UFC threatens to ban EA MMA fighters?

Source: Enthusiast blog MMA Scraps, relating a forum post on the Mixed Martial Arts Underground forums. What we heard: It isn't just the fighters in the octagon that employ merciless tactics to defeat their opponents, it would seem. Last November, a number of news outlets reported that welterweight...

Source: Enthusiast blog MMA Scraps, relating a forum post on the Mixed Martial Arts Underground forums.

What we heard: It isn't just the fighters in the octagon that employ merciless tactics to defeat their opponents, it would seem. Last November, a number of news outlets reported that welterweight contender Jon Fitch and his fellow American Kickboxing Academy members were cut from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Reportedly at cause for the move was a licensing disagreement between Fitch and the UFC on THQ's UFC Undipsuted 2009, in which the fighter refused to sign away his name and likeness rights in a lifetime contract for the game.

While that issue ultimately came to a peaceful resolution, the UFC again appears to be strong-arming the mixed martial arts talent pool over the fighting organization's deal with THQ. As spotted by enthusiast blog MMA Scraps, a Mixed Martial Arts Underground forum poster with the username Golden Boy said yesterday that the UFC was prepared to ban all unsigned fighters who agree to be a part of Electronic Arts' upcoming MMA title.

"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[y] will forever be banned for fighting in the UFC," Golden Boy wrote. Later in the thread, a poster using the handle KenP--who MMA Scraps identifies as notable MMA agent Ken Pavia--substantiated this claim, writing, "It's true. And they told me [they] want the word out."

EA announced its entrance into the MMA genre during its press conference at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. Though EA has yet to officially announce any fighters for the game, former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia told MMA News that he and fellow ex-champ Randy Couture had both been signed to appear in the game. EA Sports MMA is in development at Madden studio EA Tiburon, and the first installment is due in 2010.

The official story: Neither the UFC nor Ken Pavia's agency had responded to GameSpot's request for comment as of press time. EA declined to comment on the matter.

Bogus or not bogus?: Given the UFC's strong-arm business tactics in the past, this report seems entirely plausible. However, without firm confirmation from one of the parties involved one way or the other, it's impossible to say for certain.

352 Comments

  • redstevo

    Posted Aug 1, 2009 2:52 pm PT

    Has anyone noticed that there isn't an EA Sports WWE game??? That's because THQ are big enough and don't need EA behind them to help promote their products. WWE Smackdown vs Raw & UFC Undisputed 2009 are capable enough of promoting themselves because both brands are big in their own right. EA should've got on board way before the UFC decided to break into the gaming world and maybe they wouldn't be in this situation. And, somehow, I can't see EA Sports MMA being as big as UFC Undisputed 2009 on any format can you?

    RedStevo355/Torres355

  • XanderZane

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 6:30 pm PT

    What a mess!! I think EA is getting a taste of their own medicine for a change.

  • BladedNuiasnce

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 2:43 pm PT

    White says that EA made it clear that they dont give a F*** about MMA.. But then didnt Dana also, I mean if hes willing to ban fighters over being in a competing game, then he doesnt care about them as individuals, doesnt care about the sport, else he would not be willing to dwindle the ranks down in such a manor, as less fighters means less competition, which hurts the sport.

    All he cares about is MONEY, and after cathing word that EA is making an MMA game, he got scared, knowing that EA makes FAR better games than THQ, if EAs game is much better, AND has UFC fighters, all he will do is lose money, because NOBODY would buy a crap game like UFC 2009 over an EA version, especialy if EAs has known fighters.

    Its all about the money Dana, you arent fooling anyone... Atleast not me!!!!!!!!

  • Xaviersx

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 3:40 am PT

    EA screwed up in rejecting the UFC in the manner they did (business wearing yesterday's blinders), lost out on the game when realizing the potential, decided to do their own (not humble enough to admit mistake and go back to the table), and shouldn't expect help from the UFC big wigs.

