Do you think Dana White's arrogant hardball tactics have cost the UFC Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture?

Question

It is well known that Fedor refused to sign with UFC because Dana wouldn't let him fight in Sambo tournaments in Russia. Insulting Fedor's ability as a fighter can't have gone over well either. Now, Dana's hardball tactics and snot nosed arrogance has cost him and all UFC fans bigtime. There's no one to replace these two guys folks. Do you think Dana is too damn arrogant and disrespectful for his (and the UFC's) own good? I know it isn't normal to let fighters fight outside the UFC, but isn't losing Fedor to another organization and Randy to retirement a much more costly alternative? Dana was simply too damn cocky and sure of himself and even said the other day he was certain Fedor would sign by the beginning of next year. This one has really come back to bite Dana and UFC fans in the ***. If the UFC declines in popularity, Dana has only himself to blame for his arrogance and disrespect of both Fedor and Randy during contract negotiations.

Answer 1

For the reader of - say - Sports Illustrated or another sports magazine that is catching onto it only recently, the brand name means more than the fighters. The fans who have followed the sport for some time will be disappointed and angry.

White is banking on the former as the new market to propel the PPV numbers, the latter to come back in the fold after the controversy plays out and the fighters to either come back after a cooling-off period or to end up in tournaments that do not draw coverage in the U.S.

Answer 2

I don't know the particulars on the meetings between the parties. However it wouldn't surprise me if Dana's arrogance could have cost them Fedor. I don't like his show personally so I couldn't imagine him being far worst with the camera off.
Losing Fedor and Randy is bad but Randy had his time. Fedor is a big wussy and he did'nt want to fight UFC competition. He is the kind of guy who will take the safe route. Smaller fighters and less experienced one.

If the Ufc brass is smart they will host a tournament for the top eight heavyweights one night only. Make them boys earn that belt. The ppv numbers would be astronomical. The idea would create fast paced matches which would probably lead to faster knockouts or submissions. Who would want to spend more time in the ring than necessary with a possible long night ahead. 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5 take it back to the old school for that night only. The belt shouldn't come cheap.

Answer 3

AIDS is Dana's fault too.

Seriously though, everyone just wants to jump on Dana's back for everything. They seem to forget that if not for him the UFC would be dead right now. Money was not the main reason Randy left. I don't know what happened with Fedor, we may never know the whole story, but that's what caused Randy to leave. I know Randy was pissed about his paycheck, and he had every right to be. I'm usually agaisnt the whole "Wah wah fighters are underpaid" schtick, but according to the released pay stats (whether those are accurate or not) he was getting half of what Chuck was getting. However Randy said he would have demanded equal or more than Fedor for their fight had it happened. And I guarantee that if Dana had Fedor under contract, he would have bent over backwards for Randy to get the fight on.

Randy left because all he wanted was Fedor. At 44 there's no reason to put his body in danger yet again against someone like a Gonzaga. With no Fedor, he wasn't going to go back in the cage. The risk vs. reward would have been WAY off at his age.

Answer 4

The UFC is definitely to blame for losing Randy, but not Fedor. Why should the UFC guarantee Fedor millions/fight and risk him losing/getting hurt in another organization outside the UFC. If Fedor lost in an event outside of the UFC, that would make him less marketable. There is no way the UFC should sign him and let him do whatever he wants. If he is getting millions/fight, then he should follow the rules. He is dumb for not signing with the UFC. Now who is he going to fight? He can kiss his #1 ranking goodbye since he will be fighting paperweights.

Answer 5

I just read an article this morning on the Internet and Dana was very supportive of Couture and him pursuing other endeavors. He also indicated that Couture was the best heavy weight ever and would destroy Fedor. It had several direct quotes from him and, I have to say, it was very complimentary of Couture and his abilities and very logical and in agreement with Couture not trying to train and fight at the same time he was pursuing other opportunities. It sounds like someone is just trying to stir the pot or create some news here and I can see the headlines now in the National Enquirer, "MMA Champ Leaves UFC to Run for President"!

Answer 6

I can answer this without requiring you to read a book for an answer.

Randy, he is a legend, but it's only a matter of time before he steps into the Octagon, and much like his last fight with Chuck, leaves with a loss. He is a big name. The thing is, the UFC has a lot of big names and bigger names coming in that will generate interest.

Face the facts, the UFC was growing without Randy and he came back because the heights the sport's reachng. Randy had two fights left on his contract. So it's not like he can go somewhere else and fight without being sued. The UFC has lost nothing.

It's not like his movie career will be taking off anytime soon.

Speaking of upcoming talent, Brock Lesner. Huge. Imagine how many fans this guy will bring, assuming his wrestling followers are still there. Randy probably was afraid he would be F5ed'. =/

Lastly, look at Chuck. Everyone thought he was unbeatable and he has had his *** handed to him in two straight fights. Randy and Chuck may have an age difference and fight totaly different, but face the facts. Chuck was able to dominate like no other, but everyone's time comes eventually.

