Dana White backpedals on major announcement?
by MMAmania.com on Jun 13, 2008 9:30 PM EDT
65 comments
Props: Baltimore Sun
Quoteworthy:
"I’m doing it Tuesday. Let me tell you how out of [expletive deleted] control that thing is. I was talking to ESPN and [the reporter] was talking about competition and I said, ‘Let me tell you what. People have been trying to compete with the UFC for years, even before we bought it. The last big one everyone thought was a big threat ... was the IFL. They went public, raised 800-[expletive deleted] million dollars, then they were talking about doing fighter benefits and stuff. They got the first network deal and those other guys weren’t the first on. They got time on 60 Minutes with us when 60 Minutes did their piece on us, and now the IFL is gone. They are [expletive deleted] down, their stock is worth half a cent (Editor's note: IFLI closed today at $0.02). That’s what we were talking about that day and I said I’m going to make an announcement to my employees that shows everyone exactly where this business is going in the next couple years. I said I wanted to make the announcement to my employees, so it’s not even like I was making a big announcement to the media. If I was doing that I would’ve had a big news conference and then gone off to London. I wanted to wait until I was back to do it. It’s a big [expletive deleted] announcement, it’s a big [expletive deleted] deal but I got a lot of other stuff we’re working on right now. It was never anything I said I was going to announce to the media.... I wanted to do it after I got back from England and I got back late Wednesday. Also, all of our people are going to be in town next week for The Ultimate Fighter finale. All of our production guys, Joe Rogan, I mean everyone who works for the UFC is coming to it."
It's apparently still a big fucking announcement, but he never intended for it to be announced to the media. That certainly rules out "going public" even though White has shot down those rumors fast and furious. Interesting clue that the announcement is somehow tied to the IFL and competition. Whatever. This site is done passing along news on this matter until Tuesday when we hear it from the horse's mouth. Feel free to speculate and go nuts in the comments section below.
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“backpedels on major announcment”
You think? Thank you Mania. Please spare us from this bullsh%t speculation for at least a few days!
by bnf on Jun 13, 2008 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My guess’s?
ESPN tv deal to air all UFC events, and the UFC would stop ppv’s….or the Olympic’s………
Dana was talking awhile back about, MMa being at the Olympic’s one day?
by Stagger-Lee on Jun 14, 2008 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blah blah…I don’t even care anymore after he said it wasn’t a network deal last week.
by Scott on Jun 13, 2008 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Blah-Blah, I do not agree. Dana has said enough, now he has us all waiting. It MUST be BIG.Maybe a 135 class with FLOYD #1 contender!!No 135 in the world can beat him up. No way.I like it.
by iagoof22 on Jun 14, 2008 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It wasn’t Danas fault he couldn’t make the announcement on thursday,…….he tried too, but was unsucsesfull…
check it out.
by Stagger-Lee on Jun 14, 2008 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no one at 135 can beat floyd broken hands mayweather? haaaaaaaaaa. miguel torres would beat his ass into a pulp under the first half of the first round.
by MMAlove on Jun 14, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It must have something to do with the business side of things (e.g., a new partnership, outright sale).
by Muscle Dolphin on Jun 13, 2008 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh I get it, instead of “Muscle Shark” it’s “Muscle Dolphin”! lol
by RedDog on Jun 14, 2008 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
New sponsor or something that no one outside the company will care about. Gotta love the hype machine. Wake me up when Anderson Silva moves to LHW.
by EazyEismydad on Jun 13, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
EazyEismydad is a band wagon fan .. all aboard.. “Wake me up when Anderson Silva moves to LHW.” he hasnt bet any one yet at 85 … get a grip..
