Dana White: 'I don't like Todd Duffee's attitude and he made it seem like he didn't want to be in the UFC'
by Jesse Holland on Sep 24, 2010 9:53 AM EDT
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Props: MMA Weekly
Quoteworthy:
"I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't like Duffee's attitude. I don't like his attitude and I don't like some of the things he's said or done. He made it seem to me that he doesn't want to be in the UFC, like being here didn't matter to him and he didn't like it. You don't want to be in the UFC brother? Okay. We're working on long term stuff, where guys can live and fight under this brand forever and continue to make money, even after they retire. Being in the UFC is a very big thing for a fighter. Some guys 'get it' and appreciate it and some guys don't. The guys that don't, I don't have time for -- and you won't be around for long."
UFC President Dana White comments on the surprise release of heavyweight up-and-comer Todd Duffee. The talented but ornery rookie set the division ablaze with his record-setting knockout win over Tim Hague, only to go belly up after a KO loss to Mike Russow just a couple of months later. Any chance he shows up in Strikeforce? And what kind of adjustments does he need to make to have a career in the fight game?
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Typical Dana
It’s my way or the highway routine. But in fairness to Dana – it’s like that at pretty much every job I’ve ever had. If your boss tells you what to do then you pretty much have to do it. Otherwise they reserve the right to no longer employee you.
Imagine being the employer.
That is all
Vitor is In. Vitor will Win.
Now thats a fockin Poem.
by Bigger Zino on Sep 24, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
He refuses to accept reality
And that is regardless of what he says or how much he sings your praises, he’ll cut you after 1 fight if he’s not happy. I don’t know where the hell he is getting this life-long employment crap. Very very very few guys stay in the UFC more than a year or 2 and not because they wanted to leave but because he fired them.
It pays to not burn bridges which is a lesson he still hasn’t learned but his fighters know. That’s why the good ones land on their feet somewhere else when they leave.
by Swedish Chef smerdy herdy verdy on Sep 24, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
It probably has to do with future rights to your image.
He knew that Duffee had big potential in the future. So did duffee though he wasn’t willing to be strongarmed i bet into signing shit. That definitely means he doesn’t want to be part of the UFC, you know. No matter Duffee will be back in the UFC and the song n dance will continue. Dana will always go back on everything he says…….everything. Tells it like it is until he wants to tell it some other way.
Big Nog for Life
Inventor/supporter of "Gleison Tibau to Featherweight" movement.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Sep 24, 2010 11:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I just can't wait until the UFC is big enough to where they have a commissioner that runs things instead of a President. It would be nice to not have someone running the show that thinks you should be thanking him all the time just because you fight in
the UFC. I really hate it that Dana thinks the fighters should just be oh so thankful to fight in the UFC. You don’t see that attitude in other sports. Sure, if it wasn’t for the UFC, these guys wouldn’t make as much money. If it wasn’t for the fighters, Dana would still be teaching boxercise. These guys put their bodies on the line, fuck all that “getting it” bullshit.
"I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious."-Michael Scott
It’s actually more like that than you think. Imagine the UFC as a single NFL team; they just happen to be the best and pay the highest. No one in the UFC is saying Duffee can’t fight anymore. He was working in the rules of the game as set forth by the various commissions. All the UFC is saying is that they don’t want him to be on their team anymore. When Terrell Owens was being a shithead for the 49ers when he was just a future talent, they said they didn’t want him anymore. They got rid of him and that was that. They didn’t say he couldn’t play anymore, just not for them. Then boom he went to another team and you know the rest. Dana isn’t playing commissioner because he has no say at all in whether the athletic commissions will allow certain fighters to fight. He just runs his own team. Duffee will find a home with another team and continue making a living; it just won’t be with the best team.
