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Quote of the Week: Dana White Can't Fix Stupid

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"The crazy thing about this Rampage thing is he's giving away a lot of money to do the A-Team.  You can't fix stupid."

Dana White, who just lost upwards of 15 million dollars on a single fight if he can't reconcile with Rampage Jackson.

There are a million angles to this story.  I fully believe the two parties will talk and resolve this thing within a month.  I had a feeling trouble was brewing when Dana kept mocking the movie, and we weren't hearing anything from Quinton Jackson.  When Dana came out with that quote last week, I noted to a fellow staff member here that Dana has to be the only boss in the world who can make that kind of comment about a star employee and face no repercussions.  I think I spoke too soon.

Did the UFC stand by Rampage when he was in his time of need?  Of course.  Did they do it because it was in their best financial interest, or because they wanted to help Quinton out?  Probably a little of both.  Whatever it is, it doesn't matter.  People are far too focused on determining who the villain is in all of this.  

The dispute is pretty simple:  Rampage committed to TUF 10, and then got an offer he thought was the offer of a lifetime.  He asked to have the fight delayed, Dana got really upset, and then relented.  Then after the two made up, he found out this weekend that it would be delayed further, and he snapped again, telling everyone Rampage was making nothing for this movie and just being promised a lot for a sequel.

Every fighter in Jackson's position would have taken the A-Team role.  Every single one.  But Jackson has now gone too far, and his management needs to pull him back and work things out.  He'd probably make over 3 million dollars to fight Rashad Evans.  It's a payday he can't afford to miss, and the buyrate is one the UFC can't afford to lose.  This is one of those situations where the parties aren't that far apart, but bitterness could push a resolution far off into the future.  I'm not interested in waiting 3 years to see Rampage and Dana feud before Dana announces his big return on a video blog like he did with Tito.  Patch things up now and give fans the fight they want to see.

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great post, Rome.

agree with everything here.

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Anthony Pace on Sep 23, 2009 12:17 AM EDT reply actions  

I’m not interested in waiting 3 years to see Rampage and Dana feud before Dana announces his big return on a video blog like he did with Tito. Patch things up now and give fans the fight they want to see.

Rec’d cause of this.

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 23, 2009 12:19 AM EDT reply actions  

He has no contract so he is a free agent. Too early to tell still…LOL.
A movie role may be around the corner.

=)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 23, 2009 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

He’s had over a year to find a movie role.

I only want to know why his agent stupidly let the thing play out like this. He was in the middle of a huge push from the UFC, why would he put that on hold without something solid to go with.

Secondly, if that decision came after his fight, they are also stupid. He makes that decision a month ago he gets an extension then, they can hype him up more leading up to this last fight, maybe he gets an easier fight for himself, morons won’t be saying he lost the decision because he’s leaving the UFC, things would be so different.

I can understand why he said he wanted to leave when he did, but with the death of Affliction, Bellator falling off the face of the earth, and no real movie roles popping up, if he wanted to keep fighting he should have told Dana as soon as he figure that out.

by Phildo on Sep 23, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

Im not 100% certain but I think the guy who got him the movie deal makes no money on his UFC pay…

So think Jerry McGuire before the memo/mission statement and then it’s easier to understand Rampages delusion and decision making.

by mmalogic on Sep 23, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

Well he does have a 3 picture deal with Lionsgate so it wasn’t as if he was jumping into this head first.

by John Nash on Sep 23, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

If that deal was so great, he wouldn’t be saying what he just said right now.

by Phildo on Sep 23, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

Kimbo should have been offered that role..

Kimbo is much more Mr T’esque IMO.

Forward Ever, Backward Never...

by Tony NJ on Sep 23, 2009 12:25 AM EDT reply actions  

Good point!

I definately agree with this.

'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko

by Well Read Idiot on Sep 23, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

and Kimbo knows how to pronounce his words – what is called again – articulate?

