Breaking Down Dana White's Jake Rossen Rant
by Mike Fagan on Dec 30, 2009 11:49 AM EST
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I know a guy a lot like Dana White. Smart guy. Opinionated. Good to have on your side, bad to be on the other. And if you ever disagree with him on anything (politics, sports, interior design), prepare to be told very loudly and with much profanity why you are not only wrong, but probably an idiot.
So, it's no surprise to see Dana White not only fly off the handle in response to Jake Rossen's relatively (for him) well-reasoned op-ed shooting down MMA Overlord's ten year global takeover pipe dream, but air out his grievances in public. Why don't we take a look at the transcript (courtesy of Watch Kalib Run)?
...[inaudible] arguing with me about how big MMA will be over the next ten years. Like I give a f***what Jake Rossen thinks. What has this guy ever done to move the sport of MMA forward-- okay? First of all, first of all we've done- - we've made this thing grow despite all the dicks that write on Sherdog, okay? Number one. And, and-- but his f***ing input about business and he also says the UAE [United Arab Emirates] is f***ing-- uh, has big financial trouble. They are worth a trillion f***ing dollars! This guys is a f***ing ass bag, okay?
I'm not going to spend too much time on the UAE thing, but from some quick Google research, it appears that Dubai's the only member of that esteemed group in trouble (and it seems markedly similar to the situation in Vegas) while the rest of the UAE appears OK ('cause, you know, oil).
Anyhow, enough geopolitical nonsense. Dana White doesn't care about Jake Rossen, his family, or his dog. And he will violently describe why for the next two minutes.
So, instead of, wait, instead of, instead of promoting the fight this weekend-- instead of promoting the fight this weekend, this guy is f***ing arguing with me about how big MMA is going to be in the next ten years and why it wont be as big as I say it is. Are you mother f***ers into Mixed Martial Arts!?
But really, who has time to promote fights when there's so much work to be done calling out "journalists" (read: op-ed writers) who disagree with you?
That's what he does? Then what the f*** do you employ this guy for? He argues about how big the sport will be, that's what he does? What a f***ing douchebag!
Well, he'll also tell you Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem should stop fighting, but that's neither here nor there.
You know there's a fight this Saturday, right? There's not, there's not one stitch of f***ing anything covering the fight. Uh-- who will be the next big fighters in the next ten years, uh-- they got some big dude with a big fucking afro, uh-- wrestling, you know?
Dude with an afro? You mean the four time NCAA All-American, who won the NCAA championship at 174 lbs. in 2006 and 2007? Oh, and this guy has taken up an MMA career? Yeah, who would be interested in a guy like that?
ARE YOU INTO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS, MOTHER FUCKER?
So basically, what he just tells me is Jake Rossen, what he likes to do is, he likes to write bullshit stories smashing MMA and MMA writers so you the fans will go on there and talk about him for a long time. Typical f***ing bullshit reporter.
Pot meet kettle.
Jake Rossen, Go f*** yourself!
I find nothing to fault in this statement.
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This episode encapsulates Dana’s view of the media. They are there to promote his events and help him grow, not ask hard questions and present their opinions.
HIs general view is that since he and the Fertittas helped turn the UFC into a juggernaut, everyone else involved in the sport owes him some kind of permanent tax.
by Michael Rome on Dec 30, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Jordan Breen mentioned it on his show that White really doesn’t understand the role of MMA media. It is getting ridiculous that he keeps using how he and the Fertitas helped MMA grow to such a high, which is absolutely true, but he uses that as justification for everything they do and uses it to discredit anyone else.
I like Dana White, but it is stuff like this that makes him come off as ignorant. I know that this is what he does, but he isn’t making Rossen look like an idiot, he is making himself look like an idiot.
by chrisbboy82 on Dec 30, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t support Dana’s position, but I can understnd his frustration.
99% of the guys in North America who are eking out a living blogging about MMA and writing for MMA websites would not be in that position were it not for Zuffa turning the sport into a bonafide money making machine.
Prior to the TUF boom, there were maybe a half-dozen MMA blogs and only a couple that actually employed staff. Guys like Jake Rossen and Jordan Breen owe their paychecks to the revenue the UFC brought to the sport, which enable Jeff Sherwood to make a nice chunk of change and start paying for writers.
That said, while Zuffa basically created most of the jobs in the industry, that doesn’t mean anyone should be beholden to them. Dana really does need to rethink that mindset because, eventually, this sport is going to have some serious sharks with investigative skills and broad ambitions covering it rather than glorified bloggers, and those guys will crawl up Dana’s ass with a microscope and make his life miserable.
