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Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:45 am EDT

Is Dana White a hypocrite for changing his tune on Kimbo Slice?

By Steve Cofield

Is there any better sport to cover than fighting? The fighters, promoters and characters around the sport are unrivaled. Which is why the marriage of the UFC, its president Dana White, Kimbo Slice and reality television is simply freakin' outrageously awesome. For a year and a half White smashed the hell out of Kimbo. When Kimbo fell to Seth Petruzelli, White went off the deep end on October 10, 2008 (0:50 mark):

"Kimbo Slice sucks, like I've said now for the last few months. This [expletive] guy can't fight and he got knocked out in 13 seconds by a guy who didn't win The Ultimate Fighter."

Two weeks later, he threw out the invite for Kimbo to go on The Ultimate Fighter but in doing so slammed him again:

"What has the guy done to deserve to be in the UFC? Nothing. I don’t consider him a real athlete or anything. He won’t win The Ultimate Fighter. The offer is out there if he wants to take it and he won’t win it. I might [put a heavyweight show together just for him]."  

White played a different tune last night on Sacramento's KTHK by Carmichael Dave (1:00 mark):  

"I don't know if there's anybody I've talked more smack about. I don't know how he's going to do. I gotta respect that (he's coming on the show). We're gonna find out this season if he's for real or not."

Listen to White's first reaction to the Kimbo signing:

White said he crossed paths with Kimbo for the first time on Monday as Spike shot the first day of The Ultimate Fighter 10:

"We shot episode one today. We walked into the gym and I tell you what, he was pretty serious. He wasn't messing around, he wasn't joking," laughed White. "He wasn't laughing. I don't think he's a big Dana White fan either. How could you be after all the things that have gone back and forth?"

White also explained that Kimbo's former promoter/manager Gary Shaw had nothing to do with the deal. White indicated that the deal was finished up around May 11 while he was down in Miami. Oddly, though Kimbo wasn't present in his hometown, he was actually in California. Apparently, the deal was forged with his manager "Icey" Mike Imber. 

Dana White on Kimbo and EliteXC (Oct. 10, 2009):

Dana White invites Kimbo to be part of The Ultimate Fighter (Oct. 26, 2008):

Dana White audio via KHTK

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196 Comments

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  1. gfunk
    1. Posted by gfunk Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:08 am EDT

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    first!! and kimbo's goin' down!
  2. Thomas J.
    2. Posted by Thomas J. Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:21 am EDT

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    Now Dana changes his tune b/c Kimbo is making him millions and not elite xc.
  3. The Dox
    3. Posted by The Dox Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:26 am EDT

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    Thomas J. - you're absolutely right. Dana White is one of the best young businessmen in sports.
    The object is to make money, so when Kimbo was employed by a rival, of course he's gonna knock him to detract from the competition. And now he stands to gain considerable profit from him, and says "oh yeah, I said some bad stuff. Just kidding". Marketing at its finest, guy knows what he's doing.
    I am more jealous of Dana White than damn nearly anyone in the world.
  4. gar h
    4. Posted by gar h Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:28 am EDT

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    This is so awesome. I can't wait to see him get humiliated again.
  5. joebud
    5. Posted by joebud Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:35 am EDT

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    I can see it now. No matter what happens to Kimbo on the show he will still get a UFC contract. Dana White will keep him on as long as possible for the ratings. First Brock Lesner now Kimbo, then Bobby Lashley will be after that. I always wanted Fedor to fight in the UFC, but now I hope he never does. The Heavyweighy division is turning into a joke and gimick division, and Fedor's talent is way above that.
  6. brainsanyone
    6. Posted by brainsanyone Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:02 am EDT

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    I don't know that Kimbo will get humiliated, but I can tell you that I'll be there watching, which is exactly the reason Dana is so happy to sign him up. This is a promoters wet dream. He's not getting paid, but he's generating millions in ad revenue. Spike's gotta be happy as hell too!
  7. DCwhiteowl
    7. Posted by DCwhiteowl Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:03 am EDT