    UFC screwed up by mafia style tactics to restrain and retain their fighters, wanting to contractually own almost everything including the likeness of the fighters and banning from working those who'd contract to be a character in EA's game, just about saying work only for us or not at all in this sport we just about own.

    So, I only feel sorry for the fighters. Two wrongs make fighters the ground pound meat. Serious competition lacking in these markets allowing for all or nothing spats.

  • XxWargazmxX

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 9:48 pm PT

    Just to add something amritpaul your confused about the issue here on the competing video games. They aren't really about video games the UFC President isn't saying if you go play in EA's mma game you won't get to play in ours he is actually saying your helping people that are disrespectful and don't like our sport and you won't ever come fight and make money in my organization. He isn't talking about the game.

  • XxWargazmxX

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 9:29 pm PT

    Solidstein the WWE has nothing to do with Brock Lesnar he is the champion because he was a national heavyweight champion in actual competitive wrestling. He isn't winning fights from something learned from being a pro wrestler its all off his work ethic and wrestling base which is why the WWE signed him in the first place so they had someone with cred.

  • tapoutartist

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 8:41 pm PT

    For all of you who don't know the real story behind the EA vs UFC disagreement just like the rest of the sports world out there...UFC went to do a deal for the UFC undisputed game a year and some months before the release. EA told DANA WHITE to his face that MMA made them sick but now they want to make a game. If I was DANA I'd say the same thing how can you represent the sport when the butt wipes who want to make a game out of you don't respect what u do. Affliction and those other guys have nothing to do with it but if they want to ever be in the most watched MMA stage in the world they won't be in MMA from EA

  • amritpaul

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 6:28 pm PT

    Dream and Affliction are not UFC they can do what they want if the fighters get to be in these games than what is the problem? They don't get to be in UFC's game so what the hell is so bad about EA making their own game?



    I think its because the UFC guys are afraid the game is gonna be good they should ban their own fighters who are under contract from being in this game and no one else because UFC is a strong license people will buy the games every year so they shouldn't worry like this

  • terpriders

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 3:13 pm PT

    UFC is not the entire mma universe. Everyone talks about football and madden. The NFL is the pro football universe. So when they decided they wanted one football game and placed the NFL license up for bid in 2005, EA out bid everyone. Stop crying about the exclusive NFL licenses. UFC is threating to ban NON-UFC FIGHTERS from ever competeing in the UFC if they sign on to make a NON-UFC MMA GAME. This game has nothing to do with UFC except for they are trying to corner both the MMA market and the video game market. Those who think EA is making a UFC game is wrong. This has to do with UFC trying to stop a rival MMA game from being made. For those who draw comparisons to the NFL and EA, you are wrong because they are not the same issue

  • usdcovertop

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 11:19 pm PT

    seeing as a lot of you think madden is some sort of god send as the perfect football game, along with any other sports title EA throws out, let me point something out, ITS NOT. obviously you have not played any sports in real life other than the occasional pickup hoops. now i'm not denying the credibility of EA, i have bought madden several times and the one thing it does not capture, nor does any sport title including UFC, is the random play of any sport. watch football in person, or even go join a semi-pro or adult league, this is probably not the best group to talk to about that but i will try. but what is the challenge of sports games? to recreate the actual sport. but the truth is, it will never happen; one thing that helps is make the gameplay more realistic (running, passing, etc.), and EA does not do the best job at those. play 2K9 and live 09 and tell me whats more realistic. now while UFC does have its shortcomings, THQ does one hell of a job of trying to show the fight. what i'm saying is EA does not need to come in and force their hand, just let it go, if dana does not want EA, so be it, you won't change his mind and if UFC ends up being a better game then thats what is to be. no game can recreate the random play of professional sports, but if THQ beat EA to the punch then EA should just step aside, while an EA UFC game might be great, its not required for a great game.