I disagree that promotion is what he expects, but it is what he wants. This is in the video blog for a reason. It is, and I have said this before, unspoken negotiations. He asks for the world and gets half. He is explaining that the MMA getting big only helps writers like Rossen so why do they fight it. The piece it self is not so damning, but the point remains the same. He wants people who promote the sport and grow the sport and grow the UFC. I would think he knows enough about the media that he doesn’t expect that all the time, but there is nothing wrong with wanting that. Rossen’s piece wasn’t very good in that its like string theory and it can not be proven to be true or not be true and time line is so long that no one will care about his article. So in essence, its pointless. Of coarse the most powerful man in the sport wants it to be the biggest sport, now let me spout out about how he is full of shit and will fail. Who knows, maybe Dana was pitching a deal with someone, a sponsor, investor, ect. and they cited Rossen’s article as a reason not to do the deal. It is fact that if Dana thinks you are fucking with his money, he holds a grudge just ask Josh Gross while you are standing outside of UFC weigh-ins when they deny him entry.
Some people think I am a dumb, ugly human being, but really I am a beautiful ape, with exceptional verbal skills.
by szucconi on Dec 30, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs
“Rossen’s piece wasn’t very good in that its like string theory and it can not be proven to be true or not be true and time line is so long that no one will care about his article.”
Isn’t DW the one who said it? Why would the reporter be held to that standard and not the one making the claim. Rossen isn’t the only one who believes White’s statement is, “fairly obnoxious in its assessment of the fight business model.” The questioning of such a brash statement by a reporter is not, “pointless”, it is in fact his job.
I’m pretty sure Rossen is well aware that DW holds grudges… his colleague was called a stupid bitch to millions of fans, over and over.
DW, when its convenient, likes to pretend like everyone is on the same team and asks, “Are you mother f***ers into Mixed Martial Arts!?” Unfortunately, Dana believes the UFC = MMA… it doesn’t.
I disagree on your second statement Michael.
I don’t sip the kool aid, but I do think he’s asking the mma media to give him (and indirectly the competition) a bump to help support the sport as a whole grow.
The problem with that is that sherdog and many other sites are helping to promote the event. There are previews, radio roundtables, early predictions, what to watch out for in the betting lines, and whatnot on pretty much ALL MMA websites, and sherdog is doing its part. How can one seriously fault Rossen for having the opinion that Ben Askren will go far in the next ten years. It is one thing to disagree with it, but to tell the writer of the article to “Go f*** yourself!” is just downright ridiculous.
by chrisbboy82 on Dec 30, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
In this particular case Dana’s point is VERY relevant.
A guy in his moms basement is telling the guy who built the sport he’s wrong on where the sport will be?… ok. Rossen’s got a right to say that and Dana’s got a right to bring up his credentials… especially in this debate.
But really the media has got no clue what Dana is saying.
Manchaster United is the biggest sports franchise in the world (worth 1.6 billion) It is a certainty that the UFC will be the biggest sports franchise in the world – anybody can see that… but that’s not even what Dana is saying.
When he says “UFC will be the biggest sport in 10 years” he’s saying it will be the biggest sports “league” in 10 years.
Anyone who understands numbers and looks at the metrics (North American, what’s happening in the UK, and then Mexico, South Korea and Brazil) will realize all those calling this a “pipe dream” are foolish.
If Rossen wants to write about this topic he should at least research it and get some knowledge on it (that’s his job). If he doesnt understand it he should stick to what he knows – Based on what he wrote he is in no way qualified to even be reading about this – let alone writing about it.
UFC being as big as the NFL in the states is not probable… but when Zufffa has a bigger area to play in which is alot more fertile for the UFC to grow than the NFL things get interesting.
UFC doesn’t have to be the biggest league in each territory. If it’s top 2 or 3 – and in some markets even 4 Then the UFC will be the biggest sports league in the world.
An mma glove costs 5 times more than a soccer ball… Dana is not saying UFC will be bigger than Soccer – He’s saying the UFC will be bigger than the NFL, EPL (english soccer league) and La Liga (spanish soccer league), etc…
If you extrapolate the current metrics the UFC will definitely be top 2… the only question is the time of 10 years. and that’s the goal. When you make a goal you challenge yourself and try to beat the current trend. You try to do it in less time than the trend indicates (10 years versus 16or 17) and try to produce a better outcome than the current trend indicates (1st instead of second).
