Dana White Speaks On Kimbo Slice, Chuck Liddell, Big Announcement
by Michael Rome
on Jun 5, 2008 6:30 PM EDT
in News
There's a real good interview up with Dana here:
The Mag: Who will Chuck fight in September?
DW: The fight is going to be in Atlanta, Georgia—that's something we haven't said publicly yet. There's something no one else has heard. You have no idea some of the stuff that we have planned. I'm going to make an announcement next week that is going to blow people's minds. That deal is done, but my employees don't even know yet. I'm renting out a place next Thursday and I'm going to tell them. Then we'll make the announcement later that day. It's an indicator of where this business is going over the next five years.
I gotta tell you, I was very, very disappointed in ESPN this past weekend. A 15-minute feature on SportsCenter about Kimbo Slice? That is embarrassing. It's so bad I can't even tell you. Then that show goes off. That guy he fought is a joke, and he went three rounds with Kimbo in a fight that shouldn't have been stopped. When the major media outlets would rather follow freak shows instead of real athletes, it's embarrassing. It just makes my life and job a whole lot harder. It's already been exposed. But getting that kind of coverage on ESPN, and BJ Penn doesn't? Everybody is so obsessed over who's going to take a chunk out of the UFC that those guys will get this kind of press coverage for no reason whatsoever. I think the show that happened on CBS the other day was a complete embarrassment for CBS and for the sport of mixed-martial arts. Urijah Faber is 145 pounds. He'll beat Kimbo Slice. Kimbo Slice sucks. He's terrible. If I had a heavyweight The Ultimate Fighter show, I don't think he'd win the show. And he's headlining a show on CBS?
There's tons more including his thoughts on Faber, Randy, and more.
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this is the nugget I thought was interesting
The Mag: Would you say 75 percent of your guys—of the 180 on the roster—make that or better?DW: Easily 75 percent. Probably more than 75 percent.
by Kid Nate on Jun 5, 2008 5:43 PM EDT 0 recs
That is an interesting piece. He said many fighters make atleast $50,000. Im not sure if he means their fight-pay totals $50,000 or if he is including sponsorships. Keep in mine when you look at fighters’ shorts companies pay to put all those logos on there. Or after a fight when Kenny Florian pretended to drink that energy drink of when Arlovski puts on a t-shits that says CONDOM DEPOT in huge letters accross the chest, thats money in the bank. I’m not saying fighters are paid enough, I fell they should be paid as well as NFL or MLB stars, the sport just isnt at that stage yet. When it gets that big hopefully fighters will get paid millions for their hard work. I do find it interesting that after all the chatter about fighter pay, at the last UFC there were multiple $75,000 bonuses given out.
by WiltChamberlain on
Jun 5, 2008 6:00 PM EDT
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Like you said...
...it is pretty important to remember that MMA doesn’t bring in MLB, NFL or NBA type money. So the fighters can’t make as much as those athletes. Despite that we’d all like to see it.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by brentbrookhouse on
Jun 5, 2008 9:54 PM EDT
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I really think I’m getting to the point where I no longer care about anything Dana White has to say. He’s just spouted off with so much ridiculous bullshit over the years that I can’t be bothered to pay attention anymore. For now, at least.
by FRANKIE on Jun 5, 2008 5:49 PM EDT 0 recs
like
“We’ll be on HBO in 30 days I guarantee it”
lol how long was he saying that crap?
by Kid Nate on
Jun 5, 2008 5:58 PM EDT
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“So who will Chuck fight next?”
“KIMBO SUCKS.”
“Yeah, but Liddell…”
“KIMBO SUCKS AND HAS A HUGE BEARD AND FIGHTS IN MY BACKYARD.”
“Oh. So about Faber…”
by AJB on Jun 5, 2008 5:50 PM EDT 0 recs
The fight is going to be in Atlanta, Georgia
Performs Tiger Woods fist pump
by Tonley on Jun 5, 2008 6:04 PM EDT 0 recs
Dana's an idiot.
