Dana White “At War” With EA Sports

UFC 100 may be over, but UFC president, Dana White is keeping the action going by waging a war on EA Sports. The outspoken White told MMAJunkie.com that EA threw the first punch by saying MMA wasn’t a real sport.

“EA Sports told us, ‘You’re not a real sport,'” White said. “‘We wouldn’t touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this.'”

With EA Sports passing on the rights to the UFC’s video game license, rival software company THQ elected to partner with mixed martial arts’ biggest promotion. The company’s first effort, “UFC Undisputed 2009,” has shipped approximately 2 million units since its May release according to White, and the fiery exec is upset that EA Sports is now changing their tune with the recent announcement of a forthcoming “EA Sports MMA” title.

White also confirmed that any fighter who signs with EA Sports will be blacklisted from the UFC.  Right or wrong, it is what has been decided and the UFC is the biggest MMA promotion out there.  It might not be worth it for any current or potential UFC fighter to go against White and the UFC.

With the mainstream success of UFC and UFC Undisputed 2009, EA is already facing an uphill battle. Add to that the fact that EA will have to find fighters who are willing to go against the UFC; EA might be a little late to the party. We’ve seen what an exclusive license can do for a game. The UFC is the NFL of MMA.  Did EA have a change of heart and now wants a piece of the MMA rage? They might have missed a big opportunity, if in fact, White is telling the truth.