Rossen should stick to writing about Junie Browning.
by mmalogic on Dec 30, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 12 recs
I don’t think it matter if people agree with Dana about growth or not. Thats not really what this post is about. Its more or less about the rant and Dana demanding coverage.
Some people think I am a dumb, ugly human being, but really I am a beautiful ape, with exceptional verbal skills.
Dana was telling them to cover what he knows instead of something he has no clue about.
“The guy with the afro” is something Rossen knows so Dana was wrong on that part and he was just kicking him when he got him down in a "oh by the way… you have time to talk about this “afro” guy and write a piece about something you know nothing about while there’s an event going on this weekend".
The jist is if you’re gonna write something about the UFC write about something you’re equipped to write about… like UFC 108.
So by 2020 the UFC will generate more revenue than the NFL and be worth more as well? Since the the average NFL team is worth $1 bil and the league generates $6 billion a year in revenue, Dana should maybe stop bitching about reporters and get to work.
because getting sanctioning, and broadening your reach isn't work?
How about gettin on television in 140 (?) countries… breaking new fighters, brokering deals with multiple television stations, gaining blue chip sponsors, breaking PPV records, etc
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
When he says "UFC will be the biggest sport in 10 years" he’s saying it will be the biggest sports "league" in 10 year.
White should hire a translator, because apparently there’s miscommunication.
by dancingChicken on Dec 30, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
“A guy in his moms basement”
I haven’t read any further yet, but there’s nothing like unique and original personal attacks to start out a comment.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Dec 30, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Read the rest of the post.
Moving the goal posts much? Dana said this, but what he really means is this other, less spectacular and hyperbolic statement. Right…
Dana said the UFC would be the biggest sport in the world. Not sports league. Not sports franchise. Sport.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Dec 30, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs
First line of the article:
UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020.
Last line of the article:
So, is 10 years enough time to make this the biggest sport in the world? Hell, yeah.
How foolish of folks to interpret this as… what it actually says!
by JRN on Dec 30, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
A better argument would be, one that I am not making only suggesting logic attach himself too, fighting is the oldest sport in the same way that turning tricks is the oldest profession. So what Dana really meant was combat sports will be the biggest and me roughhousing with my little brother counts. So all physical contact counts.
Some people think I am a dumb, ugly human being, but really I am a beautiful ape, with exceptional verbal skills.
LOL
I thought I knew what Dana said, but mmalogic has clarified and convinced us that what we thought was wrong. He told us what Dana ACTUALLY meant. It ALL makes SOO much sense now. =)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 30, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Why don’t you play journalist and go ask him… It’s a simple question which any journalist would ask.
Obviously when he’s talking about the NFL in the same piece he’s talking about a sports league. He wasn’t talking about football… he was talking about the NFL.
The NFL happens to be the biggest sports “LEAGUE” not sport. Soccer is the biggest “Sport”.
He wasn’t talking about “sport” but “sports leagues”. It may be a bit advanced to rad the entire article to see what he means and sometimes if one is confused they ask and get things clarified. That’s what “journalists” do.
The biggest problem the web created is it removed the barrier of entry and complexities of operations… that was a natural filter removing all the lazy wannabe’s from real world professions like “journalism” and publishing.
Here’s a logical question: Why the fuck would Dana’s goal be to get kids playing “UFC” instead of soccer? The answer is simple:
IT’S NOT. So why the fuck would Dana’s goal be making the UFC the “Biggest Sport”?
You think guys are in the Zuffa boardroom planning ways to get kids playing UFC instead of soccer or basketball? Or do you think their looking at other sports leagues and sizing it up and planning the attack? You think Zuffa is planning on making UFC a high school sport? or looking at NFL viewership trends?
This is not rocket science. “But dana said sport not sports league”… You think Dana is planning on or expecting someone to build an octagon on every street corner next to the basketball court or soccer field? You think that’s in Zuffa’s business plan?
Read the piece – he stated his vision statement and used the NFL “A sports league” as a comparison not a generic sport when he stated the goal.
If it’s still confusing all a journalist or a person in the media has to do is ask. That’s what they do… it’s part of the job description.
I'll leave most of it alone as not being worth the time, but
You think Dana is planning on or expecting someone to build an octagon on every street corner next to the basketball court or soccer field?
How many UFC gyms are they planning on opening again?
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
They are workout gyms not sparring gyms or fight camps. They’re something a sister or mom would go to for different types of workouts… or the douchebag from jersey shore so he can say he trains “UFC”.
Not worth the time because you have nothing else to whine about?
