Bruce Buffer has become a key player in the UFC’s rise to fame and success. Additionally, his signature announcements and catchphrase, “It’s Time!”, is an integral part of the UFC experience. This powerful phrase has become synonymous with the start of a UFC fight. Fans go crazy for his echo in arenas around the world. However, Buffer’s journey to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in combat sports wasn’t always smooth. In the early days of his career, he faced a legal battle to protect his and his brother’s unique catchphrase.

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This legal battle proved to be a significant challenge, but Buffer’s determination and passion for the sport drove him to overcome the obstacle and secure the rights to his catchphrase. Recently, he revealed the reasons behind his case against Disney.

Today, Bruce Buffer is one of the most famous announce in the UFC. He continues to bring excitement and energy to the octagon, delivering each announcement with his signature style and flair. His contributions to the sport have cemented his place in the history of the UFC and his legacy continues to grow with each passing fight.

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Bruce Buffer: Battle for catchphrase ownership

Bruce Buffer was taken by surprise when he came across one of Jackie Chan’s movies. That’s how he heard his famous catchphrase, “Let’s get ready to rumble,” being used excessively. This catchphrase was actually owned by the Buffer brothers and its unauthorized use in the movie was a direct infringement of their intellectual property rights.

He said, “One time there was a movie called Rumble in the Bronx, with Jackie Chan. Before it came out, I’m you know, eating my Cheerios or whatever open up the LA times and it’s like four pages on for four pages for five pages.”

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Get ready to rumble, you know Jackie Chan. I’m like, whoa where’s that come from,” he further added.

Jackie Chan

Imago

This realization was a shock for Buffer, who was simply reading the LA Times and enjoying his Cheerios when he came across the movie. In response, he quickly contacted his lawyer to take legal action against the movie’s production company.

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Buffer reveals how he handled his first legal case

Bruce Buffer’s legal battle against New Line Cinema over the use of his catchphrase in one of Jackie Chan’s movies was a significant event in his career. It was the first legal case of Buffer and his brother. They were quickly out of pocket by over six figures within just two months. The experience was both scary and overwhelming for Buffer. Additionally, he struggled to navigate the complexities of the legal system.

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He said, “So this was the first legal case we had. We went to court against New Line Cinema, and we were out of pocket over six figures within two months. You know how fast that could go and it gets kind of scary, right.

In the midst of the legal battle, Buffer was fortunate enough to find a great attorney who helped him to overcome the obstacles and secure a victory in court. Speaking about the experience, the attorney became Buffer’s contingency attorney. They worked to protect the catchphrase from future infringement.

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Buffer’s legal battle protected his rights to his catchphrase. Moreover, it also solidified his reputation as a professional in the industry. It demonstrated his commitment to the sport and his willingness to fight for what he believed in. Today, Bruce Buffer remains a respected and sought-after announcer in the UFC, bringing excitement and energy to each and every fight.

Watch This Story – Five Surprising Facts About UFC Announcer Bruce Buffer

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Himakshu Vyas

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Himakshu Vyas is a Combat Sports author at Essentiallysports. He is passionate about sports, with soccer and MMA being the sports he is most involved in. Aside from that, he follows the global soccer scene. He is a die-hard Manchester United supporter for over a decade. Himakshu loves to play soccer with his friends a few times a week and indulges in MMA training daily to stay fit. This has helped him gain the perspective of a participant in the sports world. He is a huge fan of the first UFC two-division champion 'The Notorious' Connor McGregor and Jon Jones. He respects and looks up to MMA athletes, as he believes the world of MMA is teeming with disciplinarians and athletes who devote their lives to achieving a god-like physique to compete at the highest level. Apart from sports, he loves to travel and cook. He likes to explore different cuisines on the road and creates his own version of the recipes.

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Rohini Kottu