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Sep 23, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

Perhaps it’s the nature of fight fans, but everyone is so obsessed with determining who the villain is. Who gives a shit? It’s a dispute between two parties, there’s not always a villain, there are reasons both sides are upset. What they need to do is set up a mediation and figure this shit out.

I’m not interested in figuring out who is right in the cosmic sense. I want to see Rampage Jackson vs. Rashad Evans, I want Rampage to be a successful actor, and I want to go at least one year without Dana having some retarded spat with a top star.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 12:26 AM EDT reply actions   2 recs

Maybee Page and Dana can settle this with a boxing match?

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Sep 23, 2009 12:26 AM EDT reply actions  

I thought about that last night

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Sep 23, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions  

I honestly cannot fathom Rampage being a good actor, so he’ll be back pretty soon I imagine.

by Razzel on Sep 23, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions  

I would like to see Rampage in a remake of Teen Wolf.

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Sep 23, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

He’s got the howl…

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Sep 23, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

Black Teen Wolf’s Daddy?

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Sep 23, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

Where was it that Dana mentioned the specifics of what Rampage was getting paid for this movie? All I remember is Dana saying he gave up a lot of money to do the movie but I don’t recall him saying anything more than that.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 23, 2009 12:29 AM EDT reply actions  

Post-UFC 103 press conference. Said Jackson is making nothing for the first but being promised a lot if there’s a sequel.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions  

Ugh...I hadn't heard all that. Over the line Dana, that's a low blow.

Excellent points in this post. I have my opinion on who’s right here, but no one’s right when they’re airing all this in public, and Dana shouldn’t be throwing personal insults, nor sharing someone else’s business. No comment is always an option.

by Kwisatz Haderach on Sep 23, 2009 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

"he buyrate is one the UFC can't afford to lose."

i dunno, i think they can… and that’s why dana feels like he say whatever the hell he wants and get away with it. they’ll put together another fight, and move on with things.

don’t know if he’s being so bullish about this, because his plans were forced to change, but rather that it’s a situation he can’t control, and he wants things done his way. such is the life of a millionaire, i suppose.

either way, i don’t have a whole lot of sympathy for either party in this mess.

by woooburn on Sep 23, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions  

Yeah, the UFC certainly doesn’t need Rampage vs Rashad.

by Razzel on Sep 23, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

They don’t, but this is a company scrambling for main events and trying to put on 3 shows a month next year. Losing one of their solid main event draws is not a good thing at this point.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

i don't want this to devolve into race-roundtable like in the first thread, but...

..we must also realize Rampage and Rashad are the UFC’s only two African-American stars, bar the development of Kimbo, some of this year’s TUF guys, and maybe Anthony Johnson over the next year.

I’m sure that’s a demographic they have their sights set on

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Anthony Pace on Sep 23, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

I have thought about that as well

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Sep 23, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

one day i’ll post something that isn’t riddled with typos!

by woooburn on Sep 23, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

Why has Jackson gone too far?

Because he could make a few million with Rashad.. ya know, with those exaggerated PPV buy rates that they claim? Or maybe because Rampage has been in the business a long time and has seen how Dana has treated his fighters and now Rampage is the victim and doesn’t need to take anymore punches in the face to make Dana richer.

by steveoc24 on Sep 23, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions  

The numbers aren’t exxagerated, and they’re not the ones claiming them. Trust me when I say they tried to exxagerate one time and a fighter paid on PPV scale exposed the lie almost immediately.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

When was that?

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Sep 23, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

I believe it was Chuck-Rampage.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 23, 2009 8:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

So your taking the "I hate Dana White so the UFC must be the bad guys here " approach huh? I guess you completely missed the point of Rome’s article.

by who me on Sep 23, 2009 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m not taking any sides and I don’t hate Dana. But I understand why Rampage is upset.

by steveoc24 on Sep 23, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions  

Sure. Can’t Dana move on with his successfull business without degrating one of his empolyees?

by steveoc24 on Sep 23, 2009 3:12 AM EDT up reply actions  

I wouldn’t say Rampage is a victim, Dana swooped in to save a$$ after his road rampage when he could of left to burn…

by DJ Soma on Sep 23, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions  

It’ll be interesting to see what Dana does as a result of this.