So...
you don’t have a rebuttal? Or an answer to the question? Thanks, buddy.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
how do you “play” UFC or MMA in a UFC gym like you play soccer in a soccer field or Basketball in a Basketball field? They are workout gyms not sparring or fight camps or smokers.
So…
you getting it yet or do you need it in sign language?
I asked you how many.
You did not provide an answer.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Why don’t you play journalist and go ask him… It’s a simple question which any journalist would ask.
I have never claimed to be a journalist. I don’t have a degree in journalism. I don’t have contacts in the sport. I don’t do interviews. My primary function, and the reason I was brought to Bloody Elbow in the first place, is to analyze UFC cards from a gambling perspective. I’ve branched out and provide other, valuable talents, but I do not function as a reporter.
If you would like to provide me with the resources to conduct an exclusive, hard-hitting interview with Dana White, by all means, provide me.
Obviously when he’s talking about the NFL in the same piece he’s talking about a sports league. He wasn’t talking about football… he was talking about the NFL.
The NFL happens to be the biggest sports "LEAGUE" not sport. Soccer is the biggest "Sport".
He wasn’t talking about "sport" but "sports leagues". It may be a bit advanced to rad the entire article to see what he means and sometimes if one is confused they ask and get things clarified. That’s what "journalists" do.
That’s funny because he also wrote that the reason the NFL couldn’t expand is because people aren’t interested in “American football”. So, uh, yeah, he was talking about the SPORT of AMERICAN FOOTBALL.
The biggest problem the web created is it removed the barrier of entry and complexities of operations… that was a natural filter removing all the lazy wannabe’s from real world professions like "journalism" and publishing.
Blah blah blah. This plus your inane and childish “guy in his mother’s basement” comment just makes you come off like every other asshat Buzz Bissinger type in the world. Traditional media and journalism will always have its place. News will always need to be broken. But if you’re trying to place the same standards for old school journalism to new school internet media, you’re sorely, sorely mistaken. The two serve entirely different functions, and you should recognize that.
Here’s a logical question: Why the fuck would Dana’s goal be to get kids playing "UFC" instead of soccer? The answer is simple:
IT’S NOT. So why the fuck would Dana’s goal be making the UFC the "Biggest Sport"?
Oh look, it’s a straw man!
You think guys are in the Zuffa boardroom planning ways to get kids playing UFC instead of soccer or basketball? Or do you think their looking at other sports leagues and sizing it up and planning the attack? You think Zuffa is planning on making UFC a high school sport? or looking at NFL viewership trends?
Yes, to all of his, obviously.
This is not rocket science. "But dana said sport not sports league"… You think Dana is planning on or expecting someone to build an octagon on every street corner next to the basketball court or soccer field? You think that’s in Zuffa’s business plan?
I expect Dana, who by all accounts is a smart fellow, to have enough control of the English language to say what he means. There is a, and I think this conversation alone proves it, huge chasm between being the “biggest sport” and “biggest sports league”. If you want to chalk it up to use of hyperbolic language, fine, but don’t engage in near-personal attacks on me, the staff, or internet media as a whole because the proprietor of a fighting organization used a poor choice of wordage.
Read the piece – he stated his vision statement and used the NFL "A sports league" as a comparison not a generic sport when he stated the goal.
…and American football.
If it’s still confusing all a journalist or a person in the media has to do is ask. That’s what they do… it’s part of the job description.
Gimme dem digits, son.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Dec 30, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
Not taking sides but...
Mike, I’ve been liking most of your writing, and your pithy quips in your This Week in Quotes column adds a nice comedic touch, but applying the same quip-style to articles doesn’t do your point of view any favours. It doesn’t help here in your response to logic’s well written rebuttal either. In both cases it comes off as amateurish and defensive more than anything.
You have some solid points – why not present them intelligently? This stuff reads like forum trash.
When logic quits with the condescending bullshit, I’ll deliver him a much less sardonic response.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Also, outside of one or two sarcastic responses, how is this not thought out and well-written response? Because I broke it up in the same fashion I do with more scathing pieces?
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Mike
I really enjoyed the article, but I think in defending your point you might be overlooking some stuff so you can fight with logic. Example:
That’s funny because he also wrote that the reason the NFL couldn’t expand is because people aren’t interested in "American football". So, uh, yeah, he was talking about the SPORT of AMERICAN FOOTBALL.
In that context Dana is still talking about the NFLs expansion and why the NFL has trouble doing it. I think you know that, but were just trying to make some sort of semantic jab.
by Chris Barton on Dec 30, 2009 5:49 PM EST up reply actions
Right.
