In the early days of UFC, there was a brisk, 30-something fighter named Evan Tanner who went into the octagon, won his fight and said, "Now I can pay my mortgage."
It was the tail-end of the dark days of mixed martial arts in the States when Tanner made that statement, a time when American full-contact fighters were outsourced to Japan, Holland, Brazil—any country that would accept them.
It was a time when belts didn't tow $450,000 behind them and they were worn with the pride of Olympian laurels.
Today, in the golden days of American MMA, spearheaded by UFC, elite fighters bankroll almost as well as elite boxers, thanks in part to dedicated business leaders and managers who want to see their fighters get their due.
It's natural in American MMAto see fighters enter the ring with banners advertising fight gear, to thank their sponsors before they thank their mothers after a fight, to take sips of energy drinks post-fight and point to the can as if guarine and high-fructose corn syrup had a hand in their victory.
But where do we draw the line and say, "Leave the sponsorships and marketing contracts on the table and bring your gloves to the ring?"
I've always been skeptical of booming enterprises—people get greedy, and what could last a decade exists for only two years.
In a brief period of time, the worst of people comes out and the controlling interest is themselves.
This isn't the character of UFC, but the characteristics are steadily stacking, especially considering the recent news concerning Jon Fitch's contractual release.
Greg Savage of Sherdog.com reports that Jon Fitch was released from the UFC after declining to sign a lifetime video game contract with the pointed stipulation that Fitch could not agree to sign with any gaming agency that hasn't agreed to work with UFC.
Although Fitch requested that the contract be renegotiated in more reasonable terms to reduce the lifetime agreement to a five or ten-year agreement, his ire stems more fervently from the conditions laid on his table.
"Sign this or you're going to get dropped from the UFC," Fitch explained to mmaweekly.com writer Damon Martin. In three days at most, according to Fitch, the conversation went from an offer to an ultimatum.
Behind the controversy are greenbacks, the same as withTito Ortiz years ago, more recently with Randy Couture, and possibly with Fedor Emelianenko.
MMAWEEKLY.COM reports that UFC got "caught" between two major video game developers: EA Sports of Madden 2009 fame, and THQ, of Saint's Row
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about 1 month ago
You took a singular story and used it to take a look a bigger picture issue. Definitely a weighty topic and a struggle that we have witnessed since money & men have coexisted. It will certainly be interesting to see how MMA grows & struggles in the next 5 to 10 years- as it enters into a new era of popularity and scrutiny.
Good job here. I have a feeling you'll have more to say on this and related issues. Looks like a good niche for you!
from about 1 month ago
thanks man.
about 1 month ago
Nice article, Brandon.
Given the way Dana White is gradually losing his mind, I wonder how long it will take for him to finally make that manic/psychosis curve and be rushed to a psych ward.
There, behind locked doors he can slow-dance the Librium shuffle while muttering over and over, "You were supposed to look aftah them, Lorenzo. They couldah been contendahs...they couldah been SOMEBODY."
from about 1 month ago
hey, thanks Joseph. i always appreciate your responses.
and you know, i wouldn't mind seeing dana's "impression" of either brando or de niro. i bet it'd be an instant classic.
about 1 month ago
The ony word to sum up Dana sometimes is bully. But the real way to put it is that he is a horribly passionate childish ruthless stubborn bully that is only happy when he gets his way. Does anyone know if he is an only child because he sure acts like one. I will say this though he does do the best job as a promoter and puts together great fights and has a top flight fighting organization. If he was only mature at settle disputes the UFC might run smoothly and grow even larger.
If anyone has any other great words to describe Dana please list them as I know I didn't list them all.
about 1 month ago
I agree that advertising in the UFC is getting ridiculous. we all got to hear 50 cent's opinion on last PPV's fights midway during the event, and if you wanted to stick around to watch the highlights you got to see him spliced in-between scenes rapping. The cornermen all have their hats angled and stand in the perfect spot so that the "tap out" logos on their hats are perfectly in unison with the logo going down the side of their t-shirt. We also get to see the duech-bag tap-out guys themselves at almost every event now too. it's getting bad, and its only going to get worse...
from about 1 month ago
I'm glad to see that someone else thinks the tap out guys are douche bags too.
from about 1 month ago
Wait up, guys, I want to get on that bus too! They are sooooo NOT happening! Yeck!
about 1 month ago
Being in the UFC is a lot like slavery or selling your soul to the devil, I just wish some fighters could do what Kris Kristofferson did when he met the devil and "steal his song."
about 1 month ago
I enjoy the high tech, high speed, full contact, chess matches in the octagon as much as anybody. I can definitely do without the professional wrestling antics that the Tap Out guys bring to the sport, even if I don't mind their financial contributions and promotions. The angled ball caps and anything else that stinks of "Punk" can go too.
I find it funny that Lesnar comes from pro wrestling (though I never knew him then because I don't watch that stuff and knew nothing about him prior to his UFC debut), but brings none of that fake flash and flare with him. Say what you will about Lesnar; he has impressed me thoroughly as an athlete. No man that big should be that fast! Insiders are saying he is an incredibly fast learner too.
Does anybody remember when the fighters' shorts were plain colored and not sales ads?!?! I could stand to see less than that. I don't want my kids to ask what a Condom Depot is when they come into the room where I am watching a fight and all you can see is Condom Depot on a fighter's shorts. Commercialization is a two edged sword. It is probably needed, and everybody wants to be part of the mix, but I too believe that it is (will be) a leader in the sport's eventual decline.
about 1 month ago
Great article. I'm not sure there's a whole to add or articulate after reading this. You hit the nail on the head. Thanks for the interesting read!!
from about 1 month ago
thanks, I appreciate it.
about 1 month ago
If Dana keeps it up, he is going to "stand his ground" and push fighters (good fighters) right out the door. Tito, Randy and John Fitch all had issues with Dana and it came down to repsect first then money. The fighters could make more money IF the UFC/Dana would loosen up his wallet vise and pay them. Someone with a name needs to start an organization to compete with the UFC. A monopoly in any business is not good for the business whatever the business is.
Advertisements in the fight business need to stay on the flag during fighter intro's and not on the shorts! I could carre less if Condom Depot is giving you $ and a lifetime supply. I watch to see the fights, not the sponsers.
about 1 month ago
Great article, couldn't agree more.
Dana White : When are you going to properly respect Evan Tanner and his contribution to UFC ?
The Spike/UFC 30 second "tribute vid" was pathetic. Tanner fans have posted (and CONTINUE to!) better ones on YouTube. We waited for something tangible from UFC as far as properly honoring Tanner goes. And waited. And waited. Guess we're going to be waiting a long time.
Joe Rogan's beard is a more substantial tribute to Tanner than anything UFC has done.
If this is how UFC honors a world champ cut down in the prime of his life, then I just can not muster much enthusiasm for the sport. And I'm not the only one that feels this way. UFC, you have disrespected somebody that was much beloved, and in doing so dishonored UFC and damaged UFC's credibility as a sport.
Dana, here's some advice. Do more to make UFC perceived as a legitimate sport, and the money will follow. Trying to bully big shopping chains into carrying UFC gear hasn't worked out so great for you, has it ? I wonder why. Who's going to go into their retailer and raise hell because they can't get UFC gear when there's no respect or desire for it ? Think about it.
Also, as has been pointed out here already, every time a fucking CondomDepot ad is on the ass of a fighters trunks, THAT damages the legitimacy of UFC as a sport by making it a huge farce. Fans are actually EMBARRASSED by this type of horse shit. I strongly suggest you get back in touch with your fan base, you're loosing us, and for GOOD reason.
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