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MMA

Dana White Goes on ESPN to Rip EliteXC: 'What Happened on CBS Was Horrendous'

Posted Jun 02, 2008 10:55AM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

Filed Under: ESPN, UFC, Elite XC, MMA Videos, MMA Media Watch, MMA Gossip

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After EliteXC had its debut show on CBS, UFC President Dana White appeared on ESPN to put EliteXC into what White views as its proper context within the sport of mixed martial arts:

"Mixed martial arts didn't put its best foot forward," White said. "What happened on CBS was horrendous."

The appearance was set up as a debate between White and St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell, who hates MMA, but Burwell really didn't have much of an answer for why he thinks it's OK to show violent entertainment programs like 24, and show sports like football, but not show MMA.

The closest Burwell came was when he said of football, "The object of the game is not to kick somebody in the head." True enough, but then again, MMA never has a 200-pound man getting drilled simultaneously by two 300-pound men. I have a hard time understanding how anyone who wants to ban MMA doesn't also want to ban football.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-02-2008 @ 11:09AM

TwinsTerritory said...

White used the interview to rip EliteXC even though he was supposed to be on ther walking about why it being on CBS is no big deal.

Also, I have no problem with it being on national TV, but his argument about them showing football is a terrible one. He needs to come up with something better than that.

6-02-2008 @ 12:13PM

StigmA said...

Dana White is just jealous that CBS chose EliteXC over UFC, if he wasn't so headstrong and a dickhead to everyone (including his employees) maybe CBS would put some UFC events on their schedule too (since both have Viacom distribution). He really has no class when it comes to the evolution of the sport, and how competing companies is what makes it great for the fans, not just 1 company runnin the show. Just ask Vince McMahon how his show is doing now that WCW was put out of business.

6-02-2008 @ 9:44PM

Shelbz said...

Horrible analogy, how about ask the NFL how they are doing since merging with the AFL...or the NBA and the ABA...or maybe even the NFL and the XFL.

But to compare a legit sport with "sports entertainment" makes no sense at all and further adds to the belief that MMA is just like pro wrestling.

6-02-2008 @ 6:28PM

sgtrocknroll said...

Dana didn't rip anyone except that it was a poor show. Just about everyone has agreed the show sucked. A 2 fight MMa guy as the headliner. Chessy entrance promo's. Terrible, terrilbe announcers. Just awful

6-02-2008 @ 1:33PM

Mark said...

I believe the main reason UFC isn't on CBS is that Showtime gets stock in EXC as part of the deal with CBS (www.proeliteinc.com, click on "SEC filings" and look for the 2/28/08 filing for details).

White doesn't want to give up any control of the business--hence UFC being privately held while EXC is a publicly traded company under the PELE.PK symbol.

I really don't think it's jealousy, and it's more of the fact that the first major MMA fight (Slice v. Thompson) a lot of mainstream journalists and people in the general public were exposed to was very ugly both in terms of skill and brutality.

From watching both EXC and WEC's show on Versus Sunday night, if given a choice, I think that WEC, with two quality title fights to close the show, would have been a better "first impression" of the sport on a major network than an ugly slugfest.

6-02-2008 @ 1:40PM

PantsB said...

If you think boxing is appropriate for broadcast TV, MMA is. Its pretty much that simple. They are both combat sports and both can result in gruesome looking injuries. Boxing has tradition that comes over from England and is arguably more dangerous long term; MMA is the new kid on the block and people fear what they don't understand.

6-02-2008 @ 2:19PM

Mark said...

In reality, White probably doesn't want UFC on CBS on CBS's terms -- as part of the deal, Showtime (as an affiliate of CBS) gets stock in EliteFC (go to www.proeliteinc.com, click on Investor Filings and go to the 2/28 8-k filing for more info).

White probably doesn't want to share ownership/control with anyone other than the Fertitta's, hence UFC is privately owned, while EliteFC is traded publicly under the the symbol PELE.PK

I don't think it's jealousy, as much as White would probably rather the first impression a great number of mainstream sports journalists and the general public would get of MMA would be less of an ugly brawl, both in terms of fight quality and skill level.

Would, in his mind, that most likely be something produced by UFC or even WEC? Probably.

I can tell you, as a fan who would like MMA to have mainstream success -- and I don't even care which group leads the way -- I would have much rather seen the WEC Sunday night show, topped by two very well fought title fights, on major network TV to give off a better 'first impression' than the one I think the EFC show put out.

6-02-2008 @ 3:53PM

coach bobo said...

The football comparison is nutty. Football has helmets, and is struggling with concussion-related issues. This savagery will sink in a sea of mental trauma, brain damage and death. There will be literally thousands of brain damaged people who have tried to make a go of this gutter sport. And yes, boxing is a much more reasonable comparison. Plus, just like the Sweet Science, it looks like this sport will have punch drunk contestants being systematically fleeced by greedy promoters.