He probably is right about the Kimbo/BJ thing, even though it is irrelevant.

Question for the group: which fighters, regardless of weight class, would be overwhelming favorites to beat BJ? I mean, in which fights would BJ be +450 in the odds? I’d go with A.Silva, Fedor…

I’m having a hard time with this – BJ really has a good shot against most of the world of MMA.

It’s an issue of short-term versus long-term. It seems Dana wants to extinguish any threat to his brand, and in the very short-term, his competition is putting one of the most prominent non-UFC fighters in the main event of the first ever MMA event on broadcast
television. Dana appears concerned that EliteXC will gain some market share off of this event, and that, presumably, Dana will face greater competition from an organization with events headlined by an even more prominent Kimbo Slice. Thus, it makes sense to Dana to bury Kimbo like the Ark of the Covenant in hopes of drawing eyes away from his match, thus limiting his potential to do additional business for EliteXC in the future.

Alternately, if we look at this with a less cynical eye, Dana is truly concerned about the image of the sport being so heavily tied to a reputed street fighter, especially when the fighter will be on the biggest stage the sport has ever found itself on in America. It’s important to make the distinction between fighters who are known for their street fighting background and fighters who did engage in street fighting but are not recognized for such. Rob Emerson, though he entered MMA via street fighting, is known as a TUF alum. BJ Penn, who grew up in Hilo fighting along side friend and TUF alum Troy Mandaloniz, is known for his spectacular jiu jitsu and defeating the greatest welterweight of all time.

The most obvious comparison to Kimbo is Sean Gannon, whose background is most difficult to ignore. If I recall correctly, however, Gannon challenged Kimbo to their street fight under the pretense that Gannon had superior abilities due to his having trained in Mixed Martial Arts. Even so, that doesn’t negate the fact that Gannon earned his spot in the UFC because he bested Kimbo in an unsanctioned engagement. Though, in fairness to the UFC, Gannon had his (only) opportunity in the UFC at a time when the organization was trying to prove that it was more than a fad. This, surely, led them to conclude that a reliance on a competitor with a gimmick made sense. However, upon losing to Branden Lee Hinkle, Gannon was unceremoniously cut from the organization. I believe it’s that hasty severing of ties with a well-known street fighter that gives Dana the moral high ground (in his mind, that is) to lambaste Kimbo and the organization employing him in 2008; MMA is an entirely new landscape, and it seems Dana White does not feel the mistakes of the past should be replicated, particularly with such a historical opportunity looming for the entire sport.

But let us not for one second think that had Gannon defeated Hinkle he wouldn’t have gotten at least one more fight in the UFC. Though, I suspect Dana would tell you otherwise this day. Of course, that is in keeping with his own party line, so I suppose there’s something to be said for that.

I feel like some folks are taking Dana’s attacks on Kimbo too seriously. Dana is simply looking out for his own best interests. While some of us would disagree with his tone or his tactics, the fact is that he’s proven himself very effective to this point. Additionally, I think Dana understands his core audience better than most of us here, which is to say I think he’s trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator when he attacks Kimbo personally. He does this, I presume, because that sort of sophmoric personal attack probably resonates with the mouthbreathing sect of MMA fans, which I think we’ll all agree are prominent amongst the UFC audience. They too are likely to be the dopes who think “HEY, THIS GUY FOUGHT ON THE STREETS AND BECAME A STAR, SO I CAN TOO!” Perhaps Dana is interested in avoiding a potential media backlash against MMA and his organization in particular if, in fact, there is a marked increase in street fighting. It sounds silly to consider, I know, but it happened with street racing upon the release of “The Fast and the Furious,” so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

To me, though, I subscribe to the Vince McMahon theory or pretending your competition doesn’t exist. Interesting that Dana will do this with Randy Couture but go in the opposite direction for Kimbo Slice. I’m not sure what that means.

Dana’s behavior paints a contradicting picture about him. He seems like a good businessman who is looking to the long term, but he goes and says stuff like this that makes him out to be a jackass. I mean, so Kimbo isn’t in the UFC. The reality is, this guy has some monster potential, and the fact that Dana can’t see that is bizarre. Even if Kimbo isn’t with the UFC now, he can be in a couple years time. You never know. If EliteXC builds Kimbo up to be a great fighter, and the UFC signs him later, that could be huge. By insulting the man, there’s no way Kimbo would go to the UFC should his contract be up with EliteXC. Looks like Dana’s petty side is getting worse and worse. The fact that Kimbo signed with EliteXC and not anyone else is just business, nothing personal. Dana of all people should know that.

... I mean Bas was once a champ of the UFC back when they held it tournament style. Dana is totally insulting Bas Rutten by claiming Kimbo has no skills. Really? If Kimbo had no skills would Bas invest so much time and teaching? Would Couture help Kimbo train(remember Bas and couture run the gym in LA) if he thought Slice had no chance in MMA? Bas Rutten is, still to this day, one of the baddest motherfuckers on earth. Has any one seen recent pics of him(check out his cameo in GTA IV by watching some tv at your safe house, its hilarious!)? I mean the dude is still Beast. Dana is just pissed because he know that even though Kimbo lacks MMA experience people will still tune in to the EliteXC fight because of the Kimbo Slice novelty. That right there is what is killing Dana; he knows that if UFC had signed Kimbo they could have had him fight a scrub on a UFC fight Night and the ratings would have still been decent-huge. Instead of popping off at the mouth Dana should worry about his lackluster bout’s at UFC 85 and through the rest of the year. There are hardly any fights worth paying the 50-60 dollar PPV fee. Keep burning bridges Dana and then we’ll see in 10 years if the UFC is still the gorilla in the MMA market….it may be, but we shall see if the market share is still insanely in favor of the UFC.