The point, to me, is this. If we’re talking about being the biggest sport in the world, it’s going to be extremely difficult to top soccer for a number of reasons.
If we’re talking about being the biggest sports organization in the world, good luck on that too. Yeah, fight sport may be as ubiquitous as soccer, but the reason the NFL leads sports organizations in revenue is because it has a stranglehold on the biggest economic market for sports. Basketball is as near as ubiquitous as soccer with a strong foothold in America and a very good expansion policy. And it still trails the NFL.
I just find it very disingenuous to rip into someone who rebutted someone who made a very clear statement by turning around and saying, “Oh, well, he didn’t mean that LITERALLY. You’ve got to read between he lines! He clearly implied biggest sports organization!”
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
So when Bob Arum says he could get a mormon placed in porn – do you see anyone writing a piece about how that’s not possible?
Anyone with any business sense could read what Dana wrote and understand what he meant. And any journalist would get a clarification if he didn’t.
If Rossen or anyone else wants to argue the goal once they understand what it is – great. But if you dont even understand it, at a minimum get a clarification or dont publish something on it at all.
Being the biggest sports league… there is no bigger goal than that. Being the biggest generic sport? who the hell is gonna fund that and who’s gonna get mma next to the basketball, football and soccer high school programs? Feasibility equals ZERO and profitability equals ZERO.
These questions look like a “straw man” but Rossens piece was an argument against a “straw man” because he was too lazy to actually think about it for a second and do some research.
I’m not really disagreeing with your point, just the way you presented that argument wasn’t sound and just came off needlessly argumentative.
I think, from the context of what Dana is saying sport=UFC and sport=Biggest League. I also doubt the UFC will be the biggest league in 10 years. Or 20 years… etc.
by Chris Barton on Dec 30, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
Luke Thomas has PR’s contact information ask him to send a simple email.
Jake Rossen could have asked Savage who could have texted Dana to clarify… but that’s what journalists do so nevermind.
Well said, too many people are missing the point and loosing focus on the big picture.
by magneto on Dec 30, 2009 2:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I have to say though that with less than a week to go for a UFC event the fact that there is hardly any coverage on sherdog is pretty bad. Especially when sherdog instead decides to post up a really crappy article bashing what I would just call enthusiastic comments…
I cant stand the way Jake Rossen writes.
by iamtheoriginalchris on Dec 30, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
I really hope everybody plays that clip again when Zuffa sign Askren
Follow @MMARocks and @tjmarciniak
by greco-roman airlines on Dec 30, 2009 12:02 PM EST reply actions
In response to this
I point to the resolution in The Simpsons Halloween short: “Attack of the 50 Foot Eyesores”
Do likewise gents…
It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.
If you are critical of Dana White and the UFC, you aren’t doing your part to help MMA grow. Dana is out there busting his ass to make MMA evolve and if you’re typing on your keyboard in your parents’ basement talking shit about him then you’re part of the problem.
amirite guyz?
by Polyh3dron on Dec 30, 2009 12:05 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Dana is “out there” busting his ass to make UFC bigger, trying to cram his idea of UFC=MMA down everyone’s throat, throwing f-bomb-laden tirades at everyone who dares to voice a disagreeing opinion.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Dec 30, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Are people missing the “amirite guyz?” at the end here?
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Apperently
I thought this was the best post of the comments section here, aside from you and JRN reminding logic that it is reasonable to analyze, exactly what Dana White says rather than what an apologist throws up later.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
I tire of Dana at times. He’s done a lot for the sport, but I wish he could learn to tame this side a bit.
If he didn’t have actual power to do what he wants, he would be seen as yet another pissant meathead.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Dec 30, 2009 12:06 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
“Jake Rossen, Go f*** yourself!
I find nothing to fault in this statement."
+1
by mjw2e on Dec 30, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions 8 recs
He is a shining example of the benefits of getting in on the ground floor.
Keep firing Assholes!
Editor of www.downsyndromematuremidgetsheltlandponyporn.com/
by Ubernoober on Dec 30, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
The guy is a fight promoter pissed off that one of the major media outlets of the sport is not doing anything to cover his event. Honestly, what should Dana White do in that situation? People whine if he has his go-to Yahoo guys do puff pieces. People whine if he flies off the handle in a random rant… People whine if he does nothing.
It’s always amusing to see people’s reaction to a fight promoter actually attempting to promote an event.