Answer 7

Yeah I think the UFC is trying to monopolize the MMA market and underpay their best fighters. I say underpay in terms of other high caliber athletes. You can look up the pay of top UFC fighters and it is nowhere near the level achieved by top boxers. UFC is trying to monopolize the industry and keep wages relatively low. The MMA fighters are becoming smarter and more will leave for other promotional companies.

Answer 8

Really Dana is to blame?

I think a lot of people want to jump on that, but Fedor's people wanted unprecedented terms. The UFC already has been paying MAJOR money to Cro Cop and Big Nog to come over and be less than stellar.

Fedor's people wanted a lot of money, a lot of leverage for all of their fighters, and the ability to compete not just in Sambo, but in ANY Combat Sport in Russia.

From the UFC's standpoint, they are picking up all the best fighters they can, who is Fedor going to fight outside of the UFC to maintain his legacy?

Additionally, what happens when you pay this guy a couple mil a fight and he comes in and disappoints. Or you get him on the books and have to wait 6 months to put him in a fight because he breaks his hand doing some Combat Sambo competetion in Russia. (Fedor has a lot of hand injury problems).

It isn't arrogance, it is good business. Losing Randy sucks, but Randy's time was limited. Not getting Fedor has to do with Fedor's people wanting a lot of unprecendented things, all of which but ONE thing the UFC was willing to give. ONE term, that being they wanted him exclusively. It makes sense to protect your investment, since you are paying him a couple mil to fight, and paying to have a stable of Red Devil fighters to fight. And also having a large multi fight deal.

From the UFC's standpoint they gave in to every term but ONE. And they are arrogant? That is hardball?

Look this is pretty much what EVERY Organization does, Pride allowed Fedor to compete in Russia due to that contract clause, but they also ran their business into bankruptcy.

It isn't hardball to say you will sign a guy (after other guys of his stature have came over and been disappointments) for a 5 fight deal with each fight being millions of dollars, agreeing to sign guys from his fight team, giving him pay per view earnings, as well as win bonuses, and willing to help him make a name for himself Stateside.

They only thing they held back on, (which is standard in every sport, every organization, period) was the exclusivity clause.

YOu spend millions on Advertising, on building this fighter as your great champion, then he goes to Russia and loses to a no name, then you have wasted all your money, and lost credibility. Or you build a pay per view event between him and Randy, spend millions on advertising it, setting it up, selling tickets, then Fedor goes and breaks his hand in a Combat Sambo fight. I mean you have to see why this is a bad idea for ANY organization.

It bit Pride in the *** big time after Fedor had to take a year Hiatus off from injury.

White was looking out for the UFC (and Fedor's) best interest. They gave him everything he wanted, the most lucretive deal ever awarded in MMA (according to rumors), agreed to sign on Red Devil members, but just didn't want to give Fedor the right to fight in Russia.

Fedor was still under Contract when he fought for BODOG in Russia. Now imagine if Fedor is your heavyweight champ, and he goes and fights in some other Organization, simply because they stage a show there (just so Fedor can fight), and then Fedor loses to this Organizations Champ. The Fedor brand goes way down, the UFC's commitment monetarily takes a hit, etc. etc.

It wasn't JUST SAMBO, that the UFC was against, it was the "ANY COMBAT SPORT IN RUSSIA" Meaning he could fight MMA in another Organization if they had the event in Russia.

If it was a sticking point for JUST Sambo, the UFC probably would have done it, as long as it was contractually stated he could only fight in Combat Sambo.

But it was the fact that it was ANY SPORT IN RUSSIA, that they were going against.

And now you see why, Fedor's Manager essentially has a stake in M-1, a new MMA organization that will be heavily involved in Russia. They have known about this for a while, and were basically wanting Fedor to fight in the UFC, and be able to fight M-1 in Russia. It isn't about Fedor, it is about his greedy *** management team, who wanted to make money off his own promotions, as well as get the money for Fedor to fight in the UFC.

That is what it comes down to, Fedor's manager being a greedy SOB, who wanted his cake and to eat it to.

I think as all this comes out you fill find more about that. But essentially Fedor's manager is part owner of M-1.

He has basically known that they were going to stage MMA events in Russia (which he would make considerable money off of the profits) which he would use Fedor as the way to draw in money. AND... he wanted the UFC to garuntee Fedor, the rest of Red Devil's fighters (who he manages, thus more money for him) a contract, big money, and still the ability to fight in Russia.

Again, this was not SIMPLY for Combat Sambo, that is what they want to paint it as. This was to FIGHT IN ANYTHING IN RUSSIA, meaning also MMA. (Under Fedor's Manager's promotion).


This was about his manager's greed, not about Dana White or the UFC being stubborn, they were just trying to protect their interest.

YOu gotta look at the big picture and not just be pissed at Dana White, he is a damn good business man. No need to make Fedor's Manager more money.

UFC did all they can, they can't give in to EVERY crazy demand someone's agent/manager makes.