Dana White: Benefactor?
by Luke Thomas on Dec 15, 2008 2:25 PM EST
in MMA News
Email
Print"We were sitting 2nd row for the Finale and this couple in front if us (1st row) were having a blast. As the show progressed we found out they were from Tucson and they drove up for the weigh ins Friday.
Somehow they ran into Dana at the weigh ins, he gave the the front row tickets. Dana took time out of his time during the TUF finale to come over and make sure they were doing ok.
The guy was telling us they were driving home after the fight and that he and his wife had really just been taken back by hiw nice all the people were at Zuffa and that Dana cared enough to talk to them. Right before the finals some rep from the Palm's comes over to the couple and informs them Dana arranged a room for them and the room and food was on Dana. They were his guest for the night.
The guy gets a lot of shit and has a huge target on his back. He earned my respect and made fans dreams come true."
-- Jason Genet, President of LG Sports Marketing, complimenting UFC President Dana White for his kindness and generosity. I haven't confirmed this story, but to White's credit I hear stories like this constantly.
Now if he would just credential me through this site or my CBS radio show, I'd have nary a foul word to say.
42 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Exactly what i would expect from Dana. He gets a bad rap, sometimes deservedly, but not as often as he does.
My only experience with him was at the UFN in Denver. He was being mobbed by fans and was doing his best to shake their hands, etc.., but mostly he was laughing and telling them to go to the fighters, that they were the ones that deserved the attention.
I was also told that Dana treated the TUF guys very well (Spearmint Rhino anyone??) and that he was a cool guy.
Now I am just as sure, that you don’t want to be on his bad side, but he has put himself out there and never avoided the abuse that some fans put on him, usually handling it with a sense of humor.
Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.
http://eliotmarshall.com/
'...telling them to go to the fighters, that they were the ones that deserved the attention'
That’s been the main focus of the UFC since he took over, and it’s worked beautifully. And not just one fighter or two fighters, but ALL of them, because they ALL work their ass off and they ALL have the same goal and they ALL deserve our attention and respect. Props for that story.
by Derek Suboticki on Dec 15, 2008 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
You wouldn't know it from reading quotes from M1 Global
They’re constantly attacking Dana for wanting to be the star of the UFC and I’ve personally never seen it that way. Sure, he’s the mouth piece and the face of the promotion, but when you’ve got a good thing, you run with it. There was a time that some called for him to lessen his face time, but he’s been nothing if not a positive promotional force for the company in the last two years. I admire him for how hard he works and for doing little things like the Vlog on Youtube and for the stories I hear like the one above.
by Charles Awad on Dec 15, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
Well, a few years ago Dana was inserting himself into the limelight in a truly grotesque way. He was constantly on camera in intervals where he was completely not necessary. But they’ve moved beyond that now. So I give them credit for ironing out the product and doing things the right way, but it hasn’t been that way from the start.
I concur; sort of what I was getting at. They’re found a good formula now and I think it has a lot to do with the fighters gaining more mainstream credibility/notoriety (Rampage was on the VGA awards last night and he didn’t have to be introduced as “Popular UFC Fighter, Rampage Jackson!”) as well as Dana feeling out where he should and shouldn’t be. I’m comfortable with his position in the company now. And though not everyone agrees with me, I enjoy how forthcoming he can be; as opposed to figureheads of other sports/companies that refuse to discuss nearly every controversial topic posed to them.
by Charles Awad on Dec 15, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I really prefer him to about any other promoter I can think of by a sizable margin. And his Vlogs are awesome.
by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
I think he’ll be the first to admit he’s evolved.
by Derek Suboticki on Dec 15, 2008 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
Wonderful.
I don’t have another word for this. For all the shit that gets talked, a genuinely great and wholesome story like this reminds me of the real reason I love this sport – the camraderie, the sense of brotherhood among fighters and their teams, the desire to see what was once the lowest of the low in public opinion, relegated to bootleg DVD’s bought on the black market, rise to its true place at the pinnacle of combative sports.
Man, that was a run on sentence from hell.
This is how you build a fanbase – and I guarantee you, the PRESIDENTS of douchebag MMA organizations that treat their fans like shit would consider it a monumental waste of time to engage in this sort of ‘gladhanding’ or ‘asskissing’ when there are important things like lunch meetings and poster approvals to get to. I consider it a testament to why the UFC is, and will remain, the king.
by Derek Suboticki on Dec 15, 2008 2:40 PM EST reply actions
Believe me, there are a ton of problems with White. I think the picture is complicated, but I’ve heard enough of these stories to make a post about them justified.
The post is entirely justified and I’m glad to see stuff like this. It’s awesome of Dana to do.
by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t fault them for how they treated Fitch, but I fault them for putting themselves in a position to have to do what they did (the premature obligations to THQ). If Dana and Zuffa have one re-emerging fault in their promotional and operational abilities, it’s that they often get ahead of themselves. The Fitch thing is over with, he’s back on board and everyone got what they wanted. If he’s not sore, I won’t be..
by Charles Awad on Dec 15, 2008 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
Until Kos gets another fight scheduled, I can’t help but think that this thing might still have legs.
by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Wasn’t Koscheck’s contract up after his last fight?
