Rumor: UFC, Jon Fitch Reach a Deal; Update: Dave Meltzer Confirms UFC-Jon Fitch Settlement

Well that was a waste of a day

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My sentiments exactly. Ended up being a ton of sound, very little fury.

by Michaelthebox on Nov 20, 2008 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not really

We got to see two sides of a coin. We saw a hero who risked his life to save two people he didn’t know (Goran Reljic) and then we got to see Fitch cave in.

by mythbuster on Nov 20, 2008 6:41 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Ha.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Nov 20, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think some really interesting things came out of this, such as the issue of likeness rights, merchandising, etc. Luke’s been crowing about this for a while now, with not much attention paid by the general community mostly because there was no real face to it. The Fitch fiasco put a face to all of this, and all of a sudden, posts on blogs like this swelled up with people taking up sides, UFC vs Fitch.

I think this is just the tip of the iceberg and it just foreshadows the potential problems to come. Fights, agents and promoters alike are gonna have to reassess this stuff, as will the fans.

by pud333 on Nov 20, 2008 7:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, the past 24 hours have been…um…exciting?

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don’t hurt yourself backpedaling, Jon.

by subo on Nov 20, 2008 6:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

How will I get the last 18 hours back?

by subo on Nov 20, 2008 6:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thank the good lord.

by Rundownloser on Nov 20, 2008 6:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who had the Million Dollar Man quote somewhere else here today?

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 6:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fagan

“Everybody has a price”

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Huzzah.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Nov 20, 2008 6:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Time to do the right thing?

With many new details of this affair now coming to light, will the BloodyElbow editors do the honorable thing and write a long retraction of all the slanderous things you said and implied?

Or will you allow the misconceptions you fabricated to linger among online MMA fans so that you may continue pushing the “Us & Fighters vs. the Evil Empire” line for page views?

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 6:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

generalizations are bad.

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What slanderous things?

by Rundownloser on Nov 20, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Conflating the merchandising contract with the video game contract, claiming the UFC wanted fighters to sign away their likeness in perpetuity, implying the merchandising contract was exclusive, etc.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 6:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I saw posters do that but I don’t recall BE employees doing anything of the sort.

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Employee is a bit of a misnomer, I think, as they don’t get paid crap.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Nov 20, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Touche. BE Team Awesome Members?

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I want a decoder ring.

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The main source of my beef is the style of journalism practiced by MMA blogs. All the blogs are competing to be the first to break news, so they rush into posting half-baked information and, worst of all, harshly worded commentary based on one-sided and very incomplete information. If BloodyElbow had waited a day, they wouldn’t have to do 5 updates to their stories and rant about shit that’s not even happening.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 6:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And I would have had to do actual work instead of internet posting, so they did their good deed for the day.

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If they waited a day, it would have been over.

wtf?

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. This is just typical of someone who doesn’t understand blogs.

Blogging is about real time. Yes, there is an effort to get facts straight, but you work with the conditions you have at the time. This situation changed by the second and I worked with what I had. Did I have my own opinion? Yes. But everything I argued for I cited. You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, syzygy2005.

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You do realize that this style of blogging is very much like gossip?

Report rumor by rumor, add your own commentary to the incomplete information, stir up some emotions, damage reputations. The nuanced truth of the situation doesn’t come out until months down the road when enough things have become public.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is it "state the obvious" day?

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if this is obvious to Luke.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, its not, because your point is nonsense.

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I love it when you guys flame back. I’m ready for an articulate rant.

This guy is trolling. He has offered criticism and nothing else. Why even bother?

by Heenan on Nov 20, 2008 7:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m trying to have a discussion, I’m not trolling, nor do I want to be flamed.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was posting your words

Sorry, my intent didn’t come through. Blogs and a comment board are for real time discussions, of course things will change as more information becomes available. This is not a website about the history of MMA, this is real time info, real time reporting of Fitch’s audio interviews, Dana’s statements to reporters, press releases etc,.. etc..

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 7:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know what you were doing. The point I’m making is that Luke would actually disagree with this characterization of BE’s style of blogging.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said, you don't know what you're talking about

This format has nothing to do with “gossip”. That is unspecified, non-linked, non-verified innuendo. Find one example of something we didn’t cite, couch or link. You won’t.

And realtime is the appeal of blogs. The benefit of them is not just that you are free from the machine of editorial directors and publishers, its that you voice the world as you see it. That includes what information is available at the time.