I’m thinking that they’ll make up too, but you know what, if he can’t get page back, Dana’s probably going to try and do some kahrazy match-making. In a way I’m sort of glad that Page did this. He’s a huge star that the UFC needs and he’s standing up for himself. I can only think of 2 or 3 others that would make the UFC poop a brick by announcing an early retirement. GSP, maybe BJ, and of course Brock. Rampage is right next. and he’ll probably have a good career in acting. Lots of roles out there for a colourful guy like that. Top draw? Depends on how good he is.

by Dooda on Sep 23, 2009 1:00 AM EDT reply actions  

With the exception of saying that any fighter would of done this it’s a really good point.

Some guys are going to jump on this stuff and some guys aren’t wanting to be movie stars at all and then there are the guys who want to be movie stars but are a little more picky than jumping right in to being typecast as the next Mr T (particularly if the terms Dana leaked are true). This is definitely the kind of situation the UFC needs to learn to deal with better for the future because we know it’s going to keep coming up but lets not jump too far overboard saying that this was some kind of impossible to refuse movie deal here either.

by who me on Sep 23, 2009 1:01 AM EDT reply actions  

To be a major role in a big 100 million dollar plus Ridley Scott movie? All of them would have done it. Especially in their mid 30’s.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

Ridley Scott is one of the producers(Dune Entertainment is the production company) it’s a Joe Carnahan directed movie and by what I have seen it’s just called “big budget” which could mean a lot of things(not to mention it’s a property that has been in developmental hell for years due to poor writing and production issues). Honestly most of the rumor mill on this one doesn’t impress much, not to mention the role in question is the kind of role that typecast guys for life.

by who me on Sep 23, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

well, the last guy to get typecast in that role made a shitload of money, and became a household name in the process. not sure rampage is as worried about building a serious acting portfolio and winning oscars, as he is with making money. though it’s obviously a big leap to say he’ll strike a nerve with the general public the way mr. t did.

by woooburn on Sep 23, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yea Mr T is really living it up. Perhaps one day Rampage can be selling flavorwave grills on infomercials in order to pay the bills too. Mr T became a household caricature and now he can’t even get a role to play Mr T in a movie but perhaps if he is lucky he can land the role of Rampage Jackson when they make a tv movie about his “Rampage” :D

“I pity the fool who don’t read The Secret and drink Red Bull”

Of course not only do I not see Rampage one day getting his own crappy breakfast cereal and Saturday morning cartoon I don’t even see where he will have some kind of successful movie career based on this for that matter. Have you ever seen any of Quinton’s other movies?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8k03n_quinton-rampage-jackson-the-midnigh_sport

by who me on Sep 23, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

The hungry up and coming fighters (like Carwin) would rather have the big fight and huge payday rather than make a movie and hope for a successfull sequel. Besides when do TV shows turned movies make a good sequel. When is Dukes of Hazard II coming out again? Not that it matters but do you really think it will cost 100 Mil to make a series of explosions and chases?

by naturalist on Sep 23, 2009 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

niether did starsky and hutch, swat, bewitched, the beverly hillbillies, andmany others. the only real tv show that was a huge box office succes was “mission impossible” and needless to say this a-team movie is not of that calibre.

by bdw on Sep 23, 2009 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

exactly. Page is throwing away a a huge payday in what might be the twighlight of his career for sequel that will almost certainly bomb.

by naturalist on Sep 23, 2009 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions  

Brady Bunch, Scooby Doo, Star Trek

All had successful movies with sequels from tv shows. I tend to agree that A-Team will not be joining them though.

by BNeL21 on Sep 23, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions  

Transformers, Spiderman, Batman?