The guy is a fight promoter pissed off that one of the major media outlets of the sport is not doing anything to cover his event.
Sherdog has previews, fight breakdowns, and radio roundtables for every UFC event. What are they supposed to do, send Jeff to say something on the countdown show?
that all drives traffic to their site...
Covering the UFC period is the reason they are affiliated with ESPN, and drives more traffic to their site than any puff piece dissin dana.
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
Dissing? How?
I love MMA but I don’t think that it’ll surpass soccer any time soon. Does that mean I hate Dana too?
Sherdog has previews, fight breakdowns, and radio roundtables for every UFC event. What are they supposed to do, send Jeff to say something on the countdown show?
There’s been a lot less (positive) coverage of UFC108 than most other cards though across the board and Sherdog is the whipping boy for that. Because the card was destroyed by injuries, it’s obviously a pretty weak card and doesn’t deserve the kind of attention from the media as if Lesner and Carwin were going on. Dana’s position, as someone selling the fights, is that the public will want to see it because it’s a UFC event regardless of quality and the media has a responsibility to cover it thoroughly. When they don’t, it hurts his bottom line. Any promoter with any common sense will rail against anything that threatens profits, whether it’s a valid point or not.
I think nate yesterday did a story about how there’s no hype to the event at all right now, even though the Evans-Silva fight looms pretty large for the 205 picture. Obviously that’s not Sherdog’s fault entirely, but they are a big target with a perceived anti-UFC bias anyway.
“Honestly, what should Dana White do in that situation?”
Your implying that Dana White has to do anything. He should go about his business and promote his fight.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
If his point was to present a critical point of view about the media’s coverage of the event… and their tendency to get caught up stories like Hershel Walker or what Ben Askren will be doing in 10 years… I tend to think that is decent fight promotion. Clearly it didn’t work on the Bloody Elbow folks who decided to instead remind us that Dana White uses dirty words and is sort of mean to people.
Make no mistake, if they wanted to run a story about Ben Askren’s future as their featured story leading up to a Strikeforce event, Dana White would absolutely love it. It’s strange that people don’t see the promotion angle in what he’s doing.
I’m Starting to get sick of Dana White
"On the sixth day god created man,but on the fifth day man created god" - Todd White on The Book Of Lucifer:
The Enlightenment
by Krawchuck on Dec 30, 2009 12:23 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Cant really imagine this type of diatribe would fly too well with ESPN, which the UFC desperately needs if it wants to get anywhere near where DW wants it. The demographic must expand beyond 18-34 males, who dont mind the shtick for the most part, into a more general consumer-friendly product. Profanity-laced epithets at the media arent the way to go.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Anthony Pace on Dec 30, 2009 12:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Time for Shane-O-Mac to step in.
Walking the line between intelligence and ignorance since 1985
@deowade
by Damon O. on Dec 30, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Whatever you think about Jake Rossen, I thought that his piece was no big deal. He didn’t attack Dana personally, he just said that he thought that Dana’s projections were unrealistic. Which they are. That was one piece on the website which will carry a lot of promotion for the UFC this week.
I do think Dana’s good cop/bad cop thing is pretty funny and unique, though.
Use all ten points.
by MasonA on Dec 30, 2009 12:34 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
unrealistic based on what?
They sure do SOUND lofty, but where are the facts and numbers that show us how unrealistic they are?
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
You’re right. They sound lofty and it’s only my opinion that they are unrealistic. Not that I’ve seen numbers and facts that show MMA/UFC’s growth into the biggest sport in the world in 10 year as realistic.
I love MMA and I know it’s growing, but of the hundreds of people I know (working at a tennis club and in a college athletic department, i.e. most of the people I know are pre-disposed to liking/following some sports) a small percentage of people instantly know what I mean when I say UFC. Some of the people who I explain the concept to reject the sport outright. Not everyone, but enough to make me skeptical that the UFC’s growth doesn’t have a ceiling.
Use all ten points.
I hate to agree with Mike
But all this Dana-drama would be a lot more upsetting if Jake Rossen and Lorretta Hunt weren’t terrible reporters.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
by jemaleddin on Dec 30, 2009 12:35 PM EST reply actions 10 recs
Once again Dana gets what he wants
Let’s not forget that Dana White is first and foremost a promoter. A promoter of UFC, of MMA, of his fighters, his brand, and himself. He obviously filmed himself and posted this video to keep a buzz in the media, and it worked. Like him or not he is good at what he does.
