Dana White Says "I'm So Mad at Rampage Over This, I'm Not Talking to Him"

Veto Power

The UFC needs to have the power to veto things like this, and fighters need to prioritize.

by BakiHanma21 on Sep 15, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Making a living > Everything else.

http://twitter.com/FlyByKnite

by FlyByKnight on Sep 15, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That can not be argued.

by BakiHanma21 on Sep 15, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly, seeing that he is providing the UFC with charitable services at the moment…

by -Sam on Sep 16, 2009 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can’t treat them as independent contractors AND have veto power. It’s one or the other.

Dana is being a baby. He routinely changes things up on fighters, goes back on verbal assurances to fighters, etc. Now someone does it to him and it’s a mortal offense.

by Michael Rome on Sep 15, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

lol So true.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Sep 15, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In most circumstances, I would agree.

But after an entire season of TUF has been filmed and a ppv set up in Page’s childhood hometown…I can see Dana’s side of it. Rashad also gets to sit on his hands for a few months while waiting for Page.

by Lynchman on Sep 16, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree for the most part, but Rashad was offered the Couture fight and turned it down so he chose to sit.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 16, 2009 10:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

This is pretty much always the case.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 16, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Dana is a piece of shit for this but Affliction completely cancelling multiple cards or M-1 lying to their fighters is perfectly acceptable, right?

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 16, 2009 10:31 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

With another fighter I would probably agree. But Dana gave strong support to Rampage through all his legal dramas, I can’t blame him for feeling angry at this turn of events.

by brad23 on Sep 16, 2009 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can’t treat them as independent contractors AND have veto power

One thing that has always surprised me is how closely the UFC follows the WWE business plan in all areas EXCEPT when it comes to making your talent full-time employees. I realize it is a lot cheaper to keep them at arms length as independent contractors, but the WWE has obviously reaped a ton of ton of benefits from the control they get by brining them into the fold as employees. I have always wondered what the rationale was for deviating from the WWE model in this one area.

by Steve4192 on Sep 16, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Lord...

The WWE has the best of both worlds actually. The wrestlers (and referees actually) are all technically independent contractors with a no-compete clause. He doesn’t have to pay them any benefits and can fire them without cause at any time (although they do get 3 months severence while riding out the no-compete clause). They also cannot refuse wrestling on house shows ever if they’re not a top-8 or so guy on the roster, let alone anything on tv, as long as they’re healthy, and the possibility that they could slide down the roster pecking order if they take time off to heal is why many simply work through lesser injuries.

Vince will pay for all surgeries though.

by Chromium on Sep 16, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The one thing Vince McMahon has over Dana is:

He embraces his employees taking time off to be in [bad] movies and TV shows just because of the publicity it will bring his company. Sure, now Joe SIlva has a little extra work, but Dana should be at least be a tiny bit happy one of his fighters will bring a little more attention to the UFC.

by dv8shun on Sep 15, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He embraces it becuase he usually produces the damn things lol.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Sep 15, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I made an almost identical post last week, although I did not know the WWE was in the movie producing business. Good info.

by Screwface on Sep 15, 2009 11:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Yup anything with high profile “wrestlers” in it is most likely made by the WWE or in conjuction with them, Stone Cold, John Cena, Dwayne Johnson while he was known as “The Rock” etc.

by TearsofaClown on Sep 16, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hasn’t been with the WWE for like 5 years now.

by Chromium on Sep 16, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am aware of that, I was just stating that when he was just known to the public as just “The Rock” his movies were made bye the WWE or was in some way apart of the WWE.

by TearsofaClown on Sep 16, 2009 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vince McMahon got an executive producer credit (which is often a fancy title for “consultant”) on the Scorpion King, The Rundown, and maybe Walking Tall, and think there might have been a WWE logo in the opening pre-credits in one or all of those films, but it was merely the price the producers paid to use the name “The Rock” in advertising. The WWE has not produced any of The Rock’s films the way they produced Cena’s and Austin’s and Kane’s.

by Chromium on Sep 16, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you are confusing executive producer credit with associate producer which is a credit that tends to get handed out like candy (although in TV it’s important) – or as they said in State and Main “what do you give your Secretary instead of a raise? An associate producer credit.”