  • shoelaces-4-all

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:59 am PT

    @kilerb
    yeah man! thats messed. My best friend made plans with his girlfriend on Saturday. Theyre gonna be milessss from a TV! wtf hes a bigger UFC fan than me. Hes on ufc.com and mmajunkie.com every day. Hes known about it for moths!
    thats just not cool. Missing UFC 100 is sacrilegious.

  • shoelaces-4-all

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:57 am PT

    how is EA a second rate company? isnt it like the second largest video game developer in the world? Didnt they get to that position with a foundation of average to great sports game titles? Dont they put out several AAA titles every year. Yes some are bad but osme are amazing... so yeah... maybe youre right... second rate company...

  • borg_assassin

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 7:28 pm PT

    Good...EA is a 2nd rate company anyway.

  • kilerb

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 12:11 pm PT

    Wargodadams.... Ummmmmmmmmmmm, you do what every guy that has one thing he's able to do with his friends. You tell her to consult ufc.com and click on 'events' before she makes plans for you! You've missed like 3 of the last 5. 1 of which you watched with her! Mr. No girls at UFC (unless it's my wife.) Ain't that right Buffdaddy69!?!? Even shoelaces-4-all, agrees. Infidel!

  • shoelaces-4-all

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 12:06 pm PT

    you cant miss UFC 100!

  • wargodadams

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 11:02 am PT

    Kilerb... you are such a jack-hole... and I'm going to try and be there fool! The wife made plans before me!!! What am I to do!?

  • kilerb

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 10:28 am PT

    Wargodadams... Dana White also said the last Affliction event would be their LAST. Yet, on August 1st they're doing it again! Oh, and if you loved MMA so much, you wouldn't be going to your 45th Quinceañera party this Saturday during UFC 100!!!!!!!!!! ATTACK!!!!

    @buffdaddy69 - Damn!!! Wargodadams said you're not smart enough to understand plain English and feels the need to point out things that 7 year olds know! DAYUMNNNNN!!!!

  • wargodadams

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 9:13 am PT

    Dana White may be the Anti-Christ... but he is a brilliant promoter and business man. He accurately predicted the fall of Elite and said Affliction will fail as well. Why? Because the other fight leagues are paying their fighters too much. It is not sustainable. I love MMA and agree that the UFC's rules are too restraining. Unfortunately, the United States is full of pansies who seem to have lost their instinctive taste for blood and I live in CA, the capital for candy-ass rules and laws. Pride was a Japanese promotion and if you've ever watched a Japanese prank show, you will quickly realize that the Japanese don't give two handfuls of dog feces about being over the top. The UFC would love to allow some of the things that were allowed in Pride but they needed to tone it down to get it sanctioned.

    @buffdaddy69 - I wasn't suggesting that cheating doesn't happen. I was pointing out that wrestling is fake and MMA is real as evidenced by the fact that you can bet in Vegas on the latter but not the former.

  • Keitha313

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 2:00 am PT

    THQ's game is just another rip off franchise say what you want about EA's games but atleast they change and make good improvements throughout the years lets compare all the Smackdown VS Raw's that THQ have made.... Tell me from what year did they make those games amazing?.... Dont think anyone could im glad EA are making a MMA game hate on them all you want but guarenteed you play some of their games.

    Doesnt matter for EA anyway if Dana White isnt going to give his fighters out to their game i guess EA would just settle for the best P4P MMA Fighter in the world Fedor Emenlianenko.... Also Andrei Arvoloski, Tim Sylvia (probably) Barnnet and alot more.

  • camverge

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:39 pm PT

    And as for UFC 2009 not being "realistic" enough, EA didn't have to build from the ground up on FNR4. THQ went out of the way to do A LOT of things for this game to make it a success. If I remember correctly FNR3 wasn't all that fast and all that great either. There you're just talking about two guys standing up punching the hell out of each other. Not Grappling, submitting, ground and pounding, with 6 different styles of fighting. For this being the first game on the "next-gen" consoles; it was great. THQ took a really big chance on this game and should be applauded for it, not be ripped off for it.