No one’s reputation was damaged by ANYTHING false that was said here. Everything Fitch said he said on his own and we cited it as such. Dana said what he said and we cited it as such. We formed our own opinion in the interm. There’s nothing controversial about it.

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I’m pretty sure the UFC’s reputation was damaged as evidenced by the masses of frothing commenters in the articles. Instead of waiting for or (heaven forbid) researching the entire story, you posted bits and pieces as they became available.

I don’t see how the fact that the bits and pieces have URLs attached to them makes this responsible journalism.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps I’ll direct you to what a blog really is.

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it’s really clear you don’t understand the concept of blogging.

The way your argument is framed, I could point to any of the articles with Fitch’s statements in USA Today. By your logic, all of the facts were not out and they were publishing things that could damage reputations.

My job is to talk about the world as I see it. If I say something is true, I have evidentiary grounds to uphold. That’s why linking citing and providing nuance is a must. Responsible journalism does not mean I protect people’s views from themselves or others.

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think by posting information as soon as it hits you deprives you of the ability to write nuanced stories.

Also, that interview was from the USA Today blogging section.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why don’t you start a MMA news site? You sound really qualified.

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That comment is neither here nor there…

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Or a site on philosophy.

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think by posting information as soon as it hits you deprives you of the ability to write nuanced stories.

So stories that inspire lively debate about a long-standing issue within capitalist and non-capitalist nation-states around the world, and in fact the very core struggle of mankind’s will against the responsibilities of her harsh environment isn’t nuanced enough?

“Fitch wasn’t about to sign a contract for a video game yesterday because his boss was in a bad mood, but then he talked to another boss and now all is fine.”

Lacks the energy and nuance I think.

But even moreso, everyone here has already mentioned that you seem to simply be un-approving of the very nature of blogs wherein people post and discuss a current or past event/item and share information and ideas about said event/item, and seem to really just want to know what’s already happened as hard facts.

Oh well.

by asa on Nov 21, 2008 10:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t conflate it, I made it 100% clear they were separate.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 6:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From “Will Jon Fitch Open the Flood-gates?” by Mike Fagan:

“Fitch, meanwhile, feels that UFC pay and exposure don’t make up what he loses in giving away his likeness and name rights to Zuffa and feels he can make a comfortable living fighting elsewhere. Hence, Jon Fitch no longer is employed by Zuffa LLC.”

I don’t consider this 100% clear, or very much in context.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mike Fagan and Jim Rome are not the same person.

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No kidding. That’s why I wrote that the post was written by Mike Fagan.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The site has different bloggers with different views.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is it “state the obvious” day?

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You seem to not understand the concept of a blog, so I’ll just leave it there. Your view is akin to saying a blogger focusing on a war shouldn’t make comments based on real time news he hears because history will have a much more complete view of things. Maybe a blogger in 2003 should have waited until now to talk about the war.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Are you really saying the only choices are a) wait 5 years, or b) post as soon as it hits your RSS feed? I think 24 hours would be better than both.

But I’m not even suggesting you wait that long either. I suggest you write an article that shows the entire story of the matter and point out where you were wrong in your previous posts.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No one does that ever, anywhere. You write the story when you think you have a story to write.

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 7:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Newspapers do just that every day.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Newspapers don’t have the ability to update their papers as new information comes in.

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 7:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a limitation that has probably contributed to better journalistic practices. Instead of publishing an article every 30 minutes as information comes in, they wait a whole day (or longer) until they have an entire story to publish.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But as long as all the facts are pointed out does it matter which method is used? I mean, what did BE put out that wasn’t true?

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My point is that they put out a very one-sided view of the events by posting bits of information as they came in. Had they waited 24 hours or did their own research, they could have come up with a nuanced view of the situation and an interesting view of the state of the MMA business.

Here’s some of the stuff that they missed:

-Existing bout agreements signed by all UFC fighters already grant UFC non-exclusive LIFETIME video game rights. This contract moved it up to exclusive.
-Jon Fitch was not actually upset about the contract, but the manner in which it was presented.
-Other fighters, such as ATT, didn’t think the new agreement was much of a concern and readily signed the contract. Big name fighters also didn’t have a problem with the contract.
-The matter lasted less than 24 hours and ended up being resolved amicably within a day.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the story was presented in its entirety like this, the readers wouldn’t have responded as viscerally and angrily as they did.

I’m saying this kind of reporting damages the UFC’s, and by proxy, the sport’s reputation and ability to develop a loyal fanbase.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, we didn’t miss any of those. You just didn’t read everything.

