UFC May Ban Fighters That Sign With EA
by 
One of the intriguing stories leading up to and through the release of UFC 2009 Undisputed was how the fighters were being forced into lifetime contracts. Now comes news that the UFC may be taking things even further by intimidating fighters who are not currently signed by them by making it known that they will never be accepted into the UFC should they sign on for EA Sports’ MMA. BloodyElbow has the info as pulled from forum sources.
I hear that all mma managers were informed that if any of their clients not currently under contract with the UFC….. sign to be a part of the EA game…….the will forever be banned for fighting in the UFC.
When it comes down to it if a fighter has the potential to make the UFC money they’d surely take them on regardless. Who this really will affect are those guys who are on the brink or would be competing for a spot. If they feel it would hurt their chances than it very possibly could sway them from deciding to go over with EA. This does add to the struggle that EA is facing with their MMA title which will not be able to put together a roster nearly as enticing as what UFC will have every year.
July 2, 2009 at 9:55 am
FIRST!!!….
July 2, 2009 at 11:38 am
This definately sounds something Dana White would do.
I can see where they want to make money, but lifetime contracts to one game and lifetime bans for signing with the other? That's pretty harsh. It is just a game after all.
July 2, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Third! (Stupid shit)
Anyway, people praise Dana White… Hate Don King LOL, they are the same person to me.
July 2, 2009 at 12:44 pm
THQ pulled an EA with madden
July 3, 2009 at 1:04 am
EA didnt pull ANYTHING with Madden…
Know the facts… The NFL desired and initiated an exclusive contract, not the other way around. EA had to take it or leave it.
July 2, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Yeaah fight the system(EA)!
Never knew videogames would be influential enough to transpire into real world events.
Geeks now officially have more balls than Lesnar, Mir, Lidell and the like!
July 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Wow, guess we're seeing what type of dictator Dana White is. Lifetime ban, are you kidding me? That is such BS, if a guy isn't under contract with the UFC, why should UFC care what they do? Limiting a man's ways to make a living is just low. Most of these guys in MMA are never going to make it big time and when you consider the brutality of the sport, most only have about 5 years to make as much money as they can. In an ironic twist of fait though, EA is getting a taste of their own medicine. EA is all about exclusivity to eliminate competition, which is typically the only way that they can get to the top of the sports gaming mountain.
July 2, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Considering EA has never been below 2K in any sport (except for basketball), I'd call that statement pretty wrong. Why don't you jump on 2K for actually doing that with the MLB license (MVP was FAR superior, then they lost license rights)?
July 2, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Watch out! You're going to incite the people who are still playing NFL 2K5 on their Dreamcast…
July 2, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I already have lol. People prop 2K5 up like it was God's gift to gaming, but that whole series, while having something things that I'd like Madden to have (true integration of the ESPN license and presentation as a whole) was always inferior to Madden, especially in the gameplay department.
July 2, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Considering that EA makes games of sports that no other company or people care about i.e. Golf, I guess it's safe to say that they haven't been below 2k in any sports other than the ones that matter. In terms of Football (the biggest) I'm not saying 2k5 was better than Madden 05, in fact, I like Madden better and agree it has better gameplay, but 2k5 broke a lot of ground in other areas and considering that they were still new to the game, one can only wonder what would have been had both companies continued making football games every year. No one can deny that Madden has regressed over the years and that every installment after they got the exclusive rights on next gen systems has been a failure and disappointment considering we're 5 years removed from Madden 05.
All I'm saying is I don't feel bad for EA's attempt at MMA being foiled by running into exclusive rights problems. I think it's a good business move to get exclusive rights and eliminate competition, but as a consumer and fan of sports games, exclusivity sucks!
July 2, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Dana White is simply protecting a sport he's made main stream in the U.S. and stopping other companies from making money on it. UFC took the risk, pushed to get licenses in the 37 states, pushing to get a license in NY and had to beat or take over other MMA organizations.
Call it what you want, but Dana White is protecting his wallet and protecting his investment. Smart business man.
July 2, 2009 at 2:49 pm
The UFC is Dana White's company. The gy can run it how he wants to. Wouldn't it be weird if GSP was in a non-UFC game and was the champion? This will only make the UFC game better.
July 2, 2009 at 5:45 pm
It would be weird if GSP was in a non-UFC game only because, he is in the UFC. Looks like you're missing the point here. The UFC is banning guys that aren't even in there league and probably never will be from being able to cash in on naming rights. It is White's company and he deserves a lot of credit for building the sport into what it is today, but just because it's his right doesn't mean it's right.
July 2, 2009 at 6:46 pm
All I'm saying is Dana can do and say what he wants. You want to fight over in Russia in the nuclear cold with a freaking war going on for $20? Go ahead! The UFC pays these guys well.
July 2, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Scrap that project EA and come up with something new. You still have the GDC to announce a new title and build your wounded pride back up.
