I think that point is one that doesn’t escape any of us. Which is why I am befuddled by why UFC would be so confident in thinking that Chuck Liddell would automatically beat Silva. I don’t understand the logic of it. This is the second straight year that UFC is putting over Vanderlei, and this time he’s wearing a PRIDE shirt.

Unknown Reporter: Is he [Silva] signed for a certain number of fights in the UFC?

White: “Yeah, three [fights]. We’re probably going to have him for three.”

The FoxSports.com left out the fact that White said “probably” and also made it seem like White said that Silva is under UFC contract, when in fact what he said was, “We’re probably going to have him for three,” which doesn’t really specify one way or the other.

Fedor was offered a fight with Tim Sylvia in October earlier in the week, according to Fedor’s management team. SOURCE: Miguel Iturrate.

Things are heating up.

Anyway, the point is that PRIDE’s business position is precarious right now, so maybe — maybe — the UFC will use its newfound cash & enhanced business position to scoop up fighters who until now have been working for their once-strong but now-weakened overseas rival. Who knows? Maybe it’s just a one-fight deal.

As for the Novemeber bout being “PR” for “Wandy himself,” as you say — No. Sure, Silva likes it. He’s a fighter. And he also stands to make some cash. But this doesn’t get done without the two companies heavily involved and moving it. No lone fighter makes something like this happen in today’s MMA landscape. If it were up to the fighters, this would have happened ages ago. But it’s not up to them. It’s up to White, Sakakibara, and impersonal economic forces.

Maybe Arona can go to the UFC too to try to get a rematch with Silva if PRIDE dies.

And Rogerio can try to fight Silva too, and Shogun can join the UFC cause Silva recommended it, and lolz.

Yeah, I noticed this too. Depressing, really. Does that mean that my initial assumption — Wow! What a massive fight! — only applies to the sporting aspect of it and not the business end?

[Pet Peeve: These in-broadcast announcements by the UFC suck. They're never scripted. White rambles. He's not well-spoken. The annoucements come across as flat when they're meant to be dramatic. The UFC needs a simple video package. A short dramatic movie introducing Silva, e.g. Something as basic as three-minute video would get fans hyped & be informative.]

>>. Why would UFC put themselves at risk on multiple levels to put over PRIDE? There are always various ways to rationalize some of the moves Dana has done before, but this one seems to be a one-sided deal in favor of the Japanese (and the fans).

Maybe. But…these sorts of discussions tend to assume a zero-sum game when it comes to stuff like this. The basic assumption seems to be that if PRIDE wins, then the UFC loses (and vice-versa). But why does it have to be that way? In fact, I don’t think it is that way. Everything we’ve seen the last several years tells us that the MMA pie is not a finite size. It’s growing. So why can’t a LIddell-Silva match continue to spur growth in both companies and in MMA, in general? More pie for everybody! Obviously, White & Sakakibara also have more single-minded selfish interests at play (as they should), but perhaps this move isn’t so risky after all? Maybe it’s just good business.

Another question: Will this be a title fight? (White said the bout was predicated on Chuck beating Sobral, so I assume it would be. But we do have that loathsome Gracie-Hughes precedent/superfight.) Especially if it is a title fights, UFC must have some idea about what the plans would be should Silva win?

Another question: Is this announcement a prelude to other PRIDE fighters making their way over to the UFC either by some sort of inter-promotional agreeement or by simple contact signings? Do you think UFC sees this as a signal of sorts to PRIDE fighters to come on over? The money-making possibilities over here for individual fighters are vast.