Dana White vs. Kimbo Slice
by Luke Thomas
on May 16, 2008 3:17 PM EDT
At yesterday's UFC 84 conference call, UFC President Dana White offered his assessment of EliteXC's show on CBS and that event's headliner, Kimbo Slice. Notable quote :
UFC president Dana White, who was in negotiations earlier this year to air the UFC on CBS before EliteXC nabbed the coveted spot, has been unfavorable of the network's choice to use the 2-0 fighter.
"To have CBS, a big network like that, move forward with a guy like Kimbo Slice headlining it - there's no secret, that's what I tried to stay away from," said White during a teleconference on Thursday touting UFC 84 "Ill Will" on May 24. "Kimbo Slice isn't a mixed martial artist. This guy was fighting in your backyard three months ago, and now he's going to be headlining on CBS. Personally, I think it sucks."
God, what a classless statement. Criticisms of Slice are valid and worthy of consideration. He is a new and untested talent and it's important people understand that particularly given his main event status. But to disparage him by demeaning his hard work and complete life transformation is pathetic and terribly low class. The truth is that Kimbo has been working hard for more than a year at becoming a legitimate professional MMA fighter. More importantly, Kimbo has done everything asked of him by Bas Rutten, one of the most respected and adored figures in the sport. No, Kimbo is not a top-10 heavyweight and may never be. But by all accounts he is an incredibly hard worker, a loyal student and a trusted colleague.
White is free to compete with EliteXC in any manner he sees fit, but if he thinks he can execute this scorched earth policy without any repercussions, he's dreaming. Bank on it.
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Wow. This was a perfect example of the petty side of Dana White. Personally, I don’t have any opinion of Kimbo either way, but Bas Rutten wouldn’t be training Kimbo if he didn’t think the guy was a) hard working, and b) talented.
Considering Dana’s last point though, that he thinks it sucks that Kimbo is headlining on CBS, I think that is true to the effect that Kimbo, a 2-0 fighter is headlining when other deserving fighters who have been tested and fought more than twice should be, but that’s all a part of the fight business. In some ways, some would argue Dana’s pimping of Lesnar is no different.
by pud333 on May 16, 2008 4:00 PM EDT 0 recs
Right
I’m more referring to White’s comments that Slice “isn’t a mixed martial artist.”
by Luke Thomas on
May 16, 2008 4:02 PM EDT
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Re: Right
Have we seen him do anything other than strike yet?
by Richard on
May 16, 2008 4:06 PM EDT
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Well
He takes what his opponents give him. You can make the same argument about any number of other 2-0 professional fighters.
Let’s be real here. He trains every aspect of the game with a very credentialed camp and is licensed by the various state athletic commissions as a real professional mixed martial artist. Are we really going to have this debate?
by Luke Thomas on
May 16, 2008 4:11 PM EDT
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Well, he choked out Ray Mercer, for what little that’s worth.
by FRANKIE on
May 16, 2008 4:18 PM EDT
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I have to say, he didn’t “choke out” Mercer. He got a washed up boxer to tap from what I like to call “Guillotine Panic”. An experience mma fighter would never have tapped…well maybe Cantrell, lol.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
May 16, 2008 4:23 PM EDT
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True that.
My point about Dana’s comment is that it’s cheap, rude and frankly, false to say Slice isn’t a MMA fighter. He may ultimately wind up being terrible and completely undeserving of main event status, but let’s not ignore the guy’s hard work and sacrifice. He’s a true MMA athlete and he’s earned at least recognition of the fact.
by Luke Thomas on
May 16, 2008 4:25 PM EDT
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yes, it’s kind of funny there is so much hate for Kimbo. A guy who was a streetfighter, gets a break and is trying to improve himself. Seems like it should be a good story.
I know he isn’t perfect, but I have never seen a reliable report of Kimbo doing anything terrible, yet that is how he is perceived.
It’s unfortunate Dana made that statement, when this should help the growth of the sport.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
May 16, 2008 4:31 PM EDT
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“yes, it’s kind of funny there is so much hate for Kimbo. A guy who was a streetfighter, gets a break and is trying to improve himself. Seems like it should be a good story”
I think it’s just because haters think he’s getting more attention than he deserves for a beginner fighter. Honestly, it’s not Kimbo’s fault. He fights who they put him up against, he’s just developing, and really, if an opportunity like that fell into the laps of other fighters, how many of those would refuse it? Not many I’m sure.
by pud333 on
May 16, 2008 5:38 PM EDT
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Fair enough. My point was that yes, we have seen him do something other than strike, even if it wasn’t terribly impressive.
by FRANKIE on
May 16, 2008 4:35 PM EDT
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Hypocritical comments, immature language and his attitude, seem to be the reasons many people despise Dana.
