UFC buy Pride!

[Aunty Ichigeki]

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...3669&zoneid=13

[RASor]

Osu,

This is a sound strategy to provide a deep fighter's bench. Also, it could provide viewers of UFC and Pride more variety of fights. The best of the West going against the best of the East. A Championship fight for the World Title.

Either expand and grow or just wither and die. I see this move as a good move. More fights and better fighters. More MMA techniques and strategies.

Just my opinion. Osu.

[kakatootoshi]

Just my karate fantasies.
Imagine if someone can buy up IKO-1 and WKO and merge them together.
The first step towards the unification of Kyokushin!

OSU!

[smoothsake]

Actually kakatootoshi-san, that's not a bad idea. I don't know how the internal finances are drawn up but if one organization had deep pockets and wanted to unify it wouldn't be a bad idea to just buy out the other organization, restructure the management, and combine the workforce (or karateka) under a single banner. It happens in the US almost daily.

As far as Pride / UFC... doesn't look like much will change in terms of fights in US and Japan, but I foresee the Pride brand diminishing over time.

[ibuki]

Originally Posted by kakatootoshi

Just my karate fantasies.
Imagine if someone can buy up IKO-1 and WKO and merge them together.
The first step towards the unification of Kyokushin!

OSU!

OSU kaka-san
That is a very good idea but the money that is in the Kyokushin industry is nothing compared to the money that is in the MMA business. That is why such a merge of organizations is possible there- the interest is very big and the people with big money that can actually afford to make suche operations are also for the big show, not for the martial art. That leads me to another counterpint of this great dream. UFC and Pride are organizations that regularly hold competitions under their own rules, while IKO1 and WKO not only organise the competitions but they also are responsible for other stuff like gradings, teachings the students, organising seminars, etc.

[Fire!]

Don't forget other organizations as well.
Imagine having a world tournament every 4 years and having eliminations to the world tournament to select the best fighetrs around the globe.

osu

[Sonik]

My dream for Kyokushin is this: the IKO leaders gather around to form a new organisation that comprises all fighters to compete in a single event - The Kyokushin-ryu Karate World Tournament. This organisation would be lead by Sosai's family and the different IKO leaders. They could still keep their own internal tournaments though. Just an idea.


Osu

[kakatootoshi]

Dear Sonik,
I think that idea has been tried before in 1999 when IKO-2 wanted Okamoto to fight Filho, but IKO-1 turned down the offer.
I think a unified championship is difficult enough for all the leaders to accept.
Until that day comes, we should all bring the attitude we have here back to the real world, and not to carry the animosity of some of the leaders to the next generation.
Some of the white belts here are going to become Shihans or branch chiefs one day, who knows?

OSU!

[nobori]

Oh,PRIDE without stomb kicks...
Shogun,Silva and me in grief...