Dana White loses it in an interview with Rolling Stone

[Julius Seeker]

To Paraphrase Gary Shaw into context: It's Dana White's attitude displayed in this interview that is the reason why NBC and CBS aren't working with UFC, and that it was instead EliteXC which became the first MMA promotion to ever get the Prime Time slot on North American Network Television. It's because no one can stand Dana White:

Rolling Stone has a very insightful article up about UFC President Dana White. Below is an interesting excerpt from their online teaser. You can pick up the full June 12, 2008 issue in stores now.

Tim Sylvia told White to get ready, "when I win tonight, we're going to break open the bank." Dana White responded with the following:
See, this is the one part of the business I fucking hate. Everybody wants more money, they want it now. And then all these fighters are like, 'We're the superstars, not the UFC! It should all be about us.' You dumb motherfuckers. You don't know what you're fucking with. I'm a promoter. And a lot of this shit is built with smoke and mirrors. When Lorenzo and I first got into this, we were like two fucking idiots. 'This is going to be so much fun! We're going to put on big fights! We care about the fighters! We're going to make them millionaires! We'll all be friends! It'll be so great!' But this is the way it goes. And right now this is my fucking life. I don't know how much longer I can take it, I just don't know. Oh, I still have fun. I'm excited for these guys to come out and fight. I still get goose bumps. And no, I don't regret anything that I've said or done, because everything has gotten me right where I am. I could be parking your car or picking up your bag at the hotel. The thing about me, seriously, I'm high on life man. I love life. And I love what I do.

More importantly, he finally speaks the truth on where he stands. Which is why UFC doesn't have much of a heavyweight division right now, and they might lose GSP and Anderson Silva as well.

[Zeus]

He's an idiot. The UFC will be better off when he finally sells.

[Imakeholesinu]

He sounds like Brucie from GTA4.

[Zeus]

He sounds like Brucie from GTA4.

LMAO! Yes he does!

[Tessian]

He sounds like Brucie from GTA4.

LMAO! Yes he does!

GENETICALLY SUPERIOR BABY!!!

[Ishamael]

He's an idiot. The UFC will be better off when he finally sells.

Idiot? Let's not go overboard. He bought a business that was well into the read and made it mainstream and made himself very rich in the process. MMA wouldn't be where it is today without him.

I want to be that kind of idiot.

[SineSwiper]

Yeah, it sounds like he's tired of the political bullshit that comes with the business, but like boxing and well, any sports arena, it's completely swimming in it.

I wouldn't say he "blew up". He's just the type of person that likes to cuss like a sailor. Sure, it's not media friendly, but fuck them.

[Julius Seeker]

All Dana White did was allie himself with people on the NSATC and get UFC sanctioned; and through relatively dirty tactics since those same people were voting against it beiong sanctioned just before Zuffa bought it. Of course, if the Fertitta's bought it directly it would look even more fishy than it already does. Dana deserves no credit.

Dana is getting fed up because he's not willing to offer the contracts which other companies are willing to offer. When Pride went under after the Yakuza scandal, he figured he had it made, but other companies are popping up right now; and that's why UFC is losing all their top competitors again.

[Zeus]

He's an idiot. The UFC will be better off when he finally sells.

Idiot? Let's not go overboard. He bought a business that was well into the read and made it mainstream and made himself very rich in the process. MMA wouldn't be where it is today without him.

I want to be that kind of idiot.

Not everyone who's a pioneer is a genius. Some are just in the right place at the right time. He's really a glorified promoter, look at how he thinks in the article above, he needs to be controlled. A very good promoter but a promoter nonetheless. He ain't no businessman and really, the MMA world has outgrown him

[Kupek]

The UFC offers pennies to some of its fighters. Even fighters who make it onto a pay-per-view card can get less than $20,000.

If that sounds like a lot of money, keep in mind that a good fighter will have about three fights a year, and they have to pay for everything themselves. Gym fees, equipment fees, coaches and medical care.

[kali o.]

The UFC offers pennies to some of its fighters. Even fighters who make it onto a pay-per-view card can get less than $20,000.

If that sounds like a lot of money, keep in mind that a good fighter will have about three fights a year, and they have to pay for everything themselves. Gym fees, equipment fees, coaches and medical care.

As far as I know, Medical is covered by the companies, not the fighters.

And I think some of you are giving Dana far less credit than he deserves.

[Zeus]

And I think some of you are giving Dana far less credit than he deserves.

I admit to doing that. I do think he did very well in getting it sanctioned and getting the fights in Vegas to become the new-age boxing. But really, he's nothing more than a promoter IMO

[Julius Seeker]

The UFC offers pennies to some of its fighters. Even fighters who make it onto a pay-per-view card can get less than $20,000.

If that sounds like a lot of money, keep in mind that a good fighter will have about three fights a year, and they have to pay for everything themselves. Gym fees, equipment fees, coaches and medical care.

As far as I know, Medical is covered by the companies, not the fighters.

And I think some of you are giving Dana far less credit than he deserves.

UFC doesn't cover medical, that was one thing that Tito Ortiz brought up at the Post UFC 84 press conference.