These are comics & cartoons but the point is still the same.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Sep 23, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

Comic book movies are very different from remakes of old tv show movies. That is a specific movie path that flops the vast majority of the time but for some reason Hollywood just won’t stop making them.

by who me on Sep 23, 2009 9:08 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

How is the point the same?

Movies based on comic book have a great track record in Hollywood. Multiple franchises have been spawned from comic books and graphic novels (Spider-man, Batman, X-Men, Men in Black, Superman, Fantastic Four).

Animated TV shows also have a decent track record when transferred to the big screen (Transformers, TMNT, Flintstones, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Simpsons).

Live action TV shows? Not so much.

There was a nice little run in the 1990s when Mission Impossible & The Fugitive were big hits, but TV adaptations have mostly been flops since the turn of the century.

by Steve4192 on Sep 23, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

Gotta disagree on TMNT to some extent, man.

When they did the Live-Action TMNT movies 1,2, and 3, the costumes were awesome and the fights were awesome. But when they went away and started doing CGI-Animated Graphics instead of hiring REAL actors and stuntment to another TMNT installment, TMNT died that day for me.

by BNTHIS on Sep 23, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree. The most recent movie sucked. I was referring to the original series of movies, not the newer one. I was too lazy to type out the name.

by Steve4192 on Sep 23, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

Other than Tito, I dont see anyone else doing it.

Not accepting a fight to do a movie is way different from Pulling out of a committed fight. most people aren’t getting the distinction

Sure almost everyone would decline a fight to take some time off to do a movie. But other than Tito and maybe Randy (if he knows hes done physically) I dont see anyone else pulling out of a committed fight and this payday would do it.

by mmalogic on Sep 23, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

i love what gsp said on inside mma, about him not having a 401k or lifetime health insurance. he said " i do this (fighting) because i choose to, not because i have to. i do it because this is what i love to do and i love the lifestyle that it affords me. when i wake up one day and decide that i don’t love it i will quit and not have any regrets. i have investments and a degree in sports training in so i’m set for that day" this is what i love to hear fighters say. they sign the contact they sign b/c they choose to, because they love to fight. there are thousnds of fighters who would kill to be in the ufc. being a pro-athlete is a privledge not a right. no one is twisting their arms.all these fighters being underpaid is b.s. i hate it when you see an athelete who signs a big contract and takes a big signing bonus and then 2 years later he wants a “new contact” b/c so and so is making more than him. rampage is choosing to retire. that is his right. it’s the timing that is soooo wrong. but i don’t see gsp taking the same path as rampge did, or machida or anderson or brock or bj. they will quit on their own terms, but not in the midst of their fighting and earning primes. bad move so far by rampage imo, i have said that from day 1. he may or may not go to be a succsesfull actor, but he wont put a dent in the ufc. this only hurts them short term, very short term. they will break their own ppv records by the time brock fights and will kep breaking it until, EVENTUALLY a network will give them the right deal. rampage had better hope they are as “forgiving” with him, that they were with tito and randy. rampage could and can be a bigger headache than tito and randy combined. well see.:)

by bdw on Sep 23, 2009 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m not trying to be snide, but if everyone is doing this for the love then maybe Dana White should think about not charging us.

by John Nash on Sep 23, 2009 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

lol

i wish. and i know that not every athelete is doing it “for the love of the game” per say, but there are alot that do (albert pujols comes to mind, he could have went to the yankees for a hell of alot more than he did with st.louis, and could still in a few years, but he won’t, i can gaurante you that) it’s just refreshing for me to see an ahtlete talk like this and mean it ,especially fighters. :)

by bdw on Sep 23, 2009 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions  

There should be a poll on how many people think:

A) Dana will retaliate

B) Dana will have everything hunky dory by the end of the week… all captured on a video blog.

by mmalogic on Sep 23, 2009 1:01 AM EDT reply actions  

I think Dana will learn his lesson and try to work things out. In another time he might have retaliated, but there is too much on the line with 3 months of TV set to highlight Rampage Jackson.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions  

Exactly, Dana has a lot on the line with this one and maybe, just maybe, he’ll listen this time instead of getting all pissed off like he usually does and realize he hurt his friend and try to make amends.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 23, 2009 9:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

i know this isn't really the topic at hand, but...