by LOCAL BOI on Jun 13, 2008 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah i know, he defends his title 3 times and suddenly he’s cleared the division ha what? i know the division looked a lil thin but its looking much better now and i only expect it to get better. Ricardo Almeida, Patrick Cote, Yushin Okami, Martin Kampmann, Thailes Leites, Damian Maia, Bisping Rousimar Palhares, Nate Marquardt 2, Dan Henderson 2, Rich Franklin 3 (but i don’t think we want to see that again?) but there is a few contenders at least for him to fight, and i expect that the roster will change and will seem some new faces in the MW division by the time a quarter of them guys have got title shots.
by Macho Bullshit on Jun 14, 2008 6:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it’s not about how many times he defended his title, it’s about how dominant he was at defending and against who he was so dominant. He dominated rich twice, marquart and hendo. great fighters and he did it with such dominance that it’s hard guessing someone will take his belt away from him so soon.
by linx on Jun 14, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You got it Linx. He crushed the best the division has to offer. And also hes won 4 since he got the belt. You forgot the Lutter fight. Plus he brutalized Leban in under 1 min. Do you really want to sit around for 3 years waiting for Silva to destroy all these people you named that we all know he is better than in every aspect of the game? Lets get him some real competition by throwing him in the deepest division in the world.
by EazyEismydad on Jun 14, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well that is kinda lame. Why would dana even say something about this, if he isnt going to tell the media, why tell the media that you have some big annoucement but not an annoucement for the media.
by tony dollar on Jun 13, 2008 9:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
1) They’re making a UFC movie?
2) They’re selling the PPVs at half price on the Internet?
3) They’re in discussions to make MMA an Olympic event?
I think all 3 of those satisfy the requirements of 1) “out of left field” 2) “direction this business is going” 3) really big effing news.
by HumpHumpThump on Jun 13, 2008 10:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
There going to have fights in Mexico maybe.
by Junjod on Jun 13, 2008 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can anyone explain to me what “going public” means?
by JRV on Jun 13, 2008 10:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Going public means to sell stock into your company. I believe. Its been a while since Economics.
by Sean_M on Jun 13, 2008 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone know how to go about buying IFL stock? Im serious. It wouldn’t hurt to take a shot at it.
by the_mexicutioner on Jun 13, 2008 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“Editor’s note: IFLI closed today at $0.02”
Man, that isn’t a good sign. hehe
If they were to be bought out by Zuffa, then that means Zuffa would purchase all the remaining shares, I believe. So you might get $0.1 for that. Or they might just close the business and I think that makes the stock no longer valid.
Don’t ask me though, I know nothing about economics.
by Sean_M on Jun 13, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your right.
If IFL went under then your stock would obviously be worth ZERO. But if they got bought out, you would probably make a nice little sum. Long Shot though.
by MoonUK on Jun 14, 2008 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see any reason for the UFC to buy out the IFL because they present no competitive threat at all and their is nothing the UFC would really benefit from by buying them out. Buying out Pride was huge cause it was legitamite competition and got them a lot of big name fighters but the IFL isn’t competition to anyone at this point in my opinion.
by GSP4Prez on Jun 14, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
start selling on the stock exchange…board of directors run the show, and anyone can buy stocks. ann financial statements are openly available to the public.
by newfie on Jun 14, 2008 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still think it was going to be regulation in NY, but then it was voted down Thursday morning and then placed back on the agenda this Tuesday. Maybe Zuffa bought the IFL, who knows, I just don’t care anymore.
by Haze on Jun 13, 2008 10:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I am done with it until Tuesday. It’s officially on the backburner.
by blackBEERd on Jun 13, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i would speculate but i have no idea even what he is talking about, so.
by stephanie on Jun 13, 2008 10:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that they are finally going to have the inter-league fights that they Randy and others have been on about. Get the best fighters from the other leagues fighting UFC fighters, etc.
