Cagewriter - UFC

Warning: Video most definitely not safe for work. 

Dana White's Vlog before Ultimate Fight Night 18 starts out reasonably enough. He's looking at a car, looking at some highlights, and finds out about Ryan Jensen not being cleared for tonight's event. But before the vlog ends, White launches into a three- minute long diatribe (4:38 mark) against journalist Loretta Hunt, and an article she published on Wednesday.

While speaking -- and I use that term loosely -- about the article, he drops the familiar Dana White f-bombs (42). If you've been a UFC fan for more than five minutes, you've heard White say the f-word, so it's not exactly shocking. But then he introduces some new words into his lexicon when he calls Hunt's sources a slur directed at homosexuals and Hunt herself a "dumb b----". Those words are not only inflammatory, but they are offensive and beyond unacceptable.

White is the president of a multmillion dollar corporation. It's true that he comports himself differently than most CEOs and presidents, and that's to be expected. He's running something a little different than Apple or Microsoft, or even the NFL. But he still needs to follow the laws of basic decency, and using those words break those laws. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Roger Goodell know not to use those sorts of words, and White should know better, too.

White's words of choice marginalize gays and women, both groups that if White were the smart businessman he claims to be, he knows could help grow his business. Does White not think that women and gay men watch the UFC? Is he delusional? Maybe in his world, only straight men are lining his pockets, but he should wake up. Dropping those slurs like they're not a big deal makes me want to walk in the other direction from the UFC and give my money to anyone else but Zuffa.

Since I've started with Cage Writer, I have been worried from time to time that I would not be welcome at fights or in gyms. After all, MMA is definitely a man's world. However, I've never felt unwelcome, never felt like I was given an unfair shake, never felt like I didn't belong. But after seeing the president of the corporation that I spend much of my days writing about call another female member of the MMA media a "dumb b----," I instantly become unwelcome in this world. Funny what a few little words can do. 

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  1. Gary
    1. Posted by Gary Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Nah, White speaks what is real bro! Media biasness is a rampant issue, and he just happen to use that 1st Amendment on her. What can I say? White is a pure genius and for the MMA world, the Donny Trump, the Einstein, and the President!
    Go look at his credentials. The real arrogant person I have seen is a cop - not people trying to do something for themselves.
  2. J W
    2. Posted by J W Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    Shouldn't be surprised. Profanity has a way of escalating. Imagine the horrible things he says when no one is around.
  3. jthom20851
    3. Posted by jthom20851 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

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    Dana is a nice guy, really cool to the fans that he meets, always stops and talks..he raised millions of dollars for the troops..he is a great businessman as well. Some people get offended by the language he uses, so what? he could be out here doing much worse, you never hear about him getting arrested or anything, he is a self made multi millionaire family man that is not perfect..none of us are perfect either..get off his back.
  4. Shea L
    4. Posted by Shea L Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:18 pm EDT

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    Dana, thankyou for making MMA what it is today! Without your promotional skills i would've never tuned in...DO WHAT YOU DO...this is FRIGGN AMERICA.
  5. Mr Pasty
    5. Posted by Mr Pasty Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    You may want to walk in the other direction, but you won't. So why even bother with this post? Dana's tirade is not the problem, calling attention to it is. But alas the media just can't help themselves. Now you've shown your hand.
  6. N W
    6. Posted by N W Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    When someone has a vendetta against the company you run, it gets personal. I don't agree with the language, but Hunt's article should have been tabled because it is atrocious, her work in media and print is often filled with vague statements or spins open-ended quotes to her own devices when they in actuality could be totally unrelated to the matter at hand.
    Hunt should either write sound pieces or at least have the sense not to distribute it if it doesn't meet quality standards.
    It's unforunate what happened, but the key thing for you or any writer (female or not) is to act professionally (this doesn't mean you must be unbiased, but it does imply fairness), write good sound material without ulterior motives and the respect will be earned.
  7. Daniel W
    7. Posted by Daniel W Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    All I got to say about this is,man that's some funny a** s***,love Dana or hate him,but the fact is that man speaks his mind,it may not be the most humble way,but he get's his point across. The bottom line is,people that come up with these unlogical statements about him,with no real fact's behind there argument, deserve to get put in there place.
  8. kodiak_the_bear_dog
    8. Posted by kodiak_the_bear_dog Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    White has never been politically correct. He gets angry and what comes out of his mouth sounds more like something a teenager would say than adult who runs a large business.
    Given his history, I don't think his comments are going to alienate some large group of UFC fans. I can see how people think White goes too far at times, but I agree with some of the posters above - there is a part of me that appreciates the fact that he just says what's on his mind and addresses issues up front.
    In any case, the author of this blog seems focused on the fact that Lorreta Hunt is female. I really don't think that is playing any role here. If the article had been written by a straight male, I bet White would have been just as angry and vulgar. Therefore, if you are going to feel "unwelcome in this world," it should be because you feel like you write poorly researched stories (or stories that Dana White disagrees with), but not because you are female. Maybe you need a little thicker skin, too.
  9. rhyner
    9. Posted by rhyner Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    I read Lorettas article and not once is Dana or anyone from the UFC quoted. So if she was trying to write a fair story why wouldnt she talk to them? Dana would give her a quote. Loretta has for a long time written things that were not only out right false but also in some cases borderline slanderous. She is a hack and I have stopped reading sherdog because of the unfair biased opinions on there. Now that being said alot of Lorettas and sherdogs problems with Dana come from the same issues. Dana being bias because sherdog doesnt follow his rules at his events. Now is that fair? They are his events and the Yahoo guys dont seem to have any issues. Maggie it seems that your issues stem from a sort of bond with Loretta (both being females in the world of MMA) but I think if Dana were talking about Kevin Iole or Jake Rossen you wouldnt have such a problem with his comments.
  10. g e
    10. Posted by g e Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    Loretta Hunt is to journalists what George Bush was to presidents. But that still doesn't excuse Dana's words.
  11. QJR
    11. Posted by QJR Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    A little fire is one thing, but seriously. As the face of mixed martial arts, maybe you shouldn't publicly record yourself going on the same type of tirade a thirteen year old would. Of course, it's his 1st amendment rights. However, if you think freedom of speech means freedom from consequence, then you are a damned fool.
    Just because you say "oh, you don't have to listen to this" doesn't magically mean it'll disappear into ether, as well.
  12. Justin Bullock
    12. Posted by Justin Bullock Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    boo-hoo
  13. Jimmy D
    13. Posted by Jimmy D Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    dan white = legit ...haha that guys hilarious
  14. Freemind
    14. Posted by Freemind Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:33 pm EDT

