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Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:25 pm EDT

Deadspin and SI say it's time for the UFC to dump White

By Steve Cofield

We're in the eye of the storm right now when it comes to the fallout from Dana White's Ultimate Fight Night 18 video blog that included a rant about a female blogger and a gay slur. Things have calmed down but that's only because the MMA media/blogs whacked away at the topic for roughly two weeks and it's been replaced by a new set of hot issues. But that doesn't mean the mainstream media or casual MMA media have had their complete say on the matter. ESPN's E:60 will have a feature on the whole vlog episode on May 12. And now Deadspin's Drew Magary and Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim, folks who cover the sport from a distance, have laid the smack down on White and his impact on the future of the UFC (0:47 mark):

"I think that was really a misstep for UFC," said Wertheim, who wrote Blood in the Cage and penned the first MMA story to reach the front page of SI. "Things like that really set back the organization. You can't deny how far UFC has come under his leadership but it's things like that can set the whole organization back."

Big Daddy Drew, the host of the Deadspin podcast, says the organization has outgrown the leadership White can provide. BDD thinks it's time for a more friendly ambassador instead of a [expletive] who spouts off all the time.

"You sort of need him in the beginning. The guy was great in the critical growth period," said Wertheim. "This organization is going to grow no matter what but it's really essential that it convinces old media, television executives, ad buyers and athletic sponsors that this is not cavemen."

Wertheim also comments on the lack of print and magazine coverage for MMA, pointing out that the majority of newspaper editors are 55-plus. He thinks that dollars will ultimately force the old guard to cover the sport just like it did with NASCAR. Wertheim commends Yahoo! Sports for it's coverage and placement of MMA content.

Listen here for the entire 18-minute discussion on MMA.

Audio from Deadspin

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74 Comments

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  1. Uncle Sizzle
    1. Posted by Uncle Sizzle Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:44 pm EDT

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    MMA needs personalities like Dana. He adds some color. But he needs to let Chuck fight Jardine again to get some closure before he retires.
  2. Uncle Sizzle
    2. Posted by Uncle Sizzle Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:44 pm EDT

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    First !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. Uncle Sizzle
    3. Posted by Uncle Sizzle Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:50 pm EDT

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    Does anyone remember in ROADHOUSE when one of the bouncers asked Patrick Swayze:
    "What if they call my mama a Wh0re" His response was "IS SHE". In the case of the female blogger, it shouldn't bother you if thats not what you are!
    But in this case you must be what Dana says you are.
  4. Hulkster
    4. Posted by Hulkster Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:54 pm EDT

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    I say Hulk Hogan would be a good choice He dont curse except when theres a fight and would once in a while even fight in the cage. NOW HOW cool would that be! HULK would beat Lesanr then be Champ and CEO so WHite should retire like his old buddy liddel
  5. jim
    5. Posted by jim Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:58 pm EDT

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    oh how i love politically correct people who don't know anything about the sport. yeah, sport sections that never cover the sport to begin with unless there is somthing negative to write about are the people that dana white and the ufc in particular really need to worry about.
  6. TheTruth
    6. Posted by TheTruth Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:02 am EDT

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    I agree with Wertheim, who's one of the better sportswriters out there. Dana doesn't need to step out of the picture altogether. He does bring some color to the sport, but he doesn't need to be the President of the organization. In any other company, he would have stepped down by now. The only thing preventing that from happening is his ego and the closeness he has with the CEO, but eventually they've got to realize what the smart business decision is.
  7. MMAniac
    7. Posted by MMAniac Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:19 am EDT

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    Hulkster is facing enough backlash for his own recent comments. And has nothing to do with MMA. Dana doesn't need to be fired or resign his post so long as they get someone else to handle press conferences. And maybe give up the vlogs.
  8. bankshotbobby
    8. Posted by bankshotbobby Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:00 am EDT

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    i gotta say whether you like dana or not, it's hard to see the UFC continueing to grow without him. look at the other mma companies. the ones that thought they knew how to do things right that UFC was doing wrong. replace dana and what do we get? megadeth and kimbo slice? yea dana's mouth gets him in trouble once in awhile, but its the same personality and mind that has made the UFC what it is today.
  9. omega
    9. Posted by omega Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:58 am EDT

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    Once those traditional columnists are gone, MMA will finally gain the media coverage it so rightly deserves. I think Strikeforce, Affliction, and others should do more steps in promoting MMA. Not only will it be good for their respective organizations but for the sport as a whole. I think they're all relying on the UFC to promote MMA, it's a stupid move cause right now many people associate MMA with the UFC, thus making the latter more profitable and leaving the other promotions with spare change.
  10. NickG
    10. Posted by NickG Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:12 am EDT

