The UFC desperately NEEDS more professionalism
I stayed awake to an obscene hour last night to watch my first post-UFC press conference. I was interested to see if Chael Sonnen would back off some of his most vile pre-fight comments as a mis-guided attempt to drum up interest in the fight.
Nope...not at all.
He said he meant it and there would be no apology what-so-ever.
Dana White said he loved it because Chael talked trash and backed it up.
Did he bring the fight to Silva and press him hard? No doubt.
But how did Chael's performance 'back up' his xenophobic, racist and disparaging comments about Brazilian people, language and culture? Or his aspersions cast towards Lance Armstrong?
Any other major sporting league such as MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and believe it or not even NASCAR would harshly admonish and financially penalize an athlete for statements such as Sonnen's. I don't