  • camverge

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:21 pm PT

    Wooooooow, CONGRATS EA. Won't take the chance to ever dabble in an MMA game; then suddenly someone has success at it then you hop all over it. Why do you make it so easy to hate you?

  • darksidecelica

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:36 pm PT

    aww man biowulf! Hey try watching the UFC's top 100 fights airing on spike in the evenings and tell me that its just only striking. Some of the best matches have ended on the ground..Lesnar and Couture? Speaking of, I hate Lesnar and his hammerfisting ways

  • Xcite79

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:19 pm PT

    biowulf

    No, that would be K1 where you can ONLY strike. Your only allowed to use legs, knees, and punches. You can't grabble so that doesn't make it MMA because MMA is everything such as submissions. Now your saying UFC is basically striking? If so than you would be saying they are less well rounded than other organizations but then how would people get submissions in the game? How are people like George St. Pierra deadly with submissions or Matt Hughes? Basically just striking, huh? Watch K1 and you will see JUST striking.

    Just to correct myself, I meant to say K1 not Pride.

  • psycho_spaceman

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:13 pm PT

    screw ea man.. they can't take over EVERY sport out there, man..

  • lowkey254

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:02 pm PT

    Although I'm against monopolies I'm actually for UFC and THQ... I wonder why.

  • Ryuhi-P

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:13 pm PT

    @giort08:
    Then if Karma truly doesn't exist it's spelling is completely irelevant, yet you chose to correct me on it. Let's put it a better way since my point and how I worded it bothered you. What goes around, comes around. Don't be a **** and expect sympathy when someone is a **** to you.

    That any better?

  • biowulf

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:02 pm PT

    "Pride fighter comments...

    why would pride fighters be in the game? That is not MMA. MMA is "mixed" maritial arts. There is nothing mixed about Pride. That organization is all about strking."

    The UFC stands fights up when fighters are progressing and still landing punches in dominant positions.

    The UFC caters more to striking than any other MMA league ever does, and it makes for boring fights. Not to mention the Octagon is seriously dull along side of the production values the UFC provides.

    Pride gave better fights, better fighters and better shows. It's a shame the UFC bought it out and killed it off so quickly. I lost interest in MMA pretty fast without any other leagues out there except the UFC. When you have every fighter in one boring cage it gets old fast, not to mention the UFC's rules are garbage (what kind of MMA fight doesn't condone fighting on the ground?)

    You talk about Pride = striking? UFC is all striking, no blows on the ground basically guarantees it will be stood up again after fighters fail to "keep busy".

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:34 pm PT

    " wargodadams

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:20 pm GMT

    "And just to put the icing on the cake of MMA not being fake, you cannot bet in Vegas on things where the outcome is known and you can bet on MMA in Vegas."

    Pete Rose tainted the sport of Baseball by Gambling, granted, He Gambled for his own team WINNING, But non the less, He screwed himself out of the HOF. MAnny, ARod, Sammy Sosa, MgGuire all tainted the sport of Baseball by being steriod abusers, Hell, Any competetive sport can and will be tainted in someway. Its happended in Baseball, the NFL, Hockey ect. If it can happen to one fo the three major sports in America, It can happen in the UFC. Hell, most of the time, when UFC fighters talk trash about each other and stuff, those interviews are mostly scripted, which was even confirmed by some of UFC's own fighters. Fights can and will br thrown, we just wont know until they ether get caught, or their dumbasses get themselves caught. Perfect example is Kimbo Slice. EliteXE or whatever its called, Hyping him up, having him fight against no name guys who couldnt fight, then one day, a guy with Pink Hair lays Kimbo out in 10 seconds. Anotehr example, is one of the Japenese fighting companies the UFC purchased, They were shut down, due to the Yakuza mob getting involved with them and their fighters.