by Steven Abbott on Sep 24, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Great analogy Steven
"Before I do anything I ask myself, "Would an idiot do that?" And if the answer is yes, I do not do that thing." - Dwight Schrute
by TheGreg on Sep 24, 2010 12:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Now imagine
the owner of your team or the coach of your team (however you want this analogy to go) is Dana White. I’ll go with coach. The Fertitas would be the Jerry Jones in this equation. Anyway back to Dana the coach. Foul mouthed and talking crap even to his own “players”. Whan NFL coach is like that? Think of Dana’s little feud with Tito. Todd’s mistake was that he stood up for himself. Dana said something or tweeted something about Duffee’s background and Duffee took it personally and publicly said that he didnt’ appreciate it. Big mistake. You don’t stand up for yourself in the UFC. I also LOLed at Dana’s claim that they are trying to get fighters paid even after they retire. What are there like maybe ten guys that will be able to do that?! The hall of famers and dominant champs will always have money with or without the UFC. But this is the same guy who kicked Jon Fitch out for not signing his likeness rights over to UFC!
Do not. I repeat, do not, go to mma-core.com. I made the mistake of watching a couple UFC 108 bouts on there and I am still trying to get all the viruses of my computer. Ridiculous! You've been warned.
by fenderacoustic (formerly wAyNe) on Sep 24, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Nowadays, Rex Ryan of the Jets, Fisher of the Titans, Coughlin of the Giants. They all speak out very quickly and honestly about their players. Obviously Mariuchi stood up to TO. Years ago, Dikta was very much like that as was Rex’s father Buddy. There is a long list that goes well beyond my mentions of coaches speaking out about their players. The resounding reason behind any coach or owner or GM or President in Dana’s situation is that no single player or fighter is not above the organization and if that single player believes that, he can go on and play or fight for another team. The situation is no different.
by Steven Abbott on Sep 24, 2010 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Most of the people you're talking about lost 2-3 fights in a row and that's why they ended up getting cut
It’s rare to see a guy cut after 1 loss; it happens, but it’s not a regular occurance unless it’s a really crappy performance or in this case a guy that didn’t conduct himself well behind the scenes.
"Long shall we remember
He who walked the road of danger
Master of revenge
Death's no stranger
Blood and death lived on his sword
The god of war his only lord
Into the depths of hell
Go all he fell"
- Manowar hymn of the immortal warriors
by O damn he got caught on Sep 24, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
But that's the point
As a fighter you won’t always be on top and you will be released. So I don’t know why Dana is saying you can work in the UFC for life?
And we really don’t have specifics on how he conducted himself other than Dana didn’t like his attitude.
by Swedish Chef smerdy herdy verdy on Sep 24, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
There was a post with a quote from Duffees manager.
And even he said literally “Duffee is an ass”.
"NOBODY wants to fight Fedor." - Wanderlei Silva, former Pride MW Champion and GP winner
That was a misquote by Gross
It was unclear at the time if it was a matter of a text getting clipped in two, and him not realizing it, or him just reading it fast and misreading it, but the word was “asset” according to a correction.
Just Blog Guy - http://JustBlogGuy.wordpress.com/
by JustBlogGuy on Sep 24, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
got a link?
"NOBODY wants to fight Fedor." - Wanderlei Silva, former Pride MW Champion and GP winner
Didn't find a link to the correction tweet
But this article has it in its update on the story.
"It’s unfortunate, but Todd’s an ASSET and he will keep on fighting. He is a young kid and gets a lot of attention."
Just Blog Guy - http://JustBlogGuy.wordpress.com/
lol thanks
thats really funny how gross fucked up
"NOBODY wants to fight Fedor." - Wanderlei Silva, former Pride MW Champion and GP winner
It seems to me that this arogant/competitiveaka fucking asshole athlete attitude is quite common with atheletes in general.