- air the TUF season as is
- promote a “big surprise announcement” for the finale
- mention the rampage/rashad postponement
- show some trash talk between the two, with rampage saying “just wait”
- have rashad’s new opponent walk into the training center, and face off with him

i’m sure they’ll pull a cool matchup out of thin air that’ll make them just as much money. silva, couture, who knows. hell, even a chuck rematch with him coming off dancing with the stars, would make ridiculous money.

bottom line, i dont get what the big deal is with this whole fight getting pushed. dana’s only pitching a fit cus one of his fighters is involved in something he’s not getting a cut of.

by woooburn on Sep 23, 2009 1:02 AM EDT reply actions  

if shogun wins at 104, which no one seems to think will happen....

definitely expect to see Silva in this spot.

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Anthony Pace on Sep 23, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

that would be badass. could see them maybe trying to do tito/rashad 2 as well (if he looks good against coleman)

by woooburn on Sep 23, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

By the way, on a side note, I’ll be shocked if they actually sue Rampage. If they go any legal route at all it will be directed toward the studio. That’s how you really send a message to Hollywood without risking pissing off any of your fanbase by going after a fighter.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 1:08 AM EDT reply actions  

Unfortunately you have to sue Rampage to have any case or merit with your position. If the studio tampered/interfered then so did Rampage. You cant separate it.

The same thing happened with EA sports. Zuffa couldnt sue EA sports without also suing Couture (the agreement couture signed during the break up).

The settlement to get couture back involved the release of that position..

Dont you think its a coinkidink that rampage just “retired”?

by mmalogic on Sep 23, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

good point..

could him being “retired” be the safe guard in case law suits come cause of his contractual status?

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 23, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions  

they're not gonna have the leverage that they had with couture

since randy was the champ at that time…

(im no expert at law but i think i’m right? right?)

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 23, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

:) no… being the champ only activates a few other clauses which is really not necessary in this situation.

by mmalogic on Sep 23, 2009 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

They’ll have the same leverage.

Everyone always talks about retirement clause, champions clause, all this other shit about the Randy contract.

The Randy thing was simple. Randy owed the UFC fights. No matter what he said he was doing, he couldn’t fight for someone else unless he fought those fights.

by Phildo on Sep 23, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions  

Dear Dana and Rampage;

Just think of all that money going down the drain if Rampage doesn’t fight Rashad. Do it for us kids!

Sincerely,

Super-fan.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Sep 23, 2009 1:13 AM EDT reply actions  

I sort of hope this really mean Rampage is done – I mean, for-real done. Not because I do not want to see him fight again (I’ve never been a big fan of his and his schtick) but this has the potential of taking a lot of steam from Dana’s BS generator. He’s been acting like the king of the world for God knows how long with no repercussions. Maybe, just maybe, losing a star like Rampage because he couldn’t leave the matter well enough alone after they’d shaken hands on the matter would make even him think twice about opening his mouth the next time around.

by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Sep 23, 2009 1:47 AM EDT reply actions  

I understand how you feel, but...

if the UFC starts losing fights, and fighters to movies, endorsements and all sorts of ancilliary activities, the sport is going to start down the road to becoming boxing. Instead of fighters under contract with an organization, like in the major sports, you’re going to have a bevy of managers, negotiations, etc., thus clogging the works up completely for all the top talent. Belts won’t be defended with any regularity, and making every big fight will become a struggle between fighter management, lawyers and the UFC. I realize Dana does himself no favors by spouting off, and I don’t think he should be discussing Rampage’s movie deal in detail, nor insulting him personally, but you know that they’re just trying to keep the levies together through this massive period of growth. If the fighters start to exert too much control over where they fight, when they fight, the sport is going to disintegrate into a mess of independent contracting, instead of following a model more closely related to the major team sports.