As the only executive producer on The Scorpion King he would have held an important position. While he would not have had any input into the creative decisions he would have been in charge of the overall production and would have handled all the business and legal issues. Basically he would have been responsible for all the financing of the feature.

by nottheface on Sep 16, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:WWE_Films

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Sep 15, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even before the WWE Films thing.

Back the late 90s/Early 2000s, he was all giddy whenever Steve Austin or Rena Mero guest-starred on TV shows and films. Stuff he had no hand in. His wrestler was getting the WWF brand name out there, which is all that mattered to him. Unless it’s 100% a dream match that fans have been clamoring for that gets screwed over, I don’t think Dana should be so anal.

by dv8shun on Sep 15, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The thing is that UFC fighters show up only once every 3-4 months instead of weekly. Also, you can actually make Stone Cold win every match to capitalize on his popularity, but nothing is guaranteed in MMA.

If Rashad beats the hell out of Rampage, the movie exposure loses some of its potential benefit to the UFC as Rashad is now the star and Rampage is on a downswing.

by bigweeze on Sep 15, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would be bad for Rampage but not so bad for Dana, even if Jackson gets beat up just imagine if there are alot of people watching that fight just because they saw him in the movie? Right there alone equals more money for Dana and if the folks who never watched it before enjoys the event then even better as it could be more buys down the road.

by TearsofaClown on Sep 16, 2009 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

unless rashad L&P his way to the win, i doubt it will be any benifit to any one. Latly Suga has been beating the shit out of people so i dont think we will have to worry in that department.

by Riley_96 on Sep 16, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really, cuz in his last fight I don’t seem to remember him beating the shit out of anyone. You must have meant talking shit.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 16, 2009 10:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Im sure if it was just a co main event it would not have been as bad, but Rampage actually turned down the title fight to heal and do other tihngs then was picked to be on TUf as a coach. The hype that the show will produce may simmer a little too long if the fight is pushed back too far. Look at Hughes/Serra it was steaming with hypoe but by the time it rolled around people were asking for the loser to retire.

by Riley_96 on Sep 15, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It still was the main factor in a huge buyrate 18 months later.

by Michael Rome on Sep 15, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The title was gone, which something to do with this, but again – that fight again did not main-event UFC 98. It went from being the sundae to the cherry on the sundae.

by bigweeze on Sep 15, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is no way it had less of an impact on buys than the main event of Machida and Evans.

by Phildo on Sep 16, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was still a missed title fight and probably would have drew more with wand chuck as a co main event

by Riley_96 on Sep 16, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What’s the big deal with Rampage being On A-Team. They can do the fight Super Bowl weekend and get just as many buys.

by SouthAlaBamaRampage on Sep 15, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Makes me wonder if Quinton is asking for a longer delay.

by Michael Rome on Sep 15, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More money and/or the movie is taking longer to film, appearances and promoting the movie, etc will take more time. One movie can lead to another casting audition for sure.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 16, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He probably doesn’t want to go straight into a training camp coming off filming a movie for six hard weeks. Well I say too bad, Dana should have told him beforehand that his fight will be on the next available card if he wants to do the movie.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 16, 2009 10:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Lol at butthurt Dana

A big time movie like A-Team will bring a good deal of publicity to the UFC, which will be good for Page and the UFC money wise. Hell, they’ll probably advertise the hell out of it before it comes out like how they did with Crank 2 and whatnot

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 15, 2009 11:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol are u shitting me? Jardene was in that movie for like a half a minute and said one line that was it. As a movie goer he was nothing more then an extra

by Riley_96 on Sep 16, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn’t stop them from mentioning every 5 secs during a PPV.

by Tonley on Sep 16, 2009 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s because the studio was paying them to mention it every five seconds. They don’t do that shit for free.

by Steve4192 on Sep 16, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What makes people so sure this is going to lead to an influx of Rampage/UFC fans? Antonio Tarver’s career didn’t exactly prosper after starring in Rocky. Best case scenario for the UFC is that it leads to a small/moderate increase in fans outside the US who haven’t even heard of the sport, much less Rampage.

by rabrown on Sep 16, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't even think it will bring in many new fans

but it will hype the shit out of Page’s fight, and i’d say that Rampage is a guy who actually has some crossover mainstream appeal.