Bolts from the Blue // People who have time on their hands will inevitably waste the time of people who have work to do.
by Richard Wade on Dec 15, 2008 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
Non-issue, as far as I’m concerned. He’s not going anywhere.
by Charles Awad on Dec 15, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
I know a lot of assholes that have never done something nice for a complete stranger, not to mention the decent people I know that have never done so. What’s your point?
by Charles Awad on Dec 15, 2008 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
A story about fans being treated well by White is very relevant to the “sport”, without the fans the sport wouldn’t exist.
by who me on Dec 15, 2008 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Fav Dana White Quote
The article closes with a quote from the night of UFC 81 that is sure to raise eyebrows. On the eve of his Heavyweight Title Fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Tim Sylvia told White to get ready, “when I win tonight, we’re going to break open the bank.” The statement upset White who told Rolling Stone:
See, this is the one part of the business I f****** hate. Everybody wants more money, they want it now. And then all these fighters are like, ’We’re the superstars, not the UFC! It should all be about us.’ You dumb motherf******. You don’t know what you’re f****** with. I’m a promoter. And a lot of this s*** is built with smoke and mirrors. When Lorenzo and I first got into this, we were like two f****** idiots. ‘This is going to be so much fun! We’re going to put on big fights! We care about the fighters! We’re going to make them millionaires! We’ll all be friends! It’ll be so great!’ But this is the way it goes. And right now this is my f****** life. I don’t know how much longer I can take it, I just don’t know. Oh, I still have fun. I’m excited for these guys to come out and fight. I still get goose bumps. And no, I don’t regret anything that I’ve said or done, because everything has gotten me right where I am. I could be parking your car or picking up your bag at the hotel. The thing about me, seriously, I’m high on life man. I love life. And I love what I do.
Truth hurts.
Did you know we are in high demand, Laura?
by Eugene Schelfaut on Dec 15, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
For all the guys faults that people consistently harp on, he still seems passionate about the sport after all these years and every decision he has made has helped to get us where we are today.
Now I just want to see the Dana v. Tito boxing match we were promised a year or two ago. I’d love to watch that just to see the look on Tito’s face if Dana somehow lands any type of punch.
dropkick101
Rico Rodriguez, in a radio interview, said that dana used to hand tito his ass in sparring back in the old days when he was chuck and tito’s manager. i still think tito caught wind that dana was in training and was taking this boxing match seriously and didn’t want to be embarrassed. no matter what tito should not have backed out of that fight after demanding it in his contract. who wouldn’t want to beat uo their boss unless they were afraid.
Happened at UFC 82. Dana White found a guy who drove from Kansas City to see the UFC in Columbus and ended up getting 2nd row floor seats. We talked to him while waiting in line for the show, and he showed us his tickets then the floor tickets and his picture with Dana holding the tickets. Dana White and the Bro’s are bar none the best thing for this sport.
Anyone know why?
Sorry, my cynicism is acting up again – must be the weather.
But WHY did he pick two random strangers to treat like royalty for the night? It seems very strange to me. This isn’t a shot at White, but more a feeling that it’s just kinda weird story.
Check Mr. NC-17’s post. Dana does this sort of thing all the time, I’ve heard a number of stories about it before.
He just makes an effort to be really cool with fans.
by Michaelthebox on Dec 15, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions
ive heard the same type of stories. not so much that he gave away tickets and comped rooms, but that he always takes the time and TRIES to acknowledge all the fans and shake hands with them. many times it comes from peoplewho didn’t care much for dana at 1rst, but then after meeting him in person, they became instant fans.
It seems to me that they made the drive from AZ just to see the weigh ins. He may have met them, discovered that, and thought it’d be nice to put them up for the weekend and let them see to show. Doesn’t seem that weird..
by Charles Awad on Dec 15, 2008 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
It could be that he’s just a cool guy. The point is that if it seems as if he’s a cool guy it automatically works as good PR, regardless of wether it was intended to be or not. If it is PR, then the company has done a solid job, no doubt – the image of fan-friendlyness is coherent throughout. To do this kind of thing without taking cred for it is making DW and the UFC look even more benevolent and altrustic. Properties that generally spark spontaneous praise. If they’d have boasted about it… you guess.
The thing to note here is that it shows all signs of good PR in that there is no evidence for it being a stunt. Good old backwards reasoning. Look for DW to downplay this if he get’s a chance. Good job, guys!
by ununkvadrium on Dec 16, 2008 4:51 AM EST up reply actions
this guy he treated was a president of some marketing company? How bout looking out for the little guy lol
The story’s not about him – it’s him talking about the people sitting in front of him.
R-e-a-d-i-n-g c-o-m-p-r-e-h-e-n-s-i-o-n is key.
by Derek Suboticki on Dec 15, 2008 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
I’m drive from North Carolina to Vegas for UFC 92, if Dana found out…I wonder if he would give me cageside tickets.
http://mma4real.net/
Probably. Dana White is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He was in Cincinnati and a pal and I saw him and yelled for him and he ran across the street and shook our hands and said “Get Ready for a show tomorrow night boys. Thanks for supporting us.” Not a free ringside ticket, but still shows you what kind of person he is.
Dana White, yes he is known to the normal mma fan as a loud mouthed curse word a minue hard headed owner, but yet if you see him away from the camera he treats his fans like royality, because he knows without us, there is no UFC. Dana White is just a normal person just like us.. with a lot lot lot more money.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
