[EmpireWF]

Mark Cuban is not one businessman to be satisfied with what he has. He wants more and one of his newest business ventures is in the world of MMA. He spoke to MMAWeekly's Radio show recently in an extensive interview, discussing a wide array of topics.

Some excerpts...

Cuban's interest in MMA

We’ve had it on HDNet on Friday nights for a while now,” said Cuban speaking about MMA. “We’ve worked with the WEC before they got bought, we’ve worked with Art of War, the IFL, you name it. I wasn’t really a fan until we put it on and I started watching it more and more and got more and more into it.

Cuban on the pay scale for MMA fighter

It’s not so much what they get paid per fight, it’s a question whether or not they can do it full time or not. The way the contracts are structured, they don’t know when they’re going to fight or if they’re going to fight again, and unfortunately some folks hold their next fight over their head using it as pressure to extend a contract or any number of things and that puts these guys in a bad position.

I do see us trying to set relationships with fighters so that they have a guaranteed salary whether they fight one time or four times or five times, and if they fight more often the salary becomes a draw against their purses and if they fight less because they’re hurt, they don’t have to worry about how they’re going to pay their bills.

Cuban on the lack of a union for MMA fighters

Fighters are in the same position the NBA was in the ’60s where they had managers, but they didn’t have agents. So there’s a lot of smart people managing fighters, but traditionally they’re guys they sparred with who didn’t quite make it or guys who have gotten out of the fight game or guys who were boxing managers as opposed to the NBA where managers typically help develop careers, but it’s typically agents who negotiate the contracts.

I’ve talked to several NBA agents and encouraged them to sign up fighters and to step up and partner with the managers. And I think a union would help them as well.

Cuban on a possible business relationship with WWE

We’ve been in discussions with the WWE, Vince and Linda McMahon and Shane about doing some cross promotions under the HDNet Fights banner,” said Cuban. “Since they do a great job of putting together events, within some of the restraints that I talked about, the no ring girls and obviously the events have to be straight up, there’s no scripted anything, but they want to get into that side of the business. They realize that if they just brand it as WWE, that people aren’t going to believe that it’s not scripted, but if they work with Mark Cuban and HDNet Fights and the Dallas Mavericks approach, then people will trust it.

Cuban on negotiations with PRIDE heavyweight champ Fedor Emelianenko

I probably talk to White Chocolate Management (Fedor’s U.S. representatives) every day via email. It’s one of those things where it’s got to be the right deal for both of us, but at the same time there’s certain things he’s looking for that we’re fine with that we think create win-win situations for both of us.

There's much more in the interview, it's fun to read. Check it out when you have time.