by Kwisatz Haderach on Sep 23, 2009 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions  

exactly

this is why dana has to be the “asshole” and not be buddy, buddy with all the fighters, like he and the fertittas thought he would when they 1rst got into the business. he can and has gone overboard, but for the most part has made all the right moves. we are starting to see these same type of reactions from the lovableSF promoter, scotty coker as well. he’s feeling the pressure and is being more dana-like every day. these dudes are promoters, owners and managers all rolled into one. not hired suits like goodell,stern and selig. you can’t let the inmates run the asylum.

by bdw on Sep 23, 2009 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

By the way, for those interested in a potential legal claim against the studio, here are the elements of tortious interference with contract:

1. The existence of a contractual relationship or beneficial business relationship between two parties.

2. Knowledge of that relationship by a third party.

3. Intent of the third party to induce a party to the relationship to breach the relationship.

4. Lack of any privilege on the part of the third party to induce such a breach.

5. Damage to the party against whom the breach occurs.

Lot of these could be tossups. If they wanted to go down this road, they could. Quite a risky strategy though.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions  

How much did the UFC make running ads for Twentieth Century-Fox movies?

by John Nash on Sep 23, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

You bring those up, but they are irrelevant.

UFC had Fight Night ads on the canvas while the war with EA sports was looming, and about a week before saying anyone in that game can never work for Zuffa.

There is no way those ads bring in more than what they would make in a PPV. If they did, the fights would be on network TV by now, because there would be no reason to charge the fans (or the network) that much money to air the fights.

by Phildo on Sep 23, 2009 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

Actually I’m asking the question “how much did the UFC make running ads for Twentieth Century-Fox movies?” because I truthfully don’t know. I’m not suggesting that they make a killing off the ads, but that if the ads are lucrative enough they would not see the point of going through with a lawsuit against the studio. If “Max Payne”, “Street Fighter”, “Wolverine” and all the others from Fox generate millions every year in revenue why would you risk losing that by going to court for one potential fight?

by John Nash on Sep 23, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

do verbal commitments count? i would think they would with witnesses. it’s obvious at one point rampage had to verbally agree to all these offers, or else they wouldn’t be planning them.it’s also obvious they didn’t have a written one either. i know this sounds like a dumb question, but really how much do verbal commitments count in court?

by bdw on Sep 23, 2009 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions  

Verbal contracts are enforceable, obviously not as strong as written ones. There’s a dispute in information over whether Rampage actually signed anything. Have heard both ways now.

Trust me they knew about the fight. The challenge is proving they were inducing Rampage to breach it.

by Michael Rome on Sep 23, 2009 2:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

Zuffa has Rampage on Film stating his fight against Rashad is on Dec 12th in Memphis TN. Multiple times. When you watch tuf this season you will see it so we are all witnesses :)

The real question is not whether Zuffa can win in court but whether Zuffa can legally cause enough headaches for the studio to dump Rampage. And the answer is yes.

This is the route Zuffa should have originally taken… but Dana doesnt want to force someone to fight who doesnt want to… BOO FUCKING HOO

This “retirement” has as much to do with Dana calling him names as Randy’s had with only wanting “respect”… we found out what that meant right ?

Someone at the studio or his manager told him to “retire” and make these excuses as a legal precaution.

by mmalogic on Sep 23, 2009 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions  

I like your perspective. would this staement by Page legally cover the studio’s ass? Even with the retirement talk it sure seems like they met the 5 criteria outlined by Rome .I hope zuffa files against them. It would be a justified approach and make for very interesting legal theater.

by naturalist on Sep 23, 2009 3:17 AM EDT reply actions  

He will be back

MMA Fighters going to Hollywood is a lot like WWE superstars going to Hollywood many do it but majority come back with there tail between there legs and do what they were born to do. Only one person out of the 100+ wrestlers who went to Hollywood has had success and that was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. So unless Rampage does a amazing job he will fall back on what got him the movie in the first place. Being a MMA Fighter and somebody of his skillset at the division he is in there is only one place to be the UFC. Rampage will be back sometime next year and all will be forgotten. Yes they lose some hype from not having it right after TUF wraps but they can use the hype from the “A Team” movie and go from there.