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    Lets be honest though the heavy wieght divsion is pretty dead after lesner, mir and maybe cain valquez. i heard cro cop will fight again for the UFC. They need Kimbo (and i would love Lashley) to spice up the big leagues in the UFC. i dont know how well he will do on TUF but you know he will fight late to boost training and ratings. Way to go Dana..good deal
  8. mike5o
    8. Posted by mike5o Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:08 am EDT

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    Best of luck to Mr. Ferguson. Not a Kimbo fan at all, but he does sell ratings. I don't think Mr. White will give him a "bi" just so he can up the ratings. He'll feed him to the lions for the same reason. Don't know this season's format, but fighters have come back after losing and fought again. I'm sure he'll take some things home with him from the experience, not the least of which will be at least one more loss (even though officially an exhibition match?)
  9. Curt B
    9. Posted by Curt B Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:14 am EDT

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    In response to joebud: Why is this a joke? The guy turned down a huge paycheck to go and fight in Japan, among other places, to do it the right way by trying to earn his shot on the ultimate fighter. I have always hated Kimbo for the attention he got, but that wasn't his choice. And now for him to step up and take a huge ratings and pay cut to go on this show and try to make it like all the rest of them. Where's the shame in that? Not to mention that it's gonna make for great TV. If he gets his ass kicked, then Dana White will continue to say that the guy is a bum, but if he somehow puts in a good showing, then all the better for the UFC. I know I'm a little more pumped to watch the next season now. Rashad against Rampage was good enough, but now we have the circus of Kimbo, should make for a good circus.
  10. Caligulus
    10. Posted by Caligulus Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:29 am EDT

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    Gotta hand it to Kimbo for taking the show. He's doing it at least sort of the right way. He could have gone through smaller promotions also but whatever.
    .
    And I think yes, you can definitely call Dana a hypocrite. I understand it's business but as a business man he said some really lame things about Kimbo. Then he changes his tune when Kimbo's on the show. C'mon Dana don't be like that.
  11. event horizon
    11. Posted by event horizon Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:04 am EDT

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    Not much of a white fan but the guy is a sharp buisness man, And even better at selling the spin..
  12. event horizon
    12. Posted by event horizon Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:06 am EDT

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    Kimbo slice is a decent fighter, and will do well until he faces the top 6 or 5....
  13. rob
    13. Posted by rob Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:20 am EDT

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    Hey...big ups to Ferguson for taking the show offer and being serious about it. Now, that being said...he doesn't stand a chance with REAL MMA fighters. White may put a few pushovers on the show for Ferguson to beat to boost ratings, but White is a businessman first, so I forsee Ferguson going all the way to the end just to keep ratings up.
    White is a media whore and will do whatever he needs to do to keep his brand on top, kinda like what Vince McMahon did to wrasslin in the 80's and 90's. He'll gobble up all competition and those that wont sell will be badmouthed and haranged by White til they make a mistake and go under.
    But back to the point, Ferguson is a back-alley brawler with knockout power, but no true skill and a glass chin that will be tested alot, and he will not make it in the UFC even if he wins TUF. Hope he has some ground skills and defense! Good luck Slice.....You're gonna need it!
  14. Julien
    14. Posted by Julien Tue Jun 02, 2009 6:27 am EDT

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    Regardless of how Dana handles Business, i commends his integrity. He wants to preserve the sport by not allowing it to be scripted in the back like wrestling. he wants to entertain the fans but at the same time deliver a realistic product. Some may see it a sport, but the bottom line its a business. the fighters have to be bright or have bright management because their competitive lifespan gets chipped away each time they fight. It is not fair to give a gimmick top billing if it delivers poor product. Brock still has to prove and learn at the same time. Remember he is being watched and studied. Hopefully when he fights for UFC 100 he will deliver a better performance. I want to be surprise, not simply see weight on someones back and grind out the points. Wrestling has some great core finishing moves (submission) lets see him mix it up to prove his legitimacy. none the less i give Dana his Props, He is ensuring the business delivers and satisfy it customers today and for tomorrow.
  15. sfynx7d4
    15. Posted by sfynx7d4 Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:11 am EDT