Theres a new video blog up
Dana signs a sign that a fan brought in that says: “Jake Rossen is an Ass Bag”
Really funny
rossen is the new gross. it seems he does this shit for attention… so I can understand why Dana is pissed; he doesn’t write anything positive about the ufc. I don’t approve of the way Dana handles it but at the same time i am much more sick of rossen who doesn’t do shit except complain. I hope he dissapears,
by cagefightonacid on Dec 30, 2009 1:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I don't get it
Rossen’s paragraphs (they don’t qualify as an article and there wasn’t much thought put into it) doesn’t seem to merit any kind of response.
I was hoping for an analysis of the various major sports leagues around the world, current revenues, growth rates, etc. Instead I spent 4 minutes on Sherdog reading something less interesting that the majority of posts on this thread.
My own 2 cents: I think Dana may be right, I could see UFC eclipsing EPL and NFL at some point. The possibility is there. And Dana’s broad reasoning has some validity: people get fighting, it’s a simple sport to understand and local fighting styles and national pride get to come into play.
But 10 years is probably too soon. As one other poster said, it does sound like a “stretch goal” and a good thing to put out there. Saying it sometimes helps make it so. )
And this Rossen fellow…I won’t be clicking on links to anything by him in the future.
Fagan, I look forward to the day that BE gets big enough that Dana White calls you out on one of his vlogs, now that would be something.
by ufc4 on Dec 30, 2009 1:22 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Why do you think I posted this?
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
by Mike Fagan on Dec 30, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
that won’t happen because BE doesn’t have bored writers looking to get attention and stir-up mindless controversy.
by cagefightonacid on Dec 30, 2009 2:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
And the site basically presents points on other mma articles...
which is why the potshot about Rossen saying Mir and Overeem should quit feels weak
"All I guarantee is violence" - Wand
Rossen owes Dana a big Thank you. He got thousands of more hits than he would have withouth the rant. Too bad the article wasn’t anything worth wanting to check out his opinions in the future.
by swells2048 on Dec 30, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Not as big as the overreaction to the overreaction.
And I’m not even joking.
Sherwood big?
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
First, I don’t understand why if Dana hates sherdog so much, he would constantly provide them traffic. The Rossen article was nothing that required any sort of blowup of this magnitude. If Dana really wanted to hate on sherdog, he would’ve never said anything about them, because noone cares about their website except casuals and some x-cores who want their eyes to bleed from reading shitty articles and dealing with more trolls posting than in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It makes MMAjunkie forums look like intelligent discussion.
Second, I’m a huge fan of mma, and its possible that at some point the UFC may be close to as popular as the NFL or bigger soccer leagues, but he doesnt take into account that for the sport to be that big, it will take a lot more fighters, a lot more cards, and I don’t envision enough people being that high a caliber of fighter. MMA is a niche sport for now and is increasing in popularity, but there is a ceiling, we just haven’t found it. Its just not possible that the UFC will eclipse huge brands like the Yankees/ Man U/ Cowboys because those all instill in their fans a sense of pride and togetherness, and MMA doesn’t have brands like that. You can be a fan of a fighter one day, and he’s dead to you the next (not all cases). But people are fans of teams for life, and a team is just a part of a league. Part of a sport is reoccuring rivalry, for instance the red sox/ yanks, which happens almost 20 times a year, vs. fighter rivalries that happen maybe 3 times. There are just so many extraneous factors that hold mma back. It will absolutely be the most fan dominant combat sport of all time, and will beat out boxing at some point, but the nature of the sport holds it back from becoming this gigantic universal brand.
Sorry for the diatribe.
by Austin Martin on Dec 30, 2009 1:31 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Good point. I can’t see anyone being that much of a fan for any MMA fighter that they’d decorate their home with related merchandise, wear the fighter’s walkout shirts day in day out, ask to be buried in a casket that has the fighter’s colors/logo/whatever on it… while all of these happen all the time among soccer fans around the world.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Dec 30, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll agree with the part about being a fan of a certain team for life and all that goes along with having a permanent team to root for your whole life. Maybe that is why the UFC chooses to promote it’s brand more than individual fighters at this point.
However I can definitely see people dedicating rooms and buying all kinds of merchandise to represent their favorite fighters in MMA. NASCAR has individual stars just like MMA and some NASCAR fans decorate rooms, paint their cars, and most importantly buy a whole lot of merchandise featuring their favorite drivers. NASCAR drivers make a nice chunk of money from their cut of merchandise sales featuring their likeness.
Just BE.
and fighters may be far more recognizable as the sport grows because unlike NASCAR you can see their face during the event.