  • SnowNasty

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 2:32 pm PT

    if its true, thats interesting. I remember when EA tried to step in to the wrestling genre with WCW Mayhem, and it sucked [thats not fair, i just expected so much bc it was EA, those were my BOYZ!], it couldnt stack well against the THQ Controls available for the N64 titles and the one ps1 title [wrestlemania2000,no mercy, revenge, world tour & vs the world] EA then teamed up with THQ for that def jam wrestling [w/o thq engine i would have never played that game]. So i thought this was a EA vs THQ thing at first... i didnt know UFC fight dirty like this, lol. Seems like a real corp move, lol. Lets see how it turns out tho. I've been losing faith in EA lately, and I dont think they can pull off a MMA game - stick to boxing, i love that series!

  • chesucks

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 12:08 pm PT

    Fuhrer Dana White.

  • JUSTBLAZE_928

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 12:06 pm PT

    Truexxlie Posted Jul 6, 2009 5:42 pm GMT Also, EA could easily make a great MMA game WITHOUT any UFC fighters in it.

    They could sign Fedor Emelienenko, the greatest MMA fighter in history and have him on the cover. Then get great non-UFC fighters like Shinya Aoki, Nick Diaz, Gegard Mousasi, Takanori Gomi, Hayato Sakurai, Robbie Lawler, Jake Shields, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Kid Yamamoto etc. etc.....
    Despite what the casual fan thinks. The UFC is not the beginning and end of all MMA.

    well not Arvloski anymore UFC owns his rights to his name and its been said in the MMA community if Barnett beats Fedor in August he'll have a huge UFC contract waived in his face

  • JUSTBLAZE_928

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 12:01 pm PT

    solidstein Posted Jul 6, 2009 3:42 pm GMT i mean 2k5 footbal was made 5 years ago and is still considered better in most peoples eyes then madden 09 think what they could have done in the next 5 years plus they listen to there fans and dont care about money as much

    Obviously not in enough peoples eyes because Madden still sells more than any other sports game every year. Sure its the only Licensed NFL game but there still a huge fanbase for the game such as the Madden Nation shows and the Nationwide tournaments they hold every year. Generally the people that hate Madden are the ones that are just simply horrible at the game

  • JUSTBLAZE_928

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 11:51 am PT

    Yeah Kimbos goin to compete in the Ultimate Fighter show but he is not yet under contract and will only be if he wins the competition. Dana said it himself that he is not gonna just hand out a contract to guy that was fighting in backyards in Youtube and was accused of having his fights fixed in the Elitexc only to become their main headliner but he got exposed by Seth Petruzelli.(guy with pink hair that knocked kimbo out for the Noobs)

  • gmreedy

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 11:21 am PT

    Btw its not that hard to understand all the aspects of MMA and the UFC. EA is not friggin stupid >.

  • Jamesp2005

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 10:33 am PT

    @ sieg

    It's UFC that asked for lifetime contracts, not EA.

  • xbox4life76

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 10:31 am PT

    Lots of fans like myself only know MMA cause of UFC...so when i see fighters i know, i get interested in the game...but if EA releases a solid product minus the headliners then i don't see why not...

  • Truexxlie

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:42 am PT

    Also, EA could easily make a great MMA game WITHOUT any UFC fighters in it.

    They could sign Fedor Emelienenko, the greatest MMA fighter in history and have him on the cover. Then get great non-UFC fighters like Shinya Aoki, Nick Diaz, Gegard Mousasi, Takanori Gomi, Hayato Sakurai, Robbie Lawler, Jake Shields, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Kid Yamamoto etc. etc.....
    Despite what the casual fan thinks. The UFC is not the beginning and end of all MMA.

  • Truexxlie

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 9:35 am PT

    Xcite79 what the hell are you talking about? Pride Fighting Championships has been dead for years, it was bought out by the UFC. And it was the greatest MMA competition ever. The rules were much better than in the UFC, fighters were allowed to kick and knee a downed opponent which made the fights more real than the strategic mess that a lot of these modern fights in the UFC tend to be.

