough Said!
Hope i didnt “spite” in his face.
3:55 pm on July 14th, 2009
YeahOK . Dan Henderson would be proud of that knockout.
4:58 pm on July 14th, 2009
UFC and WEC are owned by the same company…
MMA has boxing, Muay Thai, ju-jitsu, wrestling, judo, grapping, brawling, etc…all in one, its the “ultimate” combat sport, and definitely is a sport…anyone who thinks it’s not a sport is either a dying old man dying from old age, or they’re gay…
5:25 pm on July 14th, 2009
He already knocked himself out by posting in the first place, I just added a little extra to shut him up for a while longer.
Too bad i dont have a forearm to drop while he’s out.
5:45 pm on July 14th, 2009
lol at deacon
you obviously have no clue about the sport, so please do not comment
9:15 pm on July 14th, 2009
Deacon is right! “Ground and Pound” & “Choking Out” are not disciplines. It’s just a brawl. Watching combat sports with actual rules is much better.
8:50 am on July 15th, 2009
I am with Deacon.
The art in martial arts comes as much from what you CANNOT do as what you can do. Not being able to grab a guy and drag him to the ground, or not being able to punch, kick etc, is where the art comes in. For a boxer to win, he has to knock a guy out without grabbing him and pulling him to the ground, for ju-jitsu guy it is the opposite. That is what makes the different individual disciplines in martial arts difficult, interesting and skillful.
When you mix martial arts you essentially just have combat. Combat isn’t sport. Combat is people fighting to the death. If the MMA was honest they wouldn’t try to sell me this stuff as sport and say, “MMA - as close to the Roman Coliseum as the law allows.”
I understand the mentality that likes this stuff. Humans enjoy watching other humans hurting each other. Just don’t call it a sport.
11:18 am on July 15th, 2009
Ha ha, is EA going to sign Fedor and who else?………Gina Carano…Kimbo Slice….Tito Ortiz. There aren’t any other names that the public recognizes other than those. Carano and Kimbo already used their 15 minutes of fame, Ortiz is washed up and was never that good, and Fedor might be in the UFC as soon as his Affliction contract is up. If EA wants a good MMA game they will have to get on their knees for Dana White.
3:22 pm on July 15th, 2009
Dana White = white trash dick.
MMA = an activity for those who got the short end of the genetic stick - whether they are participants or just fans of watching these ‘roided up freaks pound on each other.
I’ve never seen a bigger collection of meatheads than the ‘tapout’ decked knobs who gather in bars on fight night.