After the Ceasur camp gang beating of Miller, Dana was saying something along the lines of well theyre fighters and thats what happens,. Well, some fighters have bad attitudes, and while I cant stand them and hope they get hurt in the octogon, once again Danas up to his old unprofessional, hypocritical taking business personally crap. If the guy didnt break the rules, and is still a better fighter then half the heavyweights in the organization, why deprive the fans of seeing this top guy in the mix. I thought he would be an exciting matchup for lots of fighters.
by snipersniper on Sep 24, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
The UFC is a business
Just like any other business, the higher ups will put up with annoyances if you make it worth their time. Todd Duffee is not currently a world beater. Todd Duffee is not currently a draw. He could well be that one day, as he certainly has a lot of potential, but right now the fact is that he is neither thing. Meanwhile, he was routinely done things to irk the UFC, his boss. The complaints about how he was being promoted. Acting like an ass on MMA Live. Making the facetious tweet about a second job to complain about his money, when he was making more with the UFC than he would with any other promotion. If you’re Tito Ortiz and generate a lot of PPV buys, and as such money, the boss won’t like it but they’ll deal with it. If you’re a prospect who hasn’t accomplished anything yet, coming off a loss to a hand-picked opponent, you might find yourself out of a job. That’s the real world.
Just Blog Guy - http://JustBlogGuy.wordpress.com/
by JustBlogGuy on Sep 24, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Why does mmamania..
Feel the need to chop up a 12 minute interview with Dana white into a bunch of different articles?
Next their will be an article on “What Dana white thinks of Frank Mir moving to LHW”
It was all one intervieeewww
Riding the Brock Train..
Jon Fitch and Gray Maynard can suck it. If I want a blanket I'll buy it in the store, not on PPV.
Chael Sonnen = Pillow hands
Yeah and it covered many different topics.
Personally I like what they do, means you dont have five different topics going on in one giant thread.
that was two days ago. LOL.
But seriously. Why critique? Myself, I will not watch a 12 minute interview. I just wont. I trust Mania to filter the garbage and deliver what I care about. They’ve never done me wrong to date.
Vitor is In. Vitor will Win.
Now thats a fockin Poem.
by Bigger Zino on Sep 24, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
+ 3
Anderson Silva is by far the number one P4P king!!! Even when he is losing a fight he still comes back and finishes for the win! GSP dominates the whole fight and still can't finish! LOL
Yeah. Quit whining D-Mob!
If you don’t know for sure it’s a dude, it’s not gay.
-P-Dub
by The Negation on Sep 26, 2010 4:02 AM EDT up reply actions
its smart actually
If they do one interview video and leave that, 85% or more of ppl won’t watch it. And it’ll get very little comments etc.
Also, its too much to discuss in one thread sometimes. So take bits and pieces, and put them as separate articles so the ppl commenting stay on one topic more or less, and it allows for more articles when its a slow day.
www.mondaymorningblackbelt.com
by daniel worby on Sep 24, 2010 10:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
taking notes?
cheater.
Vitor is In. Vitor will Win.
Now thats a fockin Poem.
by Bigger Zino on Sep 24, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
ultimately, yes.
But it may take a while. Its a lot to juggle my fulltime job, and split all that up, make more articles, etc. But if I’m ever fortunate enough to turn a decent profit and do it full time, then I’ll certainly keep the idea in mind ;)
www.mondaymorningblackbelt.com
by daniel worby on Sep 24, 2010 1:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I agree D-Mob.
That is a great interview and should be seen in it’s entirety. I think there is a fanpost with the whole thing though. Ariel Helwani is a real pro.
"NOBODY wants to fight Fedor." - Wanderlei Silva, former Pride MW Champion and GP winner
Agreed
I’d rather discuss all of the topics in the Ariel-Dana interview thread but most people seem to prefer the content split into different threads so that’s why Mania does it that way. I’m surprised that some people don’t want to watch the whole video but we all have different preferences. The sillier thing is that the video was posted twice in the fanposts, now that’s pointless.
"Stay classy San Diego"
Jon "Bones" Jones, MMAs best young fighter and the next LHW champion
by David W-S on Sep 24, 2010 12:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Because some of it we care about and some we don't
So when it’s split up we don’t have to sit through a 12 minute interview and we can read or listen to what we want. There is a link to the full interview on the posts I’m sure, so no big deal right?
Just seems like a waste to me
And I don’t see how you can care about what Dana says on one thing but not on another, again it’s just seems odd to me. Doesn’t matter at all but it’s just funny seeing the same quotes popping up on here in different articles from the same video. And I’m surprised that anyone could find the time to log on and post on here but not to watch a 10 minute interview. Whatever suits you I guess.