"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 23, 2009 3:31 AM EDT reply actions  

Dana Spoke On The Radio Earlier And Commented On The Situation
Earlier tonight, Dana White came on my radio show briefly to speak on the Rampage situation. Feel free to listen to the reaction:

Rampage doesnt want the belt, just wants to fight and make money

They have no problems filling the scheduled cards

Rampage is a grown man, acting like a baby right now

Hopes he makes it big in movies

Rampage doesnt always make the best decisions, but he has no ill will against him

http://www.sports1140.com/Carmichael-Dave/1939975

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 23, 2009 3:38 AM EDT reply actions  

Sounds like Dana thinks the same thing most of us do- Rampage will be back.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 23, 2009 9:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Dana White, who just lost upwards of 15 million dollars on a single fight if he can’t reconcile with Rampage Jackson.

Um Dana didn’t lose anything, we’ve seen this story before and I can tell you the ending now it’s just like Tito, Randy and Huerta’s. These guys eventually find out the hard way that the UFC brand is what matter not them and their delusions of grandeur. Rampage will find that out and come back with his tail between his legs having lost alot of money and prime days off his career because of his ignorance.

by Raker on Sep 23, 2009 5:19 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

It's a little thing called opportunity cost.

Fact is, they are just embarking on a bit push to market Rampage. Maybe you’ve noticed. It would have been in the UFC’s interest to express disappointment and hold the fight as soon as possible. Calling him stupid and further delaying the fight is not something to be happy about.

"Yeah we came up short today but I'm cool with things." -- Juan Pablo Montoya

by capital L on Sep 23, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

The fight is already delayed… regardless if Dana fly’s to Rampage’s house and cuts Quintons mohawk himself for the movie. There is no way this fight is happening anytime soon. The idea was March but even that cant be scheduled because nobody knows what the damn production schedule will actually end up being.

Rome shared the projections… its not going to be near that when you factor in this delay. So the gravy on the fight is gone.

Now you have to consider Rashad and why he would trust rampage and wait for that fight… if he takes another fight and loses that’s an additional blow to the fight.

Its a mess.

by mmalogic on Sep 23, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’d just like to toss in there that you don’t have to be Tom Cruise to make very solid money in acting. Guys you never heard of can pull 7 figures. Page could very easily make plenty of cash playing himself in whatever B movie needs him. Maybe not as much as the UFC, but he can do it much longer than the UFC so it evens out.

by toxic on Sep 23, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions  

He can also get residuals.

by FRANKIE on Sep 23, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

my thoughts...

dana’: is a vagina. hes got the worst ego in the world. talking shit to dudes he KNOWS will kick his ass only because he’s their boss is a bitch move like no other.

rampage: i cant wait til ENTERTAINMENT TONITE gets ahold of all the videos of him humping hot reporters and plastering that all over TV. the general public isnt gonna tolerate that shit like “fight fans” do, i guess he could make some decent cash, if the movie blows up. lunchboxes, action figures, stupid shit.

by blam!thud... on Sep 23, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions  

WOW

Where did all this come from?

Dana- Hate him or like him, he is still the best MMA promoter not named MMASup.
Rampage- We have had a President get BJs in the White House, Kramer scream racist shit on camera, Rob Lowe having sex with everything in a room, no one will care about Rampage and waitresses. Well maybe the porn industry might.

by Riney on Sep 23, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

I think if blam!thud continues like this, he will end up like his name, courtesy of our resident Moderator.

by BNTHIS on Sep 23, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

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