Post by Jason Cashe on Mar 12, 2011 16:38:57 GMT -4
sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=6209923&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
Credit: Yahoo Sports
Zuffa LLC, owner and operator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has agreed in principle to purchase Strikeforce, essentially its lone remaining competitor in the mixed martial arts market, multiple sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed to ESPN.com.
UFC president Dana White told MMAFighting.com that Zuffa had purchased Strikeforce.
An announcement could come as soon as Monday.
Negotiations have been months in the making between representatives for Zuffa and Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, which also runs the NHL's San Jose Sharks, various parties familiar with the deal said.
Silicon Valley in 2008 had agreed to a partnership with Strikeforce's parent company, West Coast Entertainment, a San Jose-based promotion created by Scott Coker in 1985.
It's unclear the extent to which Coker, the current Strikeforce CEO, played in the negotiations. Coker did not respond ESPN.com's requests for comment.
Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, which has a long-term broadcasting deal with Strikeforce, declined through a representative to comment.
Credit: Yahoo Sports
Zuffa LLC, owner and operator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has agreed in principle to purchase Strikeforce, essentially its lone remaining competitor in the mixed martial arts market, multiple sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed to ESPN.com.
UFC president Dana White told MMAFighting.com that Zuffa had purchased Strikeforce.
An announcement could come as soon as Monday.
Negotiations have been months in the making between representatives for Zuffa and Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, which also runs the NHL's San Jose Sharks, various parties familiar with the deal said.
Silicon Valley in 2008 had agreed to a partnership with Strikeforce's parent company, West Coast Entertainment, a San Jose-based promotion created by Scott Coker in 1985.
It's unclear the extent to which Coker, the current Strikeforce CEO, played in the negotiations. Coker did not respond ESPN.com's requests for comment.
Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, which has a long-term broadcasting deal with Strikeforce, declined through a representative to comment.