    But anyway, this is just yet another example of retarded leadership from the UFC. I think the fighters should form their own union so that they can defend their own rights. What if half the fighters in the UFC got together and all signed up for this? The UFC management cant fire half their employes, the company would go broke.

  • whynotdairy

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:32 am PT

    And Dana White is a tool.

  • whynotdairy

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:31 am PT

    It's capitalism's fault. If we were all like soviet russia...

  • glassj0

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:26 am PT

    Although I admit that the UFC has grown amazingly over the last 10 years I think this move is evidence of pretty stupid leadership. If competition is something Dana Whte is worried about this bluff is definitely not the way to fend it off. If anything banning a number of proven fighters from competing only opens the door for more competition from other MMA producers. A stupid bluff...only thing it does is make EA have to shell out more money to sign the fighters they want. And as for EA producing repackaged turds year after year..."Create a Fan" lol...nough said. They deserve to have the screws put to them after so many years of spamming the public with the same game with a different cover. Its time to pay a little of that back. If only it came in the form of a better game...or a discount on next year's Madden. I wonder what gem is awaiting us in that title...create a ballboy? Maybe they should add a wrinkle where you have to manage your legal staff when one of your players runs over an eight year old child after half a bottle of Hennessy or shoots a hooker or gets caught dealing crack in a playground. I have an idea...how bout "create a &#&$&$ better football game".

  • wargodadams

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 8:20 am PT

    Solidstein - Wrestling is fake. A lot. It's male soap opera. Yes people can get hurt doing it, but the same could be said of stuntmen. As for the UFC being faked in any way... Not likely. As for them picking the most exciting fights and putting them together? Yes. Someone throwing the match? HIGHLY unlikely. Not only would you taint the SPORT (capitalized because it is a competitive sport) but your already uncertain career in the sport would be instantly over. And just to put the icing on the cake of MMA not being fake, you cannot bet in Vegas on things where the outcome is known and you can bet on MMA in Vegas.

  • Xcite79

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:57 am PT

    Pride fighter comments...

    why would pride fighters be in the game? That is not MMA. MMA is "mixed" maritial arts. There is nothing mixed about Pride. That organization is all about strking.

    meant to say K1 since Pride no longer exist. That in itself would make any Pride fighter irrelevant unless they are still competing in other organizations such as Fedor in Affliction as an example.

  • Xcite79

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:53 am PT

    This is stupid. UFC is going to limit their own talent pull so it can negatively effect them as well if they make this ban. I am tired of Dana White being so defensive with his organzation. Everything is a threat to him. They just need talent from Affliction and Dream and EA's game would have more than enough amazing fighters to compete with UFC 2009: Undisputed.

    As for EA haters, buying a franchise license isn't strong arming anything. That is simply business. Its not a taste of any medicine compared to someone making threats to hamper others careers. You people take the company too personal.

  • solidstein

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:45 am PT

    wrestling might be fake if u want to say. it is not fake its just the outcomes are already set up but in the early days of the mma the outcomes were set up to they would throw fights or set it up so the most exciting fighters would win and if wrestling is so fake how come brock lesnar a old wwe wrestler is world champion

  • solidstein

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:42 am PT

    i mean 2k5 footbal was made 5 years ago and is still considered better in most peoples eyes then madden 09 think what they could have done in the next 5 years plus they listen to there fans and dont care about money as much

  • solidstein

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:41 am PT

    as much as i dislike what the ufc is doing and i feel that the fighters should have a mma fighters union which ive been writing letters to every major school fighter for support to start...atleast EA is getting a taste of there own medicine. now maybe they will let 2k make the great sports games they can 2ksports is way better at making any sports game then any company out there

  • alkaline_DnB

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:34 am PT

    That's cool. Now EA knows what it's like to be cock blocked.

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