Not to mention all the $$$$ he’ll be making as a result. You can’t blame a guy for wanting to earn some bread.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 16, 2009 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But the UFC did spend big bucks promoting this fight. I know where Rampage is coming from but I want to see that fight.

by Riney on Sep 16, 2009 12:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the amount of steam this fight would of had after tuf 10 wrapped would of been insane but instead it will be put on the shelf like the serra vs hughes fight then brought back with less enthusiasm and hopefully not similar outcome. that seraa/hughes fight sucked imo. didnt live up to the hype

"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar

by pitbull187 on Sep 16, 2009 12:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that was more due to the fact that only one fighter wanted to stand up and bang (Serra), but Hughes did not want to know. I thought the 1st round of that fight was good, but it was downhill from there …

by Rob J Nathan on Sep 16, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ya but the “biggest grudge match in ufc history” you’d expect a little bit more aggression and damage i did anyways.

"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar

by pitbull187 on Sep 16, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like someone is sleeping on the couch tonight....

by EnsignFrog on Sep 16, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i like how everyone is happy that Rampage-Evans isn’t happening (soon) just because Dana (allegedly) gets screwed over on it. Signs of a true fight fan, being happy fighters aren’t fighting, brilliant…

by Reaser16 on Sep 16, 2009 12:38 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

for real

it’s always seems to be about sticking it to “evil dana” doesn’t it? more so than these ‘fans" that support rampage and huerta’s extracurricular acticities so feverently to support them. dana and the fertittas have every right to be upset.

by bdw on Sep 16, 2009 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Sounds like a High School fling gone wrong.
=)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 16, 2009 1:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“I never want to talk to you ever again!!!!!”

Kendall Grove is my 2nd favorite fighter

Anyone fighting him is my favorite.

by monkeyfightclub! on Sep 16, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn Dana, time to put your emotions on the back burner and let them fuel your ambition, not just have them at the forefront and display it on your sleeve, like some kind of haughty 16 year old girl that didn’t get what she wanted for her birthday.

If you are trying to create a beneficial negotiation you want to reserve any emotion you have and try to atleast maintain the illusion of a cordial relationship.

Part of the reason that network TV, family oriented prime time slots, are probably cautious to deal with the UFC is because of Dana and his brash conduct where he thinks that he is above reproach in speaking negatively about anything and any company that does not agree with him.

I am sure he has burned plenty of bridges, and even though he has been great for the UFC and nobody can deny his passion for the sport, if he shut his mouth more often when things did not work in his favor, it probably would have been for the better.

So far I can’t think of any of Dana’s outbursts that have been of any benefit to the UFC, at most they are petty little comments about their demise of their opponents, at worst they are a PR nightmare.

Time to put a lid on it Dana!

by DirtyML on Sep 16, 2009 2:06 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Part of the reason that network TV, family oriented prime time slots, are probably cautious to deal with the UFC is because of Dana and his brash conduct

I highly doubt that.

The networks have made the UFC plenty of offers. It’s the UFC turning them down, not the other way around. The networks are offering peanuts and want to control production. Dana wants to get paid and keep his broadcast team intact. That has been the hangup, not Dana’s potty mouth.

by Steve4192 on Sep 16, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has Dana ever made any of these comments on anything that would come close to being on network TV?

During an actual UFC event, you barely hear a word from the man. Maybe a little bit in the pre-fight hype videos, but that’s it.

by Phildo on Sep 16, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it wouldn't be dana

if he “put a lid on it”. you take the good with the bad, and so far the good outweighs the bad by a mile. :)

by bdw on Sep 16, 2009 2:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dana isn’t ready to let go rampage over this: win/win for rampage. He won’t put rampage on an undercard.

You don't look like a Tanaka.

by spectaa on Sep 16, 2009 7:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gawshhh… I’m like so mad… We’re like…totally not talking!

by WestbergIDFC on Sep 16, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rampage is in a situation where he can pretty much do whatever he wants and get away with it, this frustrates the hell out of Dana. Page going to strikeforce would be monuemental

by kanodogg on Sep 16, 2009 1:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs