Pride Office shut down, all workers fired...

[kaps]

http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/10/...workers-fired/


PRIDE office in Tokyo shut down, all workers fired
Sports Navigator (Yahoo Japan) is reporting tonight (Thursday night Japanese time) that Jamie Pollack, the Zuffa-appointed legal advisor who went to Japan shortly after Lorenzo Fertitta purchased the assets of PRIDE from Dream Stage Entertainment, has shut down the PRIDE FC Worldwide office in Tokyo. Furthermore, the report claims that Pollack fired all PRIDE WW employees with a telephone call.

PRIDE public relations boss Mr. Sasahara (who is/was close to Hustle and Nobuyuki Sakakibara) issued a public apology to the fans. Sasahara said that the PRIDE staffers are confused and bewildered by the sudden closing of the office, further adding that he feels resentment towards the way the American owners betrayed the people who supported PRIDE. Sasahara reiterated that he believed what Lorenzo Fertitta had initially stated about the future of PRIDE, but now the operation is finished and staffers couldn’t access or get to cell phones or personal computers.

Personal reaction: Naturally, the Japanese media and MMA insiders will use this story to portray Zuffa as a bunch of cold, calculated gaijin invaders who officially destroyed PRIDE. The image of UFC and its parents owners in Japan has been tarnished by the way the PRIDE situation has been handled. Is UFC’s entry into the Japanese marketplace permanently damaged?

As for Pollack firing the PRIDE employees by telephone… at least he or his family members won’t be physically harmed. Somehow, I don’t think the firings on a face-to-face basis would have turned out so well.

[kaps]

A sad day for MMA.....

[Palma]

That does suck, but in all fairness to Zuffa and I am in no way justifying Zuffa's action or how they handled this delicate situation with the remaining staff (I am sure the management received a fair severance package).

But it was the previous and original owners of Pride, Dream Stage Entertainment, and their very poor decision making that led to the demise of Pride. It was foolish of them to think that the American's would sail in and rescue them from their perdicament.

Footnote:

Allegations of links to organized crime

Currently, there is speculation in the Japanese press that DSE is a front for Yamaguchi-gumi, a notorious yakuza organization. On June 5, 2006, Fuji Television announced that they were terminating their television contract with DSE effective immediately due to a breach of contract. This leaves PRIDE and HUSTLE without a television outlet in Japan, and the lack of the substantial revenues from the deal threatens its sustainability. Furthermore, Fuji has banned anyone connected with DSE on their programs.

[dave777]

Not good to have UFC dominating the sport...

[Liaison]

So Zuffa buying PRIDE was just one big ego trip, who'd have guessed it. I can't see anyway back for MMA in Japan now, boxing/wrestling has to big a share in the market.

[number6]

http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/10/...workers-fired/


PRIDE office in Tokyo shut down, all workers fired
Sports Navigator (Yahoo Japan) is reporting tonight (Thursday night Japanese time) that Jamie Pollack, the Zuffa-appointed legal advisor who went to Japan shortly after Lorenzo Fertitta purchased the assets of PRIDE from Dream Stage Entertainment, has shut down the PRIDE FC Worldwide office in Tokyo. Furthermore, the report claims that Pollack fired all PRIDE WW employees with a telephone call.

PRIDE public relations boss Mr. Sasahara (who is/was close to Hustle and Nobuyuki Sakakibara) issued a public apology to the fans. Sasahara said that the PRIDE staffers are confused and bewildered by the sudden closing of the office, further adding that he feels resentment towards the way the American owners betrayed the people who supported PRIDE. Sasahara reiterated that he believed what Lorenzo Fertitta had initially stated about the future of PRIDE, but now the operation is finished and staffers couldn’t access or get to cell phones or personal computers.

Personal reaction: Naturally, the Japanese media and MMA insiders will use this story to portray Zuffa as a bunch of cold, calculated gaijin invaders who officially destroyed PRIDE. The image of UFC and its parents owners in Japan has been tarnished by the way the PRIDE situation has been handled. Is UFC’s entry into the Japanese marketplace permanently damaged?

As for Pollack firing the PRIDE employees by telephone… at least he or his family members won’t be physically harmed. Somehow, I don’t think the firings on a face-to-face basis would have turned out so well.

What a ****ing scumbag.

[American_Ninja]

Thank you Zuffa, and Dana White, SCUMBAGS....

[Blair_Wells#32]

yeah that is some pretty sad news for all those workers, i hope they got a big severance pakage as well.
but everyone should have saw this comin long ago, Dana White even said he can't do anything with pride over in japan 2 much messed up stuff goin on with it.

[2swell k-wells]

woooohoooooo, big party at zuffa bro's tonight.