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    The issue has been covered, Dana has said his peace, and anyone who cared has moved on. They can give it their best shot at trying to bring this crap up again, but they'll find that all the MMA fans are much more interested in Forest vs. Silva at this point.
  11. KJ - MMA Armchair
    11. Posted by KJ - MMA Armchair Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:20 am EDT

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    Discussion on this came up in a blog the other week.
    I'm feeling more and more that Dana has served his purpose. What has worked up until this point is no guarantee that it'll work in the future. The Fertittas need to look ahead and really ask themselves if Dana is going to be the guy that gets them there, or if he could end up sinking the ship he built.
  12. HAHA
    12. Posted by HAHA Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:24 am EDT

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    # 8 what did dana say abou black people ?
  13. BOSS
    13. Posted by BOSS Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:31 am EDT

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    who cares? its not like ufc or mma for that matter needs sports illustrated. go be emotional cry babies somewhere else. try covering more golf or that pathetic boxing match thats supposed to be so "big" this weekend.
  14. Boxing Bags
    14. Posted by Boxing Bags Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:31 am EDT

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    Dana has done so much for the UFC - it would be madness to even consider letting him go!
  15. Instant Money
    15. Posted by Instant Money Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:44 am EDT

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    Dana needs to drop his Napoleon complex and quit trying to own his fighters. For the most part, he has been good for the sport and tries to keep it fresh and edgy. The UFC still needs more consistency and free fights.
  16. Jason
    16. Posted by Jason Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:32 am EDT

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    correction, it's big daddy balls
  17. Big Country
    17. Posted by Big Country Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:48 am EDT

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    I think that is just what MMA needs... To be in print! MMA needs to get on the pages of the failing newspaper industry. Hardly anyone reads the newspaper anymore. They all go online and read it. Newspapers are dead. Dana has done a lot for this sport and he is excellent at what he does, which is bring publicity to the UFC. Any publicity is good publicity. Look at Britney Spears, a year ago she was a trainwreck and now she has an album that is selling huge numbers. People want the product and if the product is good people will buy it. Like the UFC.
  18. Big Country
    18. Posted by Big Country Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:58 am EDT

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    I agree that MMA needs ESPN and potentially even SI. But, they are doing great right now. The sport is growing by leaps and bounds. As the sport grows and the fighters continue to get better the product will get better and more and more fans will come.
  19. ryan w
    19. Posted by ryan w Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:26 am EDT

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    #5 is perfectly correct. SI never mentions UFC until a little whore reporter gets called out. the fact is REAL UFC fans couldnt care less (and actually enjoy) about dana white saying f****t or calling some dumb b**** a dumb b****. another example of the mainstream media making a big deal about nothing. so keep feeding your puppets with this garbage. the rest of us are gonna go wait for danas next blog.
  20. Mr.Brooks
    20. Posted by Mr.Brooks Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:09 am EDT

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    ESPN would be nice to have as a friend of the UFC, it would be nice to get fight results & highlights on sports center..SI is not as big a deal in todays media but it cant hurt to have them as a fan....
  21. vudusup
    21. Posted by vudusup Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:36 am EDT

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    "so keep feeding your puppets with this garbage. the rest of us are gonna go wait for danas next blog. "
    My loins quiver in anticipation every week for Dana's blog.
  22. AdamG
    22. Posted by AdamG Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:39 am EDT

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    Why would Dana White step down? While the growth of the sport is unsurpassed by the UFC, mainstream sponsors, relationships with companies like SI and national exposure would not only change the UFC, they would change the sport. I'm all for growth and will be an MMA fan for life, but none of those things really matter to me. I like MMA on the fringe.
    The UFC is hugely successful, and Dana White is a big part of that success. I'm not offended by his language or persona, and find it refreshing that he's not afraid to speak his mind. I'd rather have a Dana White than a president who dances for the media and speaks his mind behind closed doors.
  23. digby
    23. Posted by digby Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:09 pm EDT

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    "Deadspin and Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim, folks who cover the sport from a distance."
    From a distance? Well not everyone can follow the sport as closely as you and Iole, Steve. Please do a joint blog telling us what's like covering the sport from Dana's pocket.
  24. Para d
    24. Posted by Para d Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:13 pm EDT

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    "We're in the eye of the storm right now when it comes to the fallout from Dana White's Ultimate Fight Night 18 video blog"
    No, we're 5 states away from the storm wondering why people keep calling a small drizzle a "storm". This is a sad joke. No one cares what SI says about MMA at all. Next time they want to try and drag MMA down, they should bring it up while a few people still care about the "controversy" they're trying to stir up.
  25. Mr.Brooks
    25. Posted by Mr.Brooks Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:35 pm EDT

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    Para d, I agree 100%, this is a tabloid site, it has nothing to do with news or MMA...

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