Dream/K-1 unlikely to last past 1st quarter of 2011

http://www.cagepotato.com/feg-trouble-financial-backing-falls-through-and-nye-tv-deal-has-yet-be-struck-dream-and-k-1-life-sup

Quote :

The plausibility that DREAM and K-1 will continue past the first quarter of 2011 is looking bleak as the promotions' parent consortium, Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) has failed to secure much needed financial backing.

A $200 million deal that was in the works with Japanese capital investment firm PUJI has collapsed according to Fighters Only and it seems that the reason the agreement fell through was because the popularity of kickboxing and MMA in The Land of the Rising Sun" is waning.

Some red flags that signalled to PUJI that Japan's interest in combat sports is on the decline were a dramatic drop in advertising dollars, live gate revenue and FEG's inability to secure a television deal for its K-1 Dynamite! New Year's Eve show this year. Investors weighed the risks of the deal and decided that FEG had grossly exaggerated the value of the company and the potential revenue that could be made in Japan, given the current state of the sport in the country.

The fact that several fighters have yet to be paid for FEG fights they competed in under both the K-1 and DREAM banners in 2010 speaks volumes about the dire circumstances the company is in. When you aren't making money and you have employees whose exorbitant salaries aren't being paid, maybe it's time to re-evaluate your place in the business world.

Fight Opinion's Zach Arnold lays out some scenarios that could keep the struggling company afloat for at least one or two more shows if it pays the Tokyo Broadcasting System to broadcast its events or gives them the broadcast rights for free to ensure that its shows make it onto TV in Japan (HDNet broadcasts FEG shows in North America), but if that happens, then it isn't likely that K-1 and DREAM will survive until next spring.

No New Years Eve Japan show on TV maybe? Sad for the sport.

Sad to see them go.

I wonder if guys like Aoki/Kawajiri will go to Sengoku or come to the States

bobbitt15 wrote:

I wonder if guys like Aoki/Kawajiri will go to Sengoku or come to the States

thats actually a very good question

Shit... Does this mean we're going to delete the K-1 section and strip me of the most prestigious mod status on the board?

LTFG wrote:

Shit... Does this mean we're going to delete the K-1 section and strip me of the most prestigious mod status on the board?

HAHA, i think the new guys trying to take that status away from you... he's all over that board

lol... Out of respect I'll keep my thoughts to myself on that one.

LTFG wrote:

Shit... Does this mean we're going to delete the K-1 section and strip me of the most prestigious mod status on the board?

LMAO this maybe the funniest reply all day LOL.

No, we'll just change the section to "It's Showtime" as that will likely be the refugee camp for all the exiled K1 fighters.

In seriousness though, someone will purchase the K1 brand. No way does K1 go away.

Does this mean Alistair Overeem will actually defend his Strikeforce title now?

Ya I wonder. Like I said elsewhere Strikeforce has to be rooting for K1's collapse. They may have had a hand in it anyway with as bad as they made Dream look during that one sided fighter exchange.

No offense to people who like it but I hope it does go under. UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator would become even better.

You're insane if you want the biggest and greatest kickboxing organization to go out of business so their kid brother MMA promotion's 12 fighters can go to Bellator or some place.

Not really a kickboxing fan. Also Dream falling is what I really want.

Dream failing is good for everyone, but K-1 not surviving would be a tragedy.

Fair enough. I hope for you kickboxing fans it doesn't fall then.

freakzilla316ftw wrote:

Does this mean Alistair Overeem will actually defend his Strikeforce title now?

LOL I hope so

I've seen that Aldo highlight a bunch of times, but every time I see it for a half second it makes me believe MMA is too brutal and should be banned.

Only a couple of K1 guys even do MMA. K1 and especially K1 Max are bad ass. Why any fan would want them to go under is crazy.

GDPofDRC wrote:

Only a couple of K1 guys even do MMA. K1 and especially K1 Max are bad ass. Why any fan would want them to go under is crazy.

Ya but remember, freakzilla said so. I got one video that would make him a huge K-1 fan over night. Chock this up to the same thing that made him argue female MMA is for domestic violence advocates and that the WEC weight classes suck.