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Rumor: UFC to ban fighters that sign on for EA's MMA

by David Hinkle on Jul 1st 2009 8:00PM

There's been a pretty crazy rumor floating around. originating from the mixedmartialarts.com forums. The rumor states that UFC will blacklist any fighter that chooses to be a part of EA's upcoming game, MMA. That means should any fighter sign up to be represented in EA's game, they won't ever be endorsed by the UFC or asked to join. Crazy, right?

It makes sense, though, considering how well UFC 2009 Undisputed sold. UFC has a bona fide franchise on its hands, and will likely begin prepping for a sequel soon (if not already), and doesn't want that threatened by EA's game. But, hey, can't we all just get along? This isn't football, after all.

We've put in word to UFC corporate about the rumor and will be sure to get back to you as soon as we hear something.

[Via BloodyElbow; Thanks, Ryan!]

Source

Tags: ea, Electronic-Arts, Microsoft, mixed-martial-arts, mma, rumor, ufc, ufc-2009-undisputed, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (85)

Although, blacklisting them seems a bit harsh...but action must be taken and something must be done...rip the mic, rip the stage.......just do something.

Dana White the head of the UFC threatened to fire John Fitch(one of the best fighters in the UFC) if he didn't sign over his lifetime image rights to the UFC when they were making UFC Undisputed 2009.

With the way hes running his business like a dictator UFC is going to be dead pretty soon.

It is Dana White we are talking about here. I'm not surprised in the least bit that he would try and pull some stuff like this. The guy is an ego maniac. I don't think any of the non UFC fighters really give a crap and will call his bluff. The reason being is because he won't follow through with it. It's just posturing on his part.

Joystiq must be getting paid by Nintendo and EA for the free advertising

I am on to you whores now good job

Dana White is such a f'in douchebag sometimes, and by sometimes I mean all the time.

But what can you do, business is business. Even if it is bully tactics (ala Pride acquisition).

I guess that leaves Fedor and um... That's pretty much it for the EA game. Heh.

DSG!

bob sapp on the ea mma cover

Dear Joystiq,

I'm thoroughly enjoying the screaming broad. Please don't stop! EVER!

Love,
Dan

When is the default mario gonna get replaced with DSG?

Not surprising. He threatened to fire anyone who refused to allow their names and likenesses to be put in the UFC game, not he's threatening non-UFC fighters with what he hopes is obscurity if they dare challenge his monopoly.

However, he's shooting himself in the foot. Pissing off both current UFC fighters and depriving yourself of future contenders is not a wise business decision; not to mention that this likely wouldn't fly to well with many of the fans. UFC isn't the only show on the road, and he's opening a door wide for competition to come in and take much of the marketshare.

Here's to a MMA fighting regulatory company not run in the manner of Nazi Germany. Heil White! You will like it or you will die!

This is totally the kind of thing UFC would do. I like their events, but I'm glad I steal 'em because they don't deserve my money with the ways they do business!

Took me a second, but I found her!

If EA is smart they would make look-alikes with an option for gamers to change their name :)
So player 1 would be GSP, player 2 is Anderson Silva... etc
Give me a better gameplay than THQ with this option and I will buy the better game for sure.

UFC is being a bunch of babies.

I miss the dreamcast =/ bring powerstone to XBLA!!

Lol at people taking UFC seriously.

Bloody Elbow, fuck ya!!! Best MMA site ever!

UFC and it's strongarm tactics. It's not relly going to work. If Fedor signs on for the game and then later decides he wants to join the UFC you think Dana White isn't gonna let him because of the game? HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!! This is a huge fail move by UFC.

exactly. He is just bluffing and trying to be the only MMA game on the market. The only way this guy knows how to run a business is like this. Buy out the competition and own the industry. I don't think Fedor, Aoki, Alvarez, Jacare, Kid Yamamoto, Shields, Lawler, Le etc etc really give a crap what White says. There are other organizations to make a paycheck now.

What would be funny is to see Couture in the game since the UFC allegedly doesn't own his rights like the other fighters.

Maybe EA builds a better engine and game anyway. I loved UFC but after everyone started using that mount exploit I abandoned the game.

play single player

Wonder if they will do a WEC game. I would like to fight as Miguel Torres.

I'm sure they would if Zuffa and Dana White didn't own the UFC as well.

I would want to play as Jose Aldo or Urijah Faber.

the fighters signed away their likeness to THQ for life...remember john fitch got fired because he didnt want to...There was an article on here about it..

so they would be sued by thq if they sign with EA because THQ owns their likeness already..

right??

Lawerence,

They are talking about blacklisting fighters who sign onto EA's MMA who aren't already in the UFC. No one is talking about suing anyone. The UFC is basically saying if you sign on to do their game you will never be allowed in the UFC.

i would have much rather liked it if the ufc game was made by EA.

How about patching your ranked online so a-holes don't quit when they lose? I wonder if MMA will have that problem.

UFC's fighters should ALL sign on with EA MMA. Surely they won't fire their entire roster...

but ea gotz lotso monee

That's just insanity. I'm all for maintaining your franchise and trying to remain profitable but why limit the fighters' opportunities to make some money? If something like this wasn't already in their contracts it seems like this guy is being a child about it. I find this to be a move based purely on insecurity.

dana knows that if EA put as much money into ads as madden it would sell twice as many as UFC games

This is a douchebag-like power move by Dana White, but because of how the NFL license was handled I'm ok with it. Turnabout is fair play.

i think its a smart move if true for the UFC , like said before EA always runs out the competition so now its time to happen to them and get slapped by the ufc

and for this screaming lady .. *yawns* its old now , move on

it's like Where's Waldo

Interesting. I'm curious to know if individual football players could use their name in a non-EA game.. I think they can.

This sort of smells like some sort of Anti-Trust / anti-competition legal stickiness the UFC could be getting into if they are doing this sort of thing.

It's not surprising that UFC agrees with this. This is why big stars like Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture left UFC. Dana White is a power freak and 90% of the money goes to everyone BUT the actual fighters.

People need to learn that mixed martial arts =/= UFC. There are tons of other MMA promotions out there with talent,just like the WWE =/= wrestling.

lol

This heavy handed move (rumor) is a surprise? Come on! This is the company that almost cut somebody from their roster because he wouldn't sign his digital likeness away to the UFC games forever.

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Rumor: UFC to ban fighters that sign on for EA's MMA

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