Either that or they bought every single other fight league out there, and have a total monopoly.
by M on Jun 13, 2008 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Now i really have no clue what is going on. I figured it was a TV deal but he shot that down now he is backing off lets see what tuesday brings
by Staples on Jun 13, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m starting to have my doubts about this “big announcement”. I’m not as excited as I once was. I dont thing its anything for the fans.
by alex on Jun 13, 2008 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have seen a few people mention this idea. I highly doubt that is it. I have no idea why Zuffa would even think of buying the IFL? The IFL is doing horrible and losing money by the millions. On top of that, the talent pool is as thin as it gets in the IFL, so I don’t see any way to turn it around.
by naturalshadow on Jun 14, 2008 4:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dana, I think speak for 99.9% of fans when I say, “you sir, can go fornicate yourself with a 9 iron.”
by dana white and his announcements are gay on Jun 13, 2008 11:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
you don’t speak for me… i still love dana white. i love what he has done for this sport. i’m not sure why so many people hate him. if it werent for him, the ufc would have gone bankrupt and died like 10 years ago. he and the fertitas should be commended for all they have done for mma!
by Harrison on Jun 14, 2008 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree Harrison, if it weren’t for Dana White and the Fertitas purchasing the UFC, we’d all be looking at porn right now rather than reading and writing posts on this website!! Hahahaha J/K
by RedDog on Jun 14, 2008 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dana’s big announcement was the action figures and nothing else, now that he sees that nobody cares he feels like a cunt.
by Jacob on Jun 13, 2008 11:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
heniken deal new import ring girls …lol…
by LOCAL BOI on Jun 13, 2008 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i think the staff is gettin free bud light t-shirts and possibly staring in next commercial. naw by all jokes aside..everyone got a free harley.
by newfie on Jun 14, 2008 12:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
dont buy stock in ifl, it was trading at a high of 17$ back in 01/07 and now its worth .02. The stock is clearly a dog, its too bad we didnt short the stock at 17 or buy puts. hindsight is always 20/20
i think it would be really interesting if the ufc went public though. I dont think it would be a huge growth stock but it would be cool to see their financial status every quarter, and follow the trend of mma from the comp with the biggest market share.
by colin2k on Jun 14, 2008 1:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So long as its not a deal with Vince McMahon or Don King.
by DirtbagHtr on Jun 14, 2008 1:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
MMAMANIA…….
Does anyone know what WWE’s presser on Thursday was about?? It was supposed to be on the same day as the UFC’s “MIND BLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT”
Have you heard any word about it?? And is there even anything REMOTELY related to Dana or the UFC?
On another note…Dana is such a tool, hyping everyone up for this mind blowing announcement and now saying, well it is not that big of a deal, just something that will benefit my employees.
What an a**hole. I have learned not to take anything Dana said very seriously from past letdowns. But, still I was, and along with others probably wre still kind of curious about it. Just another letdown by the Dana mouth machine. He just needed to bring sttention to the UFC after ELiteXC on CBS, even it was at the expense of loyal UFC fans.
What is next? The crazist moment in TUF history was someone’s CORNER man, who NOBODY has ever heard of is kicked ou tof the UFC for punching a window?? Or something even more stupid and less pertinent????
by fightfan on Jun 14, 2008 4:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
WWE announcer Jim Ross announced on "Monday Night RAW" that Thursday’s press conference is about WWE’s million dollar contest giveaway.
by Automation on Jun 14, 2008 5:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it was probably huge bonuses for employees
by Automation on Jun 14, 2008 5:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It is nothing that anyone of us will find exciting. Its going to be as exciting as when he annouced that Forrest and Rampage were coaching TUF even though everyone already knew that.
by Plinko on Jun 14, 2008 6:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it is Affliction have banned Tap Out because it’s owned by Zuffa lol
Just joking but that is a genuine rumour flying about
by Automation on Jun 14, 2008 6:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ok, this seems fishy because he did say he was going to talk to the media. He specifically said that he was going to have a major announcement last Thursday and he was going to talk to his employees first and then to the media. Then he changed the announcement date to Tuesday, and now he says he was never going to talk to the media, only his employees? But somehow this announcement is something that will have an impact to the sport for the next 5 years? Why would he not talk to the media about something that will have a major impact in the sport for the next 5 years?