[Julius Seeker]

And I think some of you are giving Dana far less credit than he deserves.

I admit to doing that. I do think he did very well in getting it sanctioned and getting the fights in Vegas to become the new-age boxing. But really, he's nothing more than a promoter IMO

The old owners of UFC could have had it sanctioned if the Fertitta's (who were on the board) voted yes on it before they bought the company. Both of them voted no before Dana White headed the company, and Dana White is banked by the Fertittas.

[Ishamael]

Not everyone who's a pioneer is a genius. Some are just in the right place at the right time.

How is taking over a money-losing business being in the right place at the right time? I get it, you don't like the guy for some reason. But attributing his success to luck isn't being fair.

He's really a glorified promoter, look at how he thinks in the article above, he needs to be controlled. A very good promoter but a promoter nonetheless. He ain't no businessman and really, the MMA world has outgrown him

If taking a business that was loosing money and turning it into a multi-million dollar empire is not being a good businessman, then what is?

Theory - maybe being a good businessman involves being able to effectively sell (read: promote) your product. Naaah, that's craaaazy talk.

[Chris]

ha....bitch is trying to overcompensate for not having a pony....fuckin' pussy

[Zeus]

Not everyone who's a pioneer is a genius. Some are just in the right place at the right time.

How is taking over a money-losing business being in the right place at the right time? I get it, you don't like the guy for some reason. But attributing his success to luck isn't being fair.

He's really a glorified promoter, look at how he thinks in the article above, he needs to be controlled. A very good promoter but a promoter nonetheless. He ain't no businessman and really, the MMA world has outgrown him

If taking a business that was loosing money and turning it into a multi-million dollar empire is not being a good businessman, then what is?

Theory - maybe being a good businessman involves being able to effectively sell (read: promote) your product. Naaah, that's craaaazy talk.

I'm not necessarily sayin' it's all luck. I've given him full credit for getting it sanctioned and being a good promoter. I'm just saying that it's not like he had to build the business from the ground up. There was a festering desire for something to take over from boxing, particularly with no good personalities there anymore (Tyson was just a freak show for the last decade) and no real good competition in the heavyweight division (Lewis crushed everyone; after he left, everyone else was a bum).

I'm not really an MMA fan but even I'd heard of it before the UFC became big, how it was this new, cool, "extreme" sport (I remember when UFC 1 aired, no one gave a shit). Considering it's two people beating each other up 'til they can't stand anymore, it was primed to take over the void left by boxing's demise in the eyes of the masses (UFC events are very much celebrity-filled and have the same air around them like boxing did back in the day). Dana, as a promoter, saw the potential and took advantage of it. Extremely well, I admit, but it's not like he had to build (or, in the case of McMahon, rebuild) the industry. He just legitimized it and brought it to masses through PPV.

And if Seek's right about the sanctioning process (I haven't researched), then it just lends support to my beliefs. Being a good promoter does NOT, in any which way, shape, or form make you a good businessman. Yes, it's an important part of the business, particularly this one, but it doesn't mean you built the business or are the oil of the machine. That's like saying Romero is a great game maker because he was the lead designer on games like Keen, Doom, and Quake.

McMahon, he built and then rebuilt wrestling (with the help of his wife; she's actually the better business person than him, he's the creative guy) and now has a perennial multi-billion dollar business that's so diversified it can handle the inevitable cycles wrestling goes through (it's in its down cycle right now). Dana, very well I may add, took advantage of a situation at the right time, and he's hot as hell right now. Good for him, but that don't mean he's a great businessman.

[Ishamael]

And if Seek's right about the sanctioning process (I haven't researched), then it just lends support to my beliefs. Being a good promoter does NOT, in any which way, shape, or form make you a good businessman. Yes, it's an important part of the business, particularly this one, but it doesn't mean you built the business or are the oil of the machine.

What are you talking about? "Doesn't mean you built the business"? OK, please explain who built UFC if not Dana White? How exactly did it go from losing money to making money without Dana White "building" it?

That's like saying Romero is a great game maker because he was the lead designer on games like Keen, Doom, and Quake.

Wait, are you saying Romero is NOT a great game maker? And why would you list 3 great games where he was the primary creative force and then say he's not great? I don't get it.

McMahon, he built and then rebuilt wrestling (with the help of his wife; she's actually the better business person than him, he's the creative guy) and now has a perennial multi-billion dollar business that's so diversified it can handle the inevitable cycles wrestling goes through (it's in its down cycle right now). Dana, very well I may add, took advantage of a situation at the right time, and he's hot as hell right now. Good for him, but that don't mean he's a great businessman.

If you break that paragraph down, you're not really saying that much. McMahon is great because...uh, well. Something about building and rebuilding wrestling. And then Dana is not great because...uh well, he promotes...and somehow "took advantage" of a situation at the right time. Wait, how was it the right situation at the right time again? You never did explain that one.

I define a "great businessman" as someone who runs a profitable business. It's precise and simple, whereas I still have no idea what exact criteria need to be fulfilled to be considered a great businessman in your eyes (other than whether you personally like someone).