Dana White and Tito Ortiz put aside their differences as it was announced today that the Huntington Beach Bad Boy has signed a new contract to fight in the UFC. Ortiz who hasnt fought since losing to Lyoto Machida and having back surgery is looking to contend in a stacked 205 division.
Also at the UFC press conference today it was announced that Vitor Belfort also has reurned to the UFC and will headline UFC 103 at catchweight of 195 lbs against Rich Franklin. Belfort is a physical specimen and when his head is on straight look out!
The last major announcement from the UFC press conference today was what I figured out in my post yesterday that it doesnt look like Fedor will sign with the UFC...MMAJUNKIE.com reported that Fedor was offered a six fight deal worth 30 million dollar but M-1 global who represents Fedor said that deal was just false.
The other issue is Fedor is the main guy in EA Sports's new MMA game coming out and Dana said anyone who does business with EA will not do business with UFC
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Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.
Yeah Dana White is willing to cut off his nose to spite his face when it comes to dealing with EA Sports.
From my understanding of sport law (although I'm not lawyer I have a pretty good one) I'm not even sure it's legal to not sign a fighter simply because of other business dealings they have.
From what I understand it's illegal for any sport organization not to sign an athlete for any other reason then they're not athletically gifted, or they're money demands are too great to met. But I digress.
Dana White spent the last two years bad mouthing Tito Ortiz as every turn possible, and now he signs him?
If he thinks people like myself are even going to believe anything he does from now on isn't done to be a publicity stunt, he's sadly mistaken until he proves otherwise, which is going to take a while, and I'm not sure even can be done.
I just wonder how much longer Dana White is going to be around. Yeah he took UFC to the top of the MMA world, but is he getting to the point where he's overstayed his usefulness.
I guarantee you the second Zuffa finds another person who they feel can do just as good of a job as Dana White without having to deal with all the crap Dana brings with him to the table he's gone.
That is assuming of course he doesen't do himself in, which I think is far more likely.
There's no way you can be pulling the type of stuff Dana White pulled with Tito Ortiz and expect to last long.
I think we're going to have a new head of UFC before Obama's up for re-election. I think we're either getting to, or at the point where Dana White needs the UFC way more then the UFC needs him.
-- Edited by pmoehrin on Monday 3rd of August 2009 02:44:27 AM
I totally disagree with you pmoe....The Fertita Brothers love Dana White. He will not be going anywhere because honestly I think the UFC would not be as successful without Dana in charge. Lorenzo Fertita step down from the casino business to help oversee the UFC. He has complete faith in Dana...If you get a chance watch the MSNBC's special on the UFC Fighting Dollars it is an excellent piece about the UFC and how much Zuffa loves Dana
Yeah Dana may have his moments, but I believe he is good for the UFC because he is a salesman. He gets peoples attention. Also if the UFC were to fire him, I think he would then go to Strikeforce and turn them into a force. Andthe UFC doesnt want that to happen.
I totally disagree with you pmoe....The Fertita Brothers love Dana White. He will not be going anywhere because honestly I think the UFC would not be as successful without Dana in charge. Lorenzo Fertita step down from the casino business to help oversee the UFC. He has complete faith in Dana...If you get a chance watch the MSNBC's special on the UFC Fighting Dollars it is an excellent piece about the UFC and how much Zuffa loves Dana
You know it's funny because I heard this story of the past two years of how much Dana White hated Tito Ortiz, and how there was no chance of him ever stepping foot inside a UFC ring again.
Even if it's true, I can't believe anything that comes out of this company's mouth anymore beyond announcing matches, and new contracts.