Dana White is an idiot. But he’s no fool. He recognizes a threat when he sees it. Kimbo Slice is marketable. He’s Kryptonite to Dana’s pet project, Brock Lesnar. If Dana wasnt such an egomaniac, he’d have gotten the CBS deal. Kimbo is not going to ruin MMA. He doesn’t have the power. DANA WHITE, and his God complex is what will ruin MMA.
by Cmad77 on Jun 5, 2008 6:23 PM EDT 0 recs
Just looked up the last time there was a UFC in Georgia..
“UFC 13: The Ultimate Force May 30, 1997 Augusta Civic Center Flag of the United States Augusta, Georgia”
I am betting it will be the Phillips Arena home of the Hawks (NBA) and Thrashers (NHL)..
With about 18.5k capacity it is a perfect venue and a very good population for a sell out in my opinion, people in Atlanta will love live UFC.
I’m betting it is Shogun vs Chuck as main event.
by DirtyML on Jun 5, 2008 6:42 PM EDT 0 recs
I agree with nearly everything in the interview, so I guess it puts me in the minority. I don’t think it ruins MMA or anything, but ESPN covering Kimbo but refusing to cover GSP and BJ Penn really is a disgrace for a network that is supposed to be the gold standard in sports.
by Michael Rome on Jun 5, 2008 6:44 PM EDT 0 recs
absolutely...
You are not alone. Dana doesn’t spew anything worse than Shaw does, maybe even less crap. Most of what Dana says is true, and the rest is just “promoter speak”.
As for Kimbo, I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve the coverage, but the fact that ESPN basically ignores great fighters like BJ and GSP, is disgraceful. And it isn’t just a UFC thing, where is the coverage of Fedor, at least as compelling a figure and story as Kimbo.
Maybe we should start referring to Fedor as “The Russian Kimbo”, lolololol!!!
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
Jun 5, 2008 6:53 PM EDT
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ESPN’s coverage of Kimbo is a sobering reminder that most “fans” are more concerned with being entertained than watching high level fights. Kimbo provides an interesting story for people who don’t know much about MMA. ESPN is primarily concerned with entertaining its audience, so the coverage of Kimbo as opposed to high level fighters who aren’t well known to the public such as GSP or Penn doesn’t surprise me. It’s an illustration that there is still more progress for MMA to make.
by Andy R on
Jun 5, 2008 7:19 PM EDT
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I agree with what you are saying, but I also believe Kimbo is a product of this type of coverage. Many people didn’t know who he was (myself included) until he was to fight Mercer, then I did my homework. If ESPN and many others, provided that type of coverage for guys like BJ and GSP, etc, they would also have that type of popularity.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
Jun 5, 2008 9:32 PM EDT
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100% agree
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by brentbrookhouse on
Jun 5, 2008 9:55 PM EDT
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C’mon, Michael. Don’t you want to be one of the cool kids and call him an idiot?
by Richard on
Jun 6, 2008 4:12 AM EDT
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It would be amusing mainly because Faber would move in and out and pick him apart, I don’t forsee him ever being hit.
by Michael Rome on Jun 5, 2008 7:21 PM EDT 0 recs
For a comparison, I understand that in sparring at Bas’, he actually asked Bang Ludwig to ease up on his strikes. Of course Bang is a world class striker and a little bigger guy than Faber, but you get the point.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
Jun 5, 2008 9:34 PM EDT
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Big announcement
What are the odds that the big announcement is a tv deal with Fox or ABC?
by strictlymma.com on Jun 5, 2008 8:17 PM EDT 0 recs
I hope it’s compelling, it sounds like it is but then with Dana everything sounds like it’s MUST STAY TUNED, which is what makes him a good promoter.