July 2, 2009 at 3:55 pm
When I heard the announcement of EA MMA at E3 I was shocked. To me, this is almost a mirror image of 2K putting out All Pro Football to fight with Madden. We all know how that worked. Now, I think it's above EA to put out a game as all-around poor as APF was, but they are fighting the same battle – lack of licensing, an already established series, and a very shrewd business man.
July 2, 2009 at 4:04 pm
It sounds to me that the fighters need a union to protect their rights. I'm not a big fan of unions but Dana White's strong arm tactics are the reasoning behind the formations of unions. Which is to protect the worker from their employer against intimidation and unfair work practices. Sometimes things like this has to play out 1st before we can move forward.
July 2, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I doubt anyone has the balls to try and start a union since I think they don't want to loose a job which pays them to literally beat the sh*t out of somebody and not go to jail for it. Maybe we'll see an arbitrary figure step in and mediate something along those lines.
July 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm
They could have an arbitrator step in but that would mean that each fighter would have to have their case heard one by one, which can be time consuming. Only if they file a class action suit or an have a common representative could they possibly come to an solution in a reasonable time frame. The main key for the mid and lower tier fighters is to gain the support of the upper echelon fighters. If they can if would force Dana White to rethink his strategy.
July 2, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Also what EA did with the exclusive license is different than what Dana White is doing with the UFC fighters. With the exclusive license EA is singly out the competition (2K) but the main beneficiary, the NFL & players, are not affected by the subtracted company using their likeness and images. While with Dana White, he is singly out the main beneficiaries , the fighters, who are directly affected by a total lack of a large sponsor.
July 2, 2009 at 4:52 pm
u right in a way but when we say they getting a taste of there own medicine we mean as far as not being able to put out a product because of another company getting in ur way. I don't like what EA did with the NFL and NCAA license, 2k did with MLB, and what Dana White is doing whit UFC. But you gotta have some type of smile on ur face seeing EA sports on the other side of the fence this time.
July 2, 2009 at 4:46 pm
IM GLAD EA IS FACING THIS PROBLEM. NOW THEY GETTING A TASTE OF THERE OWN MEDICINE WITH A SPORT FRANCHISE. Now they know how 2k and other companies feel when they can't release a product cuz another company took the rights.
July 2, 2009 at 5:23 pm
poor ea can't buy a break? oh really they got madden ncaa football and NBA live NHL Fifa no one should feel sorry for EA about this.
July 2, 2009 at 5:32 pm
But the thing about this situation is. It takes away the other money the fighters would receive from EA if they signed up for it. It's not only EA that gets shafted by the Dana White announcement but the MMA fighters as well. Remember these guys are risking their lives and health in order to make money in this very very violent sport.
July 2, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Good, about time EA got a taste of their own shit.
July 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Didnt ea try to fuck over the Hall of Fame players by paying the NFLPA a little bit of money? ITs the same shit just the difference in age. EA IS WORSE then Dana White will ever be.
July 2, 2009 at 7:52 pm
GAME SET MATCH
ADVANTAGE DANA
July 2, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Didnt Randy Couture sign with EA though?
July 2, 2009 at 2:45 pm
This sounds exactly like something Dana White would do.
I can see where they want to make money, but lifetime contracts to one game and lifetime bans for signing with the other? That's a little extreme. It is just a game after all.
July 2, 2009 at 9:53 pm
And as Dana White would say "my organization has created more millionaires than in any other MMA organization, I take care of my guys but if they are going to stab me in the back than F*$%$ you you F#$#$# #$##$#, how #@$#$# stupid are you for trying to @#$#$ me over? I will kick your @#$# and burn you business to the #$#$# ground.
July 3, 2009 at 1:04 am
I want to kick your ass
July 3, 2009 at 1:08 am
lol settle down buddy. Apparently you have never saw Dana White's interview on ESPN earlier this year.
July 3, 2009 at 5:01 am
No I just like starting stuff on the internet
July 3, 2009 at 1:13 am
Dana always reminds me of Joe from Girls Gone Wild.
This is certainly within his right, but that doenst not make it any less of a slap in the face to consumers. Taking options away form consumers is a dangerous path. It's almost like they are scared their product cant hold up. When you look at Sports games, I think it is fairly clear that developers clearly dont have that fire under their ass in the first few years of getting an exclusive contract (which is akin to what this is). I think 2KBaseball is a great example. They REALLY dragged their feet initially and it wasnt until The SHow starting making waves that they tried to step their game back up. Look at Hockey…2K and EA have been slugging it out with each series holding time as the better game and it has only served to make both games better.
I wonder if the people that (incorrectly) bashed EA about the Madden will take a stand here.
July 3, 2009 at 9:47 am
Off topic but do we have some news about that freakin' patch?
What are they waiting for to release it??
July 3, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I find it interesting that so many here are looking at this as the UFC sticking it to EA. I see this as Dana White continuing to be one big piece of crap who makes billions off of fighters he pays peanuts. Yes, some of them are millionaires. Brutal fact is that most of them are not.