And ATT isn’t a fighter. It’s a fight team, boss man.

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you seriously going to give me crap about word omissions?

I’m saying the problem is that you post pieces of a story hours apart, allowing public opinion to be polarized and provoking emotional responses fromthe readers. This damages the sport and the fanbase.

I’m suggesting that either you a) wait 24 hours until you have most of a story, or b) post as you normally do, but at the end provide a wrap-up for your readers that presents both sides of a story, so that the audience isn’t left embittered and disenchanted with the sport.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is how every blog operates. That by definition is a BLOG. MMAJunkie is over that way. You’re basically asking BE to stop being a blog and become a newspaper.

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 8:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What you just said is option A. I also suggested an option B.

However, I don’t really believe we will see either implemented, but I’m hoping the BE editors get a bit more perspective on their influence on the sport. I’m convinced the UFC hate-fests promoted by this type of blogging are damaging the sport.

Maybe that’s too optimistic as well, seeing as how Luke Thomas responds to reader criticism by covering his ears and screaming “you don’t get it, you don’t get it!”

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Troll.

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s the second time someone has accused me of trolling on this thread. I don’t really know what to say. When someone makes a point you don’t like, you call it trolling?

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 8:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You’re not trolling, you’re just wrong.

BE posting the info about this as it came to light will damage the UFC’s reputation about as much as losing Jon Fitch would damage UFC’s PPV buys.

If you can find an article about this whole thing that’s more nuanced that the info posted in the last 24 hours on this site, I’ll be very surprised.

Otherwise, if you don’t like it, in the words of DW himself, you can “get the fuck out”.

by thepenismightier on Nov 20, 2008 8:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Read the hate-fests from the original posts, and tell me those people aren’t upset. You think those emotions and viewpoints disappear when BE (or whatever blog) publishes another story with more information?

Read Sherdog or the Underground and see how many people still carry around misconceptions about what has transpired in the affairs involving Matt Lindland, Frank Shamrock, Randy Couture, Matt Cuban, Tito Ortiz, and others. Incomplete information has a damaging effect on people’s beliefs and opinions.

It causes real long-term damage to the UFC and the sport.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If this story gets any real traction, you might see more nuanced and complete coverage from print media.

There is also the other alternative that I’ve been suggesting all along: now that most of the story is available, BE should do a balanced and informed piece on the role of managers, contracts, ancilliary rights, etc in today’s MMA business. It might help undo some of the damage.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You’re greatly over dramatizing the drama, this is just how mma on the internet works.

Look at the post about ATT not having any problems with the merchandising agreement or the video game agreement, it has like 10 posts.

Whenever anything remotely negative about the UFC comes out, people jump all over it, if there is something positive, people ignore it.

BE did a good job of keeping people apprised of the situation as it happened. They reported that Fitch was cut, when he said stuff they reported it, they reported what Dana said, they reported what ATT said (and everyone else ignored it) and they put their opinion in throughout.

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 9:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

or b) post as you normally do, but at the end provide a wrap-up for your readers that presents both sides of a story, so that the audience isn’t left embittered and disenchanted with the sport.

His job is not to provide both sides of a story, that is for the people involved to do, as they did. His ~~job~~ chosen craft is to express and share his feelings on current events. If his one-sided reporting is not to your liking, and you’re already familiar with RSS, why not find good writers of different viewpoints to subscribe to?

That would help you avoid the emotional apocalypse of Luke posting an opinion with opposing viewpoints nowhere to be seen other than three inches below.

by asa on Nov 21, 2008 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nor are Mike Fagan and Michael Rome.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Nov 20, 2008 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice catch

Zipped right past me.

by mythbuster on Nov 20, 2008 8:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

?

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t play dumb Rome. You know that everyone at BE carries around Dana White voodoo dolls, worship at the altar of PRIDE, and that Luke Thomas masquerades as Matt Brown as an inside agent.

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 6:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

at a minimum at least post what the head of ATT said bout this whole thing…

It was a non issue that fitch’s managers wanted to use to get one over on Dana.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

front it.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the word you’re looking for is libelous. Also, I think you’re more than a little off base with your claims.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Nov 20, 2008 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would appreciate your perspective on my comments if they were deeper than attempts at a snarky reply.

by syzygy2005 on Nov 20, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Somehow I doubt that.

Oops, did it again.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Nov 20, 2008 7:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This was all just a ploy...