"Stay classy San Diego"
Jon "Bones" Jones, MMAs best young fighter and the next LHW champion
I called it
Ever since I saw Duffee on inside mma I knew he was a punk and that his big mouth and shitty attitude would get him in trouble sooner or later.
by Lester The Pimp on Sep 24, 2010 10:21 AM EDT reply actions
Same here
Duffee has been using that “I don’t need the UFC” type of line for awhile. I remember that same interview on INside MMA, and thought the exact same thing. I was sad to see him go, but If he is that persistent in showing how “independent” he is, on national tv, you have to think he was even more mouthy behind the scenes.
"Remember men, we are all winners in the eyes of Christ...except for the guy still bleeding on the canvass"
I just didn't see enough of this guy to get really excited about him
Yes, he had a great KO over Hague (a guy who also got cut from the big show), but the Russow fight showed us plenty.
We fight, get beat, rise and fight again.
He dominated Russow the entire time then got finished
much like Chael/Silva but on a minute insignificant scale.
Id like to see him stick around but you think youre badder than the boss, so long.
-It's Better To Be Judged By Twelve Than Carried By Six-
(In the name of the SouthCaliStunNa, amen)
by *Californication* on Sep 24, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
i know he was whooping russow the whole time
but he kept throwing the same couple of combos over and over and didnt really look that good in my opinion. the 7 second knockout was sweet, but if you are a dick to the boss man, you can kiss the job good bye.
never have any regrets, because at the time, thats all you wanted to do
anyone know...
what duffee said/did that causes reporters to refer to him as “ornery”? or what dana’s referring to when he said that it seemed duffee didn’t want to be in the ufc? did duffee complain about money (other than the twitter about needing a job)?
by devilishstoner on Sep 24, 2010 11:08 AM EDT reply actions
From what ive seen in some interviews
he is a typical dick douche.
Hes young, hes huge, hes an “ultimate fighter,” and he has the fastest KO in UFC history, a recipe for attitude disaster.
-It's Better To Be Judged By Twelve Than Carried By Six-
(In the name of the SouthCaliStunNa, amen)
by *Californication* on Sep 24, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I just don't get why attitude should be a measuring stick for a professional athlete. If the guy is playing within the rules who cares if he's a douche or doesn't kiss Dana's ass?
Imagine this principle being applied in other pro sports.
"I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious."-Michael Scott
I like that the UFC isn't like other pro sports
If BJ Penn got caught with a dog fighting ring in his backyard he wouldn’t have a job any more. Or if GSP shot himself in the leg in a night club, or Randy Couture strangled a hooker, they would be unemployed.
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 24, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I saw him posting on the UG
that he needed a part time job, because he needed more money. Could have been innocent, but it could have pissed Dana off to. Dana probably saw it, as he’s on the UG forum a lot.
Employer
You guys who are bashing Dana as a tyrant in this case have to imagine yourself in his shoes. Imagine your spending the company’s time and money to brand your employee and build him up and he goes to the media (twitter) and bashes your marketing of him and hinders your efforts. It was mostly that, in addition to the upset loss, that got him fired. No employer would tolerate their employees attacking their image in public.
Very true
Duffee only had one KO in the promotion so I’m not sure what he expected exactly. IMO he was getting pretty good press as is; even landed a couple good interviews that snagged him some publicity. Then to turn around and get KO’d by Russow, that pretty much made any argument he had about him needing more promo and the UFC pushing and marketing his name null and void.
"Long shall we remember
He who walked the road of danger
Master of revenge
Death's no stranger
Blood and death lived on his sword
The god of war his only lord
Into the depths of hell
Go all he fell"
- Manowar hymn of the immortal warriors
by O damn he got caught on Sep 24, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
There is also an option of
talking to the guy
[been to the principles office many times :/]
by Stonian Prince on Sep 24, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
haha is your goal to do this in every post you see?
