Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:35 am EDT
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.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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226 Comments
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Go look at his credentials. The real arrogant person I have seen is a cop - not people trying to do something for themselves.
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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.
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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.
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Just because you say "oh, you don't have to listen to this" doesn't magically mean it'll disappear into ether, as well.
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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.
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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.
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The fact that Fedor & Kimbo Slice aren't in this promotion makes this organization second rate by definition.
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"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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