It was announced today in a Press Conference in Japan that the HERO’S will now be replaced by DREAM. DREAM is basically some of the people who made the PRIDE and Yarennoka!! show and the people who made HERO’S mixed together to create one incredible production staff. Although all the specifics aren’t known yet the announced schedule was released and they will have 2 Grand Prix, a Lightweight and Middleweight. It should be noted that in 2007 PRIDE had plans for a Lightweight GP but they never materialized due to the sale of PRIDE. The tournament is beyond stacked with a lot of great fighters.

The competitors thus far are:

HEIWA DREAM.1 Lightweight GP 2008 Opener
Date: March 15th, 2008
Place: Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan

LW GP 1st Round Fights:
J.Z. Calvan vs. Shinya Aoki

LW GP Participants:
Andre Dida
Mitsuhiro Ishida
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Caol Uno
Joachim Hansen
Gilbert Melendez
Luiz Azeredo
Artur Oumakhanov
Koutetsu Boku
Jung Bu-Kyung
Kazuyuki Miyata
Luiz Firmino

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UFC Press Conference

Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, and UFC CFO John Mulkey

Report by Brandt D. and Johnny P. of MMAOpinion.com

JOHN MULKEY (UFC Chief Financial Officer)
He gives a statement on Couture’s earnings from UFC this year. Here’s the breakdown:

UFC 68:
250k fight and 250k fight bonus
$900k based on 500k+ buys

UFC 74:
250k purse
485k buys
787k extra based on ppv buys
1.072M total

Regarding Couture’s claims of not being paid all the money from UFC 68, Mulkey claims Couture was paid 5 separate checks, and all but 17k has been cashed.

The term off the books was used a lot by Couture, Mulkey says that the money is taxable.

Dana White Statement
Dana said Couture wanted 500k signing bonus
White says Couture called him. Couture wanted back in w/ a signing bonus of half a million dollars. He explains the UFC’s concerns. They decided to give him 250 K up front, and 250 K after as his signing bonus, NOT the fight bonus.

Dana claims Couture was 436 K off on after-fight bonus. His tone showed frustration, though e was trying to be as factual and non-slanderous as possibly. I’d say he was looking to come across as sympathetic.

He explains how they cut fight bonuses after w/o having to do so contractually. Says nothing is “off the books”. Was upset over Randy calling the UFC a monopoly.

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