To steal the spotlight from Goran Reljic

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Actually I posted it firts on the comments sections but who’s counting :)

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 6:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dude…you must have like 1,000 inside contacts in the MMA world…

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll vouch, he’s dastardly in his pronouncements but they were indeed correct as well first.

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just like that popular couple in high school

They are on again. Off again. You never know whats going on with those crazy kids.

by Discman2 on Nov 20, 2008 6:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I guess he didnt think his “pubes” were worth much after all.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 6:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And so ends the tale of Jon Fitch, folk hero.

by Brett Jones on Nov 20, 2008 6:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Hahahahha, can he keep his theme song?

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we bump the rescuer to the top fo this page now?

rumor has it he left kicked the windsheild through

yepp

so… i take it cain and kos are safe as well or what

by dbcb on Nov 20, 2008 6:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yes… the bitch slap is in effect.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2 words-

Masuki Bance

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

All ado about nothing...

Dana White is the insane one…good thing Lorenzo puts him in check.

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 6:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

True true

you notice he called Lorenzo and not Dana. This adds to my theory that Dana is about three inches from the door.

by mythbuster on Nov 20, 2008 6:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 6:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tito said the same

He said he would deal with Lorenzo if back in the UFC, NOT DANA!

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 20, 2008 6:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Jeeze, Dana should step down

That big old meanie.

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know, just saying… you’ve been posting snotty comments all day. If you can’t think of something to say that adds to a discussion, you should probably say nothing.

by mythbuster on Nov 20, 2008 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Whiners bother me.

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dana isn’t going anywhere.

They would have tossed him when over the Tito flap if there was a chance, Tito from the last time there was drama is

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 6:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not so sure.

I’ve made the argument before. Rome posted an article a while back about Lorenzo taking a more active role in the UFC, resigning his position in Station casino (this is before the economic troubles). With some of the changes we’ve seen, I’ve wondered how much control Dana actually has, and if he only still has an actual job because he’s sort of set himself up as the face of the UFC.

by mythbuster on Nov 20, 2008 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Cop Bad Cop…

At the end the Grim Reaper got his soul

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 6:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Summary of the Last Two Days

Dana Screws S*** Up
Lorenzo fixes it

End of Story

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 20, 2008 6:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Haha, what a goon. It is classic good cop, bad cop. Even you fall for it. Dana and Lorenzo are inseparable.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You’re cynical aren’t you? What has Lorenzo done to make you think so?

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 6:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dana and Lorenzeo are like blood brothers. They live next door to each other, their families are inseparable, they are inseparable. There is zero power struggle. They are just using each other’s strengths to get what they want.

Let’s review the final result:
—Jon Fitch is back
—He signed the original merch deal
—All agents are on notice about playing hardball
—Nobody will refuse to sign it.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s one conclusion and a cynical one at that. Lorenzo is Dr. Evil, a nice man normally but behind the scenes is a diabolical schemer. Dana White is his attack dog and only does his bidding?

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, thats not what I think. I think they are business partners who do what it takes to get things done, and exploit what they are both good at.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 7:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You can see this two ways.

Dana is an ego maniacal who goes out of control only to have Lorenzo with his cool head comes in and settle things amicably.
or
Lorenzo and Dana White are diabolical schemers.

Since neither of us know the real facts, I prefer to think Lorenzo’s a good guy until proven otherwise. You can form your own opinion.

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They don’t have to be diabolical schemers to have a good cop/bad cop strategy.

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That is what he’s missing for some reason. I just think they’re smart businesspeople. I’m not making a moral judgment about it. I think they clearly outplayed Fitch’s management.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What up Cyph

  I’m not asking disrespectfully, i’m not trying to single you out at all, and I hardly ever comment, I like to leave it to you guys (fun stuff by the way, all of you!) , but I was wondering why you think Lorenzo Fertitta is a good guy?
  I don’t mean to say that he isn’t a good guy, but since he isn’t a very public person, i was wondering if there was some cool shit that he’s done that sways your opinion in that direction. My first thought is that he’s a Billionaire who came up in Vegas, and my gut tells me that those Vegas cats have to be smarter than the av-e-rage bear.
  Remember in “The Usual Suspects” when Kevin Spacey’s character said, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist?” I think this is probably one of those situations, I mean in Vegas, you gotta be RUTHLESS, but still be able to get people to eat out of your hand, a tough balancing act to pull off. I think that’s why he’s a Billionaire and Dana isn’t. You can’t make that kind of money without stepping on some toes and being a badass in some sense of the word.
  Again, no disrespect, not trying to single you out, i’m just a bit baked and having a moment. I agree with a lot of your other opinions, but on this one, I’m on board with the Good Cop/Bad Cop theory.