Either way I got no problems with it. This one is much better than the other one
"NOBODY wants to fight Fedor." - Wanderlei Silva, former Pride MW Champion and GP winner
It's an honorable goal
"NOBODY wants to fight Fedor." - Wanderlei Silva, former Pride MW Champion and GP winner
Now we're talkin'!
If you don’t know for sure it’s a dude, it’s not gay.
-P-Dub
by The Negation on Sep 26, 2010 4:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with Dana on Duffee's attitude
He always seemed to believe he was above his “station”. Always seemed like a douche too. How are you going to come off of a devistating KO and mediocre striking performance, but state you are not “impressed” with JDS’ stand up?
* "Standing in the ring in whatever condition I'm in is my way of life."
* "I don't think the injury was the cause for my defeat, I lost being in 100% condition at fight day. It's possible that Santiago might have been injured as well, I lost because my best was insufficient, only mortifying thoughts remain now. I think I would've entered the ring even if I lost one of my legs, I'm a fighter who fights, not with technique, but with heart."
--Kazuo Misaki
Duffee made the biggest mistake.
don’t cross the boss.
Duffes 9 second KO really got to his head. He thought he was better than he actually is. I dont even think hes gonna make it in strikeforce if he goes that route. Hes all muscle with no real talent. I was jumping out of my seat when Russow KOd his ass.
Duffee, the most over rated prospect that never was.
Shogun will have the longest championship reign in the UFC
I agree with that.
he was like a poor mans Shane Carwin minus the wrestling, in that he was all muscle and didn’t have a plan b when his opponent didn’t fall at his feet in round one.
I really think y'all are being too hard on the guy
He was looking good against Russow for the first round and he couldn’t KO him, so he got predictable and left him self out there for trying to push the action he could have circled to a decision if he wanted but he was head hunting and got caught it’s a rookie mistake that’s all dude has a serious upside he just needs to time.
Drink to remember, drink to forget.
by doonerthesooner on Sep 24, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Looks like a one trick pony to me
And he didn’t take that punch well at all, which doesn’t look good for a HW striker. Then again I’m biased because he’s not a very likable person, he takes himself way too seriously and it’s always nice watching guys like that get humbled. Hopefully he will go on to become a better fighter and person as he matures.
"Stay classy San Diego"
Jon "Bones" Jones, MMAs best young fighter and the next LHW champion
the dude had everything going for him
great physical build, very wellroundend stand up with kicks and punches and a good ground game with a BJJ blackbelt and he was still young. but whats missing here.
the attitude that goes along with being a promising prospect
My Top MMA Talents
1. Jon ''Bones'' Jones
2. Anthony ''Showtime'' Pettis
3. Phil ''Mr. Wonderful'' Davis
4. Charles '' Do Bronx" Oliveira
5. Rory ''The Waterboy'' MacDonald
I agree with both sides
Dana is an egomaniac who fires people for the pettiest of reasons, he is trying way too hard to be like Vince McMahon and doesn’t seem to care about anything or anyone other than himself and the UFC. He is way too volatile for the UFC to ever develop to the next level under his presidency, his mouth is great for promoting fights but not for keeping a roster happy or dealing with executives, agents and fighters.
On the other hand Duffee has a rotten personality, his whining on twitter over something as silly as a joke about his old job is ludicrous and the guy has complained about his pay (which didn’t bother him when he signed the contract by the way) and how he is being promoted. He’s an immature brat who has a lot of growing up to do before he has a hope at succeeding in this sport or in anything for that matter. You can’t act cocky around your boss or else your days in any job are numbered, especially when things aren’t going so well i.e. the Russow KO.
"Stay classy San Diego"
Jon "Bones" Jones, MMAs best young fighter and the next LHW champion
How about Parcells?
He started to refer to one of his players as “she” when he was with the Giants as he didn’t like how that person was playing or practicing. Lots of coaches in lots of sports are hard asses, there was a time before media and sensitivity training. Now coaches get fined and disciplined in the NFL, but still a lot of shit gets said about players, Toronto’s GM in hockey is great for a quote too.
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