XFC President John Prisco – UFC does not corner market on the most-talented fighters, showing chinks in armor

Posted by J. Yayo Hernandez on Jun 20, 2012 in MMA, UFC

Florida based promotion XFC’s President John Prisco was recently interviewed on a variety of subjects including eventually taking on the UFC to be the industry’s standard bearer. Check out some highlights below:

On XFC’s growth

“We had a vision from the very beginning and we followed it,” Prisco said. “I really believe that if we followed that path we would get noticed. We were fortunate and we always just had a good product. It was always a very entertaining show and we always really worked hard at finding very talented fighters and matching them up real tough. It’s a real easy philosophy. You know, the sport is 25-years-old. The most talented fighters are undiscovered. UFC does not corner the market on the most-talented fighters.”

“So now you got to go out in the community and you got to find these guys. Once you find them, you’ve got to promote them well and put them on a big stage and let them be seen. Once they’re seen they become names and they can brand themselves with the XFC and they can grow with our promotion. It’s not rocket science, but it’s something really very early on we looked at and said, ‘You know what, this is the path we need to follow.’ And we’ve followed it all along and it’s worked for us.”

On the current state and future of MMA

“I am happy with what’s happening in our industry. I really believe our industry is going to be around forever,” Prisco said. “I see other promotions coming up and making moves. I don’t think UFC can hold onto this and be the premiere promotion forever. I just don’t and I think you’re starting to see some chinks in the armor now.”

“You can’t do as many shows as they’re doing and have names on every card and I think that they’re coming to the realization that they’re not invincible and it’s going to be tough for them to maintain the market share that they’ve done. I can guarantee you, we’re going to keep growing, and as a result we’re going to pull from some of that. And you know what, that makes our industry a healthier industry.”

“It doesn’t work if its just one major promotion. It doesn’t work in anything guys. Burger King and McDonald’s wouldn’t be as good as they are if they weren’t challenged by competition. You’ve got to have competition to keep a healthy industry and we’re here to compete. We’re not here for second place. I don’t buy into that crap. At the end of the day, I want to be the biggest promotion.”

Source: ProMMANow