I hope it’s a deal with Fox TBH.
by pr0cs on
Jun 6, 2008 12:51 AM EDT
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I would hang out with Dana White. Probably a fun guy. Seems like he can tell a pretty good story.
by Yasnian on Jun 5, 2008 8:37 PM EDT 0 recs
Dana: “But this is a real sport with real athletes. He (Kimbo) wouldn’t last 13 seconds on our reality show.”
Real Sports with real athletes don’t do reality shows and they sure as hell don’t give the winners of reality shows title shots….....Dana wants his cake and eat it too….
by robnashville on Jun 5, 2008 9:03 PM EDT 0 recs
Why can’t a real sport with real athletes do a reality show? Just cause no one did it before, doesn’t mean it takes away from the legitimacy of the sport. I don’t see the problem with TUF. It’s just another avenue for marketing through a specific media format (eg: reality shows). TUF has been credited with the UFC breakthrough, and consequently MMA breakthrough, so I really see no problem with Dana’s comment.
by pud333 on
Jun 5, 2008 9:07 PM EDT
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The NFL has had reality shows...
covering rookies coming into training camps.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by brentbrookhouse on
Jun 5, 2008 9:57 PM EDT
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the nfl isn’t using the reality show to decide who makes the roster and who doesn’t…... the ufc does
The nfl doesn’t pick one of it’s superbowl teams using some reality show format like the UFC used the TUF show to pick title shots for GSP and Anderson Silva…..that would be like the nfl picking a bunch of teams that didn’t make the playoffs, phonying up some reality concept and having the winner face the patriots in the super bowl….
and this is bigger than the UFC….. dream, EliteXC, etc ..none of them really conduct themselves like a sport…. the closest someone tried to adhere to a sports model was the IFL and they failed miserably
the ufc is well and fine to do this, but they should try to act like it doesn’t hurt them when they want to be considered as an equal with the major sports, if they are going to conduct themselves like they are “combat entertainment” instead of sport, then they shouldn’t complain when they are treated as such.
by robnashville on
Jun 6, 2008 5:53 AM EDT
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In regards to the IFL...
...I think that half of what made that company fail is that as soon as the idea was announced most of the hardcore community said “that sounds stupid” and didn’t give it a chance. The IFL has put on some pretty good damn shows recently that just aren’t being watched. Of course now they’re getting desperate and using the 6 sided ring..etc.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by brentbrookhouse on
Jun 6, 2008 10:47 AM EDT
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Agreed, along with the mma crowd at that time being either Pride or UFC for the large part and IFL not having the “names” to compare with those orgs.
It is to bad, the new IFL of 2008 has been very good and I would put them on par with WEC in talent and presentation. Unfortunately, not enough eyes are on their product and they need a more available network for their live/full cards.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on
Jun 6, 2008 11:46 AM EDT
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Well, there’s a “yes, but…” here. None of these organizations conduct themselves like a sports league… where there is competition between geographically located teams. Look at the NBA finals: half of the intrigue is LA vs. Boston as a “west coast vs. east coast, big market” thing. Fighters don’t necessarily have the same kind of connections, and only rarely (GSP in Montreal, Rich Franklin in Ohio) is there a definitive “home” fighter. And EVEN THEN, that’s only for one or some of the fights on the card.
It’s kind of disingenuous to say that MMA promotions should conduct themselves like team sports leagues; they’re completely different animals.
by AJB on
Jun 6, 2008 3:18 PM EDT
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Dana can be pretty abrasive sometimes. His PR skills often leave something to be desired. The way he handles the press and challenges about how the UFC does business, in general, is often heavy handed. With that said, he knows MMA and how to make it work as a business. He’s got a lot more experience than the people who are jumping in now. The UFC more resembles a “sport” than EliteXC’s product (reality show or not). That’s something I, personally, appreciate. The guy’s motivated and looks to be working hard to keep Zuffa on top, like it or not.
by Cannon J on Jun 5, 2008 9:09 PM EDT 0 recs
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