Dana White says Kimbo Slice will be in the UFC regardless what happens on TUF.

[SANDMAN]

Dana’s double standard?


By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports Sep 29, 4:54 pm EDT


When Kimbo Slice fought in Elite XC, the company was roundly criticized for pushing a man with no experience as a mixed martial artist into main event bouts and having him headline shows on both Showtime and, more significantly, CBS.

Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White made no secret of his disdain for Slice’s abilities and for the way the now-defunct Elite XC promoted him.

But lo and behold, after Slice accepted an offer to appear on Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the UFC is exhibiting much the same behavior that Elite XC and promoter Gary Shaw were so roundly criticized for.

After generating record ratings for the Season 10 opener, the Slice marketing push from the UFC has kicked into overdrive. White has already said Slice will fight again in the UFC, regardless of the outcome of the show.

That may indicate that Slice fares better than expected in the show, but it runs counter to the way White has handled other TUF fighters. He has given contracts to fighters who didn’t win on TUF, but it came after the season, not just two weeks in.

Slice will face former International Fight League champion Roy Nelson on Wednesday in a show the UFC and Spike TV are pushing so hard that they held a conference call with Slice on Monday. They’re touting it as the biggest fight in TUF history, which is saying a mouthful since White himself credits the TUF 1 finale between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin with saving the company.

Unless Slice somehow defeats Nelson – and I can’t see how he can – it’s extremely hypocritical of White to give Slice a second shot in the UFC based simply on his popularity.

If Slice wins and defeats Nelson, who is my pick to win the season and earn the UFC contract, then giving him a contract to fight in the UFC is fine.

Other than that, though, giving him a contract is buying into the marketing hype that White so venomously ripped Elite XC for.

If Slice loses and proves not to be a capable mixed martial artist, putting him in the UFC regardless would bring to mind the infamous quote made many years ago by boxing promoter Bob Arum: “Yesterday, I was lying. Today, I’m telling the truth.” Finally, please feel free to follow me on Twitter. Now, let’s delve into the MMA mailbag.

 

[DVS ONE]

edit: not looking forward to the fight NET LEAKS.......Winner Big Country.......

 

[Toro]

Of course he's gonna be in UFC, regardless if Dana truthfully didn't like him before, he's a going to make them money. The whole "Kimbo won't be in UFC unless he's on TUF" then put him on anyways is gonna get them more money then just putting him in UFC right away.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Dana is a promoter, in the end it's all about $$$ to him. Skills don't always pay the bills. This is why you'll see more and more of the best not always fighting the best in the UFC in the years to come.

 

[BROWN GUERRERO]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Dana is a promoter, in the end it's all about $$$ to him. Skills don't always pay the bills. This is why you'll see more and more of the best not always fighting the best in the UFC in the years to come.

I agree completely with the first half of your statement, but disagree with the other half. UFC has always brought the biggest and best match ups the fans want to see. Dana busted his ass to try to sign the best fighter on the planet(Fedor Emelianenko) and promised that his first fight in the UFC would be against heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar. I agree it's all about the money, but those big fights are the ones that bring in the money. Providing big fights, best vs the best is what the UFC does. Remember all of these fighters under one umbrella. Dana doesn't have other promoters to negotiate and deal with.

 

[Robby2Slobby]

And he's not doing what Elite XC was doing either.. He's not acting like Kimbo is the best heavyweight in the division, and promoting him like that. The guy won't be main eventing pay per views or anything like that either.

 

[MOREBASS]

^ Well that's why TUF is so beneficial for Kimbo's career. They are showing the real deal, that Kimbo is an up and comer, and not marketing him as an MMA legend like Elite XC did. He's said it himself he is very green in the sport, and has a long way to go.

His standup is actually pretty good, he's got very good hands, head movement, balance. He really needs to work on every other aspect of MMA though. I don't think he'll be headlining any PPV cards, but he will definitely be an icing on the cake type of fighter, regardless of who he's fighting.

People are getting to see the vulnerability and humility of him, and fans gravitate towards those kinds of people ie Manny Pacquiao.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

I agree completely with the first half of your statement, but disagree with the other half. UFC has always brought the biggest and best match ups the fans want to see. Dana busted his ass to try to sign the best fighter on the planet(Fedor Emelianenko) and promised that his first fight in the UFC would be against heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar. I agree it's all about the money, but those big fights are the ones that bring in the money. Providing big fights, best vs the best is what the UFC does. Remember all of these fighters under one umbrella. Dana doesn't have other promoters to negotiate and deal with.

Obviously dana white gets all the credit in the world for making UFC what it is today, and rightfully so. But aren't there already times when certain people get title shots when they pretty much don't deserve it or there are other guys more deserving? Isn't that already a case of what I'm talking about? Let's say fighter A hasn't really accomplished much, but he's popular as hell. Fighter B has fought the best, worked his way up the latter the hard way but isn't really popular. Fighter A gets the title shot.

That is an example of the best not always fighting the best.

And I understand all the fighters are under one umbrella, Dana is ALL of theirs promoter. But he knows/wants PPV's to do well, which is why sometimes, not always, but sometimes you'll see fights based on popularity and not necessarily skills.

 

[MizeryMade]

What Kimbo needs to do is use his time on TUF to work on his ground game. He may not win every fight standin' up. Everyone already knows from his streetfights that he can whoop some ass standin' up toe-to-toe. It'd be good for him to have some of those ground skills in his repertoire. Otherwise, he's too predictable.

I'd like to see how all this unfolds for him though.