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    this is all a setup, dana white is making the heavyweight division this big thing with lesnar, and now if kimbo works out he'll build these guys up, then fedor will come in and school them all. it'll be great.
  16. jeremy r
    16. Posted by jeremy r Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:12 am EDT

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    I don't think dana is a hypocrite, he never apologized for the things he said about slice in the past, he just said that he respects him for basicly putting his money where his mouth is. You got to give respect to Slice for joining TUF, he isn't getting paid when he could have went to Japan and made 6 figures. He is trying to show that he is not some gimic. It is great for the UFC, cuz if he gets his a@# handed to him in TUF, dana says I told you so, and if he proves himself as a worthy fighter, he gets an entry level contract to fight in the UFC. Poing being, Slice will not be making the big money in the UFC until he is proven as a fighter. I am looking forward to the TUF 10, good coaches, some new drama and we still don't know who the fighters are going to be. I heard Lashley tried out and some guys from NFL or something, will be interesting to watch the heavyweight tournament. Good job dana!!
  17. TonyTonyTony
    17. Posted by TonyTonyTony Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:14 am EDT

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    I'll pay to see any of you jokers step in the O wit Kimbo. Kimbo is FEARSOME!!!
  18. Nasu Nasulainen
    18. Posted by Nasu Nasulainen Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:21 am EDT

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    Anyone who risks his life in a cage gets my respect. And let's face it, we tune into TUF more for entertainment than seeing top-level competition. I think the current ninth season is pretty forgettable stuff. Ferguson will make for good entertainment, and with Ramage and Evans TUF 10 should be good times. Well done.
  19. Messiahdem
    19. Posted by Messiahdem Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:27 am EDT

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    Look at it like this, you take Kimbo's natural ability, have him training for UFC with UFC trainers months before the event, let him be one of the last ones to fight (which gives him more time to train) and I think this is a spoon fed victory for Kimbo. Plus like the article suggests, the longer they can keep Kimbo around the better.
  20. Vet
    20. Posted by Vet Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:33 am EDT

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    I actually hope he worked on his game and comes in as a legitimate fighter. He was a joke before, but the three wins came against pro fighters. Sure, they weren't good either, but they actually earned their right to be called pro's. I think it would make that whole ordeal seem like less of a mockery if Kimbo comes in lasts for a while. I don't think there is any way he will win the show, but if he can get through a couple fights it will be cool.
  21. Dubya b
    21. Posted by Dubya b Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:39 am EDT

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    HAW! HAW! HAW!!! This is Great! All of you UFC FANBOYS!!! White has sold his soul to the Devil. After all of his Kimbo Mocking and your Kimbo Mocking, Dana is putting him on TUF. He just made all of you look like a bunch of handpuppets.
    ROTFL!!!
  22. albert r
    22. Posted by albert r Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:53 am EDT

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    ...and all the talk is cheap because as the late, great Warren Zevon said in one of his songs, "....ya might have the speed and the right combinations, but if ya can't take the punches it don't mean a thing..." and that is the bottom line. Kimbo may have heart, but I watched him with Petruzelli and like most everyone else who is a wannabee, he just can't take a good punch. The usual human body is just made that way, it cannot be trained out, ask anybody with ring time or better yet, try it yourself. Your local gym will be happy to assist and it will give you all a better perspective....looking up at the lights, probably.
  23. a@#hole
    23. Posted by a@#hole Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:55 am EDT

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    How did Dana change his mind? He said if Kimbo wanted to fight in the UFC he had to win the The Ultimate Fighter, so Kimbo is on the Ultimate Fighter. How is that flip-flopping? Kimbo still sucks, and he will not win his first match. Keep hating on the UFC and keep watching your sub-par, gimmick organizations. By the way how did you guys get video of Dana White October 2009? #1UFC FANBOY!!!
  24. Curt B
    24. Posted by Curt B Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:08 am EDT

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    Yeah, how is he a hyrocrite? He always said if Kimbo wanted to prove himself, let him try out on the ultimate fighter. Being a hypocrite would have been just signing him to a contract and trying to make money off of him that way.

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