Many times he is correct in the points he is trying to make, but it get lost in his pettiness. To me this is another example.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
May 16, 2008 4:06 PM EDT
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I think the hardcore MMA fan community spends far too much time worrying about White’s tone and choice of words.
by Richard on
May 16, 2008 4:08 PM EDT
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YEP
I agree, I personally kind of like Dana and his mannerisms really don’t bother me. Sure I’d prefer if he was a bit more professional, but it doesn’t really matter to me. Not saying I support his comments or style, just that I don’t really care either way.
Many people complain about him being the face of the UFC, yet they are online constantly talking about him.
He is unquestionably a polarizing figure.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
May 16, 2008 4:17 PM EDT
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Good article
I’m sure White would jump at the chance to sign Kimbo, but perhaps since he extended his contract with EliteXC, this is the result.
by dmayeda on May 16, 2008 4:06 PM EDT 0 recs
Bravo
Dana tells it like it is. Everything he said is the truth. The way he delivers the truth can turn people off real fast, but that doesn’t really matter. He isn’t trying to win some nice guy contest or something. Also, Lesnar has a legit history in real wrestling. And If Dana were trying to pimp Lesnar as someone said he would of had him fight a couple of scrubs just like Kimbo has.
by MrNiceGuyMMA on May 16, 2008 4:10 PM EDT 0 recs
Wrestling isn’t MMA, and frankly Dana should have had Lesnar beat up a scrub or two. Brock could use the experience.
by FRANKIE on
May 16, 2008 4:17 PM EDT
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Luke: There’s nothing I disagree with in what you wrote, (dammit) but a) this is what you’ve chosen to call bullshit on from Dana? Seriously? The guy has done a lot for the sport, but he’s an asshole, and b) you REALLY have a hard-on for Kimbo, and it’s starting to get like the fightlinker love affair with GSP. It was cute when you had the Kimbo userpic on blogger, but this is getting stalker-esque!
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
by jemaleddin on May 16, 2008 4:40 PM EDT 0 recs
Do me a favor
Listen to the interview I did with Big O & Dukes and see if I’m as big a nuthugger of Kimbo as you think.
To the hardcores, I have to defend Kimbo to make sure he’s taken seriously.
To the casual fan, I have to bring Kimbo back down to earth to make sure he’s not taken too seriously.
by Luke Thomas on
May 16, 2008 8:04 PM EDT
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...
You did notice that I said there was nothing to disagree with you on, right? I’m in the same boat.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
by jemaleddin on
May 20, 2008 7:48 AM EDT
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This is just one more way for DW to prove to the world how much of a douche bag he really is. Im not saying that Kimbo should headline the event but he has been taking his training very seriously. If anyone got a chance to see his piece on ESPN they would see that he’s not the backyard bralwer anymore. DW is just pissed because he didn’t get to him first. DW also said that he wants to have Kimbo fight Chuck when he gets some more legitament wins, you know he’ll full of it because he wouldn’t let Chuck fight anywhere else and he wouldn’t let Kimbo come to the UFC for just one fight. Mark my words Tito vs. Kimbo before the end of the year.
The clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.
- Sun Tzu
by LUCKYME1321 on May 16, 2008 5:34 PM EDT 0 recs
I can see people having a problem with Kimbo headlining the first MMA show on broadcast television over guys like Robbie Lawler but the thing is Kimbo is the cash cow so it’s almost a no-brainer that he’s headlining.
It’s not fair but at the same time it makes the most sense business-wise.
He’s training as a MMA fighter so he’s an MMA fighter. Period.
And in my opinion, Dana is being a hypocrite after the way Lensar was promoted. Lesnar/Mir got more promotion than the Heavyweight Title fight that was the main event.
by Tonley on May 16, 2008 6:32 PM EDT 0 recs
Man, thats an insult to every man & woman who’s training their asses off (like Kimbo) but might not be UFC or even Hook’n’Shoot level. Just because he hasn’t been tested in every facet of his game by elite competition doesn’t mean he’s not an MMA fighter, it just means he’s not an established, well-tested, or elite-level fighter. But nobody is in the beginning. They’re just MMA fighters.
Denying him even that credit like denies everyone who wasn’t cream-of-the-crop in some other sport but decides to train their asses off every day to compete in mma. It insults and dismisses everyone who bleeds in the ring but wasn’t NC-double whatever. It denies those willing to devote their body, soul and incredibly precious after-work hours to pursuing something they love and earned the right through training to compete in.
Denying Kimbo that because he’s famous for amateur, legal, consensual, fighting is absurd.
by asa on May 16, 2008 6:58 PM EDT 0 recs
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