Gary Shaw: Dana White's (Far) More Annoying Twin

by Michael Rome on Jun 4, 2008 2:23 AM EDT in News Comment 18 comments

This ridiculous interview with Gary Shaw is worth reading:

Where do you think Kimbo fits in among the top heavyweights in MMA?

I don't know...In his standup game, he is probably number one. I don't think on the ground he's in the top 10. As a striker, he's probably number one.

It's fairly funny to me that Shaw does everything that we have complained about Dana doing and makes it 10 times worse. Dana's comments about Fedor not being the best in the world are annoying, but not nearly as bad as this garbage.

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Dana didn’t just say he wasn’t the top fighter in the world. He’s been saying Fedor isn’t even a top 5 heavyweight.

by Mike Fagan on Jun 4, 2008 2:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That’s still closer to accurate than claiming Kevin Ferguson is the best Heavyweight striker in the world.

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by Richard Wade on Jun 4, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s still not nearly as bad as this, because you can make an argument he doesn’t deserve to be ranked for not fighting. As a striker, he is probably number one is just so ludicrous that it’s an embarrassment.

by Michael Rome on Jun 4, 2008 2:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t want to crawl through archived stuff, but I bet I can find layers upon layers of boneheaded things Dana has said.

I’m not defending Shaw here, by any means, but I’ve noticed a trend since Saturday of “Well, Gary Shaw is awful, so don’t even dare criticize Dana White.” It’s a lesser of two evils thing. Just because Gary Shaw is idiot douchebag promoter #1 doesn’t cleanse Dana of all the idiot douchebag promoter things he’s done.

by Mike Fagan on Jun 4, 2008 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, Dana has said some crazy shit about Fedor, however, he WAS trying to sign him as well…so that tells you that part of it was just him talking. Gary Shaw on the other had is a douche.

by Tha Realness on Jun 4, 2008 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The guy’s delusional. I think after this weekend, the “Jazzercise instructor” probably feels a bit vindicated—at least based on the quality of their respective MMA events.

by Popetastic on Jun 4, 2008 3:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Typical.

Nearly every company’s PR department spews out the same kind of lies, half-truths, cop-outs and other rhetoric.

Anytime someone says anything about something he or she is a stakeholder of, or has a vested interest in, he or she will inevitably BS.

by Flying Gogoplata on Jun 4, 2008 4:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The comparisons are few

There are very little comparisons between Shaw and White in my opinion. Both are promoters of MMA companies, after that the comparisons stop. White says whatever makes his company look good, no matter what the cost. Besides that trait and his penchant for cursing like a truck driver, he is almost a saint next to Shaw. Say what you will about Dana, but you would be hard pressed to challenge his love of the sport and his accomplishments in furthering the sport. We are all where we are because of Dana white. I have to put up with “could Kimbo knock out Muhammed Ali?” questions because of Gary Shaw. Its not even close.

by strictlymma.com on Jun 4, 2008 8:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

haha surely no one has ever mad that Ali comment?

by idefinecagefighter on Jun 4, 2008 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This also

flies in the face of the argument some are making about EXC management, i.e. “they’re not building him up to be anything he isn’t.” Shaw is grossly exaggerating ability and he’s doing so openly and explicitly to build up their tarnished star.

by Luke Thomas on Jun 4, 2008 8:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shaw's not dumb

He knows that there is a bunch of new fans from saturday night. And new fans are suseptable to whatever they read about the sport since they do not know any better. If Shaw says Kimbo fights crime on the weekends and can stop bullets by catching them with his teeth, there are a few million new fans who will believe him. Its up to blogs like this one to keep everyone in check.

by strictlymma.com on Jun 4, 2008 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anything a promoter says has to be taken with a grain of salt. After all, it is Shaw’s job to make EXC look good. That being said, how you could say Kimbo is a top ten heavyweight in any facet of mma at this point is beyond me. On a side note, it’s too bad the reporter didn’t ask about Gina Carano missing weight again. I’m curious how Shaw would respond to that.

by Andy R on Jun 4, 2008 9:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shaw...

...first of all I’m working on an article about Gary Shaw’s history both in boxing and MMA. It takes a long time though because while in MMA most things are out in the open boxing has always been much less “visible.” As Scott at Badlefthook says “it took 25 years for Resto to admit he essentially beat Billy Collins to death. In 25 years apparently no one knew anything.” So in response to Fagan, I’ve always had a strong anti-Shaw bias…so it isn’t a “just since Saturday” thing for me.

But this isn’t the worst thing Shaw has ever said in regards to Kimbo. Remember….it wasn’t too long ago that Shaw said he’d put Kimbo in against any boxing heavyweight…and not only would he put them in…but he would beat both Klitschko brothers.

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by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 4, 2008 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He really said that?

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by Richard Wade on Jun 4, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly shaw is White’s fraternal twin. With a thyroid disorder.

by Brett Jones on Jun 4, 2008 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The difference is Dana’s comments about Fedor are definitely arguable. Fedor hasn’t fought anyone of note in years. Tim Sylvia will be his first big challenge in a long time. You can’t be the best if you’re not consistently fighting the best. But Kimbo being the top fighter in striking? He couldn’t knock out James Thompson, who usually goes down faster than a nickel and dime hooker. Shaw is just ridiculous.

by pud333 on Jun 4, 2008 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What Standup?

Bo Cantrell tapped before he got hit. Tank Abbott used to be able to take a punch, but that was 15 years ago. James Thompson got destroyed by Butterbean of all people and had lost 6 of his last 8 fights. I’ve watched the Youtube fights and I don’t see any knockout power displayed there either. Just because he looks like he would be a killer striker doesn’t actually mean he is. If Dana had said Brock Lesnar was the number one heavyweight at anything people would be burning him in effigy. Give me a break!

by ProCannonFodder on Jun 4, 2008 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs