By Eric Fisher , Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal EA Sports President Peter Moore responded sharply to UFC President Dana White regarding the ongoing MMA videogame dispute , saying White's assertion that EA passed last year on developing a game with UFC is not true. "The timing in his statements just doesn't square up," Moore said yesterday. "I've been here [at EA] just about two years now. Since I've been here, UFC has never been here [to our offices]. In fact, their exclusive deal with THQ was announced in January '07, so that had already been done. But I've been long on record that I'm a big fan of this sport, we believe in it, and we're putting together a title we believe will support the sport, bring more visibility to it, and deliver a differentiated experience." White earlier this week told MMAJunkie.com, "We put our asses on the line, THQ and the UFC, to make a video-game deal in the worst economy in the world. We go out there and do this thing, and it's successful, and now [expletive] EA Sports wants to do a videogame. Really? That's not what you told us a year-and-a-half ago." White has said repeatedly that any fighter that signs a licensing deal with EA for its game will be blacklisted from UFC. Moore yesterday did not disclose any new details on the company's ongoing efforts to sign individual fighters for the MMA title, slated for release next year, but said further announcements "are coming soon." On his blog, Moore added, "I have great respect for the organizations and individuals that have invested in the sport's growth over the past decade so this is one that is near and dear to me and I'm excited to see such good progress to date."
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| Moore Disputes Claim That EA Last Year Passed On Developing MMA Title |
