Is Dana White a CHUMP?

Written by: sprawler

Tagged with: affliction banned, dana white, july 19, ufc event

Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 20:05

This news item was posted in UFC category and has 3 Comments so far.

Is Dana White a chump for his announcement that the UFC will be having a show July 19th; the same night Affliction’s big debut is on?

I’m happy as a fan of all things MMA that I can watch two great shows but what this tells me is that White is certainly concerned with Affliction’s entrance on to the MMA scene.

He generally talks trash about other organizations but never has he gone to such great lengths to spoil another’s show. It of course is because it features a former UFC heavyweight champ in Tim Sylvia going against the consensus number one heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko along with one of the best under-cards in a long time (http://www.mmachump.com/affliction-banned-fedor-vs-sylvia-fight-card/).

If White was so secure in the UFC’s spot at number one (which he has certainly earned), he wouldn’t be concerned with Affliction and let them burn through their money like most of the other companies are doing. Did the NFL freak out and start conspiring when Vince McMahon started the XFL? No. MLB and the NBA wouldn’t sweat it either. So why is White? Because of the Trump factor. Donald Trump that is. UFC was reported to be 44 million in debt before they started climbing out to the black. Trump can easily carry that cost and that is what White is concerned about. Chump, no…..scared, yes.

Last 3 posts by sprawler

3 Responses to “Is Dana White a CHUMP?”

Mark said on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 7:15

This is America. We live in a capitalistic society. There are businesses on every street corner, and I – the consumer – can decide which one will get my money. That’s the beauty of living here. If you don’t like it, might I suggest you move to Cuba?

Dana White is running a free UFC show on the same evening as an Affliction MMA event. So what? The UFC can do whatever it wants, and Affliction can do whatever it wants.

Me? I’ll watch the UFC show for free on Spike TV, and I’ll get a free DVD copy of the pay-per-view from my co-worker, like I always do.

This is actually not as bad a competitive issue as some others. Back in the infancy of pay-per-view (the 1980s), professional wrestling companies were cut-throat in their efforts to undermine one another. For example, in 1987, the then-WWF (now WWE) created a pay-per-view event out of thin air (the Survivor Series) for the sole purpose of strong-arming cable companies to carry their pay-per-view instead of the competition’s PPV debut (the NWA Bunkhouse Stampede). WWF head Vince McMahon reportedly told cable providers that – if they chose to carry the NWA pay-per-view instead of his, they would not be allowed to carry the upcoming (and very lucrative) WrestleMania IV pay-per-view. The cable companies naturally and wisely chose McMahon’s product, and the NWA pay-per-view was a dismal failure. In retaliation, the NWA ran a free show on TBS opposite WrestleMania IV in an effort to lower the WWF buy-rate for the event.

This is what competition is. It’s not personal; it’s just business. The UFC has every right to promote events on whatever date they choose, as does Affliction, Elite-XC, etc. It is what it is. We – the consumers – decide which promotion is worthy of our cash. Welcome to America.

I will say this though: Affliction must be on Dana White’s radar screen if he has gone so far as to put together a show to go against it. Affliction should be happy with the idea that the UFC people have taken notice. That’s a victory in itself. If Affliction was a non-factor, White and UFC wouldn’t go to all this trouble.

~51
Mat said on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 8:51

Mark

I think that was the point of the post. It’s not downing it. You’re right, Affliction is on Dana’s radar if he’s going through this process of putting an event together. Doesn’t make Dana a chump at all but it does show he does have concern about Affliction. And he has every right to have concern, it’s backed by Donald Trump. The man has money and knows how to run stuff. Also with the NY MMA Vote it could lead to Donald being able to get Madison Square Garden because of his connections with Vince McMahon.

Only time will tell, but I don’t think Dana’s programming decision will affect Affliction’s Pay-Per-View audience that much. As you said you normally get the free copy later so it wasn’t like you were going to watch it then anyways.
jim simm said on Monday, June 23, 2008, 19:59

Stay tuned because I think things are going to get pretty interesting ,For Dana to schedule a free fight with well known fighter on short notice is showing how desprite Dana really is . The last thing Dana wants to do is get in a pissing match with TRUMP . Trump can make the U F C the tranning center for the up and comming MMA fighters .I think that “move” is really going to come back and bite Dana the White Don King in the ass !