Nascar Drivers
Also do their profession more than 3/4 times a year, making it easier to follow them without periods in between, or so many injuries. And thats the most youre going to see a fighter fight, and then you have to take into account longevity and injuries.
by Austin Martin on Dec 30, 2009 7:08 PM EST up reply actions
But I don’t see a lot of fans wearing “NFL” clothing, “World Cup” clothing, etc. But I think you will see (its already started) a lot of “UFC” clothing, hats, and other logo’d items. I doubt a single fighter could compete with teams, or that the UFC could compete with teams, especially those with 50+ years of building a fan base, but it could compete with leagues and be bigger than those leagues.
there are fair-weather fans in all sports….. just look at the celtics after they started winning again. i don’t think it’s fair to say mma doesn’t have that; win or lose I will always love the lakers and I will always love crocop (for example)…
by cagefightonacid on Dec 30, 2009 2:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Method to his madness
Dana says ridiculous things in order to get his name and his promotion in the news. By making such a bold and obviously incredible statement, he is enticing the general news media to take notice by either shooting him down with an article or reporting on what he says. No news is bad news. If people talk about you, then it’s free advertising…
What this accomplishes is to get the average joe to watch a Fight Night or perhaps order a UFC PPV to see what the “biggest” sport in the world in 10 years will be like. If only 10% of those people convert, he’s done his job. Instead, he finds a guy like Jake Rossen who’s supposed to be on his side doing the job for the regular media, telling the readers that MMA couldn’t possibly be that big in ten years. No shit, Sherlock! Did you have to write an article to tell what 90% of the people with half a brain already knows? Why should CNN even mention the “biggest sport in ten years” or report on Dana’s insane belief in the growth of his sport when the MMA sport writers already shot it down as a pipe dream?
There are two sides to Dana. Dana the genius and Dana the pompous silly quote spewing moron. The 2nd doesn’t necessarily negate the first. Perhaps there is a method to his madness.
Jake Rossen, Go f*** yourself!
I find nothing to fault in this statement.
Yup.
Are you excusing Dana while vilifying Rossen for doing essentially the same thing?
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
What is Rossen’s purpose in writing his article? He’s telling us be the biggest sport in the world in ten years? We already know. With India and China being an up and coming market, if the UFC gets a foothold in those two countries and MMA becomes the 2nd or 3rd biggest sport in the world in ten years, would we take Dana to task for being wrong? The guy has a goal, and even if he misses it, big deal. What’s Rossen’s negative Nancy article point other than to prove other than to spite Dana White?
Dana has his persona. That’s the role he plays. What’s the point of Rossen baiting him with his irrelevant article?
Courtesy Of Fight Opinion
White says right at the beginning that he doesn’t care at all about what Jake Rossen writes, then he goes on and on about what Jake Rossen writes, which is strange for someone who doesn’t give a damn what Jake Rossen writes. His constant passion and obsession of Sherdog is hilarious, but even more hilarious is his Vince Russo-esque INTERNET BUZZ~! fixation. When in doubt, Dana tries to stir up Internet writers to talk about him in hopes that they’ll talk about UFC 108 which they weren’t before. I wonder when he will call MMA writers "Bitches in a Beauty Salon" like he did fighters during the labor dispute with Randy Couture?
He says that Sherdog doesn’t have anything on its site right now "promoting" this weekend’s UFC event, apparently unaware that it’s his job to promote the UFC and it’s the media’s job to cover the sport. Of course, when you think UFC is the whole sport and nothing but the sport, the world revolves around you and not events like the Dynamite!! show that has substantially more meaning for the MMA landscape long-term.
http://www.fightopinion.com/2009/12/30/comments-on-dana-whites-tirade-again-on-sherdog/
It is funny that someone White cares nothing for
Gets a page long rant. He should have called him something really offensive though. Telling him to go fuck himself is not going to get him to stop vlogging *again
"All I guarantee is violence" - Wand
Violence
While admittedly I stopped reading all of the comments as there are many, I noticed no one was commenting on one good point that Jake made about violence.
I do think that violence has an inherent limiting factor for this sport. I agree that MMA will never surpass football here in the states and I highly doubt it will pass soccer globally. I think this is because of violence. While I choose to watch MMA over any other sport because I find martial arts fascinating, I don’t think globally that many people appreciate martial arts for the art. They do however have a view of MMA that is quite accurate, they don’t like see blood or violence. This I think will never change.
That being said, MMA could be the largest sport league in the world, but never the biggest sport.
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