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    If you're a male age 13-25 and with zero class(most american mma fans)...you probably love Dana White. After you grow up beyond that then you'll see him for the douche he really is. When he is gone then I'll start getting interested in the UFC again. It's getting old and tiresome. Correction, it IS old and tiresome. Nuff said.
  15. fightchica
    15. Posted by fightchica Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Well s h i t I didn't even get to watch Dana return to his tyrannical verbal diatribe, What? too offensive for most viewers or did Loretta Hunt threaten to file suits of libel? As this is a publication and is not straight slander. Pardon the pun.
    He was so good at holding his tongue pretty well there for a while, I had noticed in watching the First segment of TUF9 when he was at Wolf'slair how he had started up again so this doesn't surprise me one iota. As a person who uses profanity I am not one who gets my knickers in a twist when someone else does but there are others who get right bunchy about it.
    And Maggie....his dumb b i t c h comment wasn't directed AT YOU as you are most definitely not dumb and remember this...."You call me a bi t ch like that's a BAD thing!!!" And sometimes that's all a girl has to hang on too. And What he's not a stupid P R I C K for not being able to slough off the negative press by being an articulate
    gentleman? Plus this; he may be the president of the UFC and have to pose as top DOG with all the boys but he is not the rest of the men who are in the fight world. Shake it off baby.
  16. Brock Loser
    16. Posted by Brock Loser Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:14 pm EDT

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    What did the "dumb b....." say to make him call her a "dumb b...."?
  17. KJ-MMA Armchair
    17. Posted by KJ-MMA Armchair Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    I think it's also a shame that whatever legitimate point Dana may have tried to get across, it was lost among his bile and hateful rant.
    He could have been sarcastic and patronising, but still walk the line of professionalism.
    Because of it people will miss the point how claiming to have a source that wished to remain anomynous for fear of repercussions and actually having said source are two different things. It can be legitimately argued that stating an anonymous source is just a way to publish hearsay and claim it as factual. After all, online news outlets aren't regulated and the same code and practices the print media adhere to do not apply. Too many sites dedicated to MMA have focused on editorial commentary and not objective journalism, and yet the line has been blurred between the two when it comes to online publishing.
    Dana White was out of line, and what this unfortunately means is Loretta's questionable credibility will be overlooked because she is now the victim in the aftermath of Dana's VLOG.
  18. Jackson F
    18. Posted by Jackson F Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    I agree with your sentiments and observations completely, Maggie. And I appreciate and enjoy your work. I've been agnostic on White so far, but this kind of language is inappropriate and unprofessional at best. Makes me embarrassed to talk about how much I love watching mma.
  19. athsquare
    19. Posted by athsquare Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    damn I didnt get to look at it its been removed!!!
  20. Joe_in_chicago
    20. Posted by Joe_in_chicago Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

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    It's great to see somebody with the temerity to write about inveterate intolerance and then watch as dissenting commenters prove her right. Define irony....
  21. vudusup
    21. Posted by vudusup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    Why would you watch a Vlog by Dana White anyhow? Are people that into the UFC that they want to live (or die in this case) on every word that is uttered by White?
    The fact that Fedor & Kimbo Slice aren't in this promotion makes this organization second rate by definition.
  22. nokusskvle
    22. Posted by nokusskvle Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:40 pm EDT

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    ....or a spelling bee either, apparently....LMAO. I meant "quit" being so sensitive.
  23. Freemind
    23. Posted by Freemind Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:33 pm EDT

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    Are the leaders of the NFL, NBA, MLB etc dropping f-bombs, prejudice, and all around derogatory comments ALL THE TIME? No. Let mma become a real sport Dana and grow up. You're a big boy now......no need to try and protect your weak insecure self with big scary curse words. Represent with professionalism, maturity, and self restraint and the UFC fan base will reach the mainstream. That's your number one goal, money.
  24. John V
    24. Posted by John V Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    I truly love all the constitutional scholars who post in this thread. No one is suggesting that there be a law against him saying stupid biggoted comments. That's what the first amendment codifies.
    "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
    Not only that, but there's precedent for prohibiting absolute free speech anyway. When you get into the 10th grade and learn about the US supreme court you'll probably cover Schenck v. United States (amongst others).

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Steve Cofield

Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
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