I’m pretty sure the deal he supposedly had went under and is no more, that would explain the delay for him to be safe and get something else going that won’t be as major but he won’t look like a douche, he’s already trying to play it down so ppl will stop making a storm out of a glass of water. I could be wrong and it could turn out to be something huge, but I’m not buying into the hype anymore. Lets see what happens come Tuesday.
by linx on Jun 14, 2008 7:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Another Intelligent post out of LInx…What a surprise! Good stuff man! I would have to strongly agree with this post. He is obviously backpeddling which can only mean he opened his big mouth before the deal went through (like he did with Fedor), and now he is back peddeling. Trying to save the deal that fell through, or looking for a contingency announcement.
Either way, lets end the speculation because it is now, more obvious than ever, that it wont be anything excitinmg!
by john on Jun 14, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL, have you guys seen this? pretty funny:
by linx on Jun 14, 2008 8:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
here’s the deal. Dana Knows what he’s doing.
Why do you think there are alot of guppies in a “booming market pool”, cause they know the shark leaves scraps behind. Those scraps then can be made to look like gold in the right light, replay montage and Reagal trumpets…. at least for a little while.
Another thing… MMA is going through pop culture, a good business man is aware of that environment and must be able to separate himself from fads think? “Money in market trends” Trump. Some people are in it Because it’s an amazing sport that represents an aspect of the lost warrior be it a; Samarai, Ninja or bar room capoalla Dancer. The fact of the matter is when every one was shutting this sport down, ( I won’t mention any names…like Gary Shaw. The Ferritas and Dana stuck it out. They saw the opportunity to turn a rock into a diamond. you know what they say about lamen THEY LOVE SHINNY ObJECTS. So alot of people with big pockets are going to try to bleed the sport for profit until iots cold again. LETS NOT FORGET WHO MADE THIS HOT.
Isn’t it curious to any one that we are responding to a “tabloid like” jounalism source (Sorry Mania) it doesn’t seem to represent what I was looking for when I gave mma my undivided attention, exposer is good, but goo goo gaa gaa can only go on for so long.
Dana understands what he’s doing, so quit putting him down cause he’s the king pin, just be happpy you have a smart leader who’s not gonna blow his load on one show and walk away to leave you watching horrible Kimbo matches.
Dana Peace.
by Ro-J on Jun 14, 2008 8:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
by the way my first language is french so forgive my nasty spelling.
by Ro-J on Jun 14, 2008 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The big announcment is that danna is not going to say the word fuck anymore.
by maurice on Jun 14, 2008 8:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If its about the ifl or any ties to it thats not a big deal, well you know dana and his so called fight with tito its just to get attention,i hope this is worth the wait and he dont screw around with the fans again!
by ORTIZ!!!!!!08....BABY! on Jun 14, 2008 8:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, that puts our speculation to an end
by "Mr. NC-17" on Jun 14, 2008 9:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i don’t care anymore, i am worn out only annoucement i wanna hear is that randy is fighting fedor in the ufc
by bryant on Jun 14, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it would be nice if it was big john was coming back
by mike on Jun 14, 2008 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i wonder if dana was running his mouth trying to say something is “huge” when in all reality its not, so he is back tracking on his words because he knows his announcement would be a “huge” disappointment. and not to repeat what has been said,,,,,,,how many times does dana have to cuss in interviews. i mean seriously, if the sport is trying to get somewhere, doesnt this hurt the chances of landing big time sponosors? no i do not want the ufc to sell itself out, but sponsorships could make it obviously bigger. id expect that kind of interview from maybe a fighter, but dana seriously hurts the image of the ufc to those that think its an ignorant buisness to begin with. not to say i could care what those people think, but seriously, image can mean a lot come down the road.
by bg on Jun 14, 2008 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
im gettin tired of waitin i don’t care anymore.
by Ro on Jun 14, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
please let it be the screaming pride lady ring announcer
by kama kaze on Jun 17, 2008 5:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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