"The path to enlightenment is through suffering"

by RearNakedChoker on Nov 21, 2008 4:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I assume everyone’s a decent person until they prove otherwise. =)

by cyph on Nov 21, 2008 10:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, it seems pretty dumb to play good cop/bad cop considering this does more damage to their reputation than any perceived benefits that may come out of this. Does this put everyone on notice? Yes, but this also makes everyone more wary of the UFC, turns away the fans, and generally put the UFC management in a bad light. It just makes Dana White and the UFC ultimate douche bags. I can’t imagine that they actually concocted this douchebaggery schemes rather than the fact taht Dana White just flew off the handle which is his modus operandi.

by cyph on Nov 21, 2008 10:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No they both do what they do very well and believe me some of the moves Dana does look real crazy but makes the UFC what it is.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 7:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the 10 other good cop bad cop analogies gave it away.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 20, 2008 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you know you should really look into being Josh Gross’s sidekick

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 7:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Why is that?
He is a pretty great guy.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 20, 2008 7:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How many people wanna be John Fitch

in the next video game?

by dualdiagnosis on Nov 20, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This guy

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I want to be champ with everyone.

But he won’t be played first.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Nov 20, 2008 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So did Fitch sign the “merchandising contract” or the Mike Swick-style “special contract”?

by Frank_Castle on Nov 20, 2008 6:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Christian Wellisch has also been reinstated.

But no one cares…

by Eugene Schelfaut on Nov 20, 2008 6:50 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

:( Awwwwwwww

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL I just realized that.

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He had agreed to sign the merchandising contract but was fired as part of the blow-up between Dana White and Zinkin Entertainment, his management company.

He signed the contract and they fired him anyway. LOL.

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 6:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, that is just wrong.
Talk about innocent bystander.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 20, 2008 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That just goes to show that this was never about video games.

This was a power play and a threat to the AKA agents. If Fitch and Wellisch are back in and signed whatever Dana wanted them to sign, ZUffa 1 Zelkin 0.

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who is Zelkin?

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I meant Zinkin, I suck.

by Phildo on Nov 20, 2008 7:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A company that makes shitty routers…

by Tonley on Nov 20, 2008 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s Belkin. =)

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Holy Marsh Mellows Batman!!!

You mean I can now play the UFC video game as Christian Wellisch

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 7:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can I be Shane Carwin?

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll have a mod made for it

that lets me play Carano ;)

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Nov 20, 2008 7:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Up, up, down, down, left, down, right, up, a, b, b, a

Once you hear the confirmation sound of Goldberg saying ‘and here we go’…you will get to play her nude.

by Slica on Nov 20, 2008 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You entered the wrong code

“B A B A start” will get you sloshed Mauro kicking off the nude-mod.

by asa on Nov 21, 2008 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Bad news is Dana has yet to see what Fitch has said.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 7:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Stay tuned tomorrow as the saga continues...

by cyph on Nov 20, 2008 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I was wondering about that. Any predictions on the fallout? Gono-Fitch moved to undercard?

by Luke Thomas on Nov 20, 2008 7:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it’ll be more subtle…like lower bonuses in the future.

by Michael Rome on Nov 20, 2008 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

…that Dana loudly boasts about in his VLOG

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

naw, fitch will just suck in the video game

by dbcb on Nov 20, 2008 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Hahahaha

by Day Man on Nov 20, 2008 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It will be bad to really bad…

eating where you just shit vs eating where you just shit with mexican diarrhea… depending on how Dana takes it.

worst case obviously is another cycle of this shit… why would this idiot open his mouth?

He went back and signed the damn thing he’s been whining about.

About 80% of what he said was fine – he should have just stayed within that line… but some things just crossed it.

lots of good his managers did for him.

by mmalogic on Nov 20, 2008 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's important to note that this deal was done through Fertitta..

and not Dana. I’m guessing Fertitta finessed the deal a bit better than Dana could have. Hopefully Fitch was able to sweeten the deal a bit.

Shame on anyone here coming down hard on Fitch over this. You have to protect yourself and your family. Not everyone falls in line with everyone else. If that was the case, blacks would still not be allowed to vote. Extreme example yes, but you need to stick up for what is right sometimes however unpopular that may be.

by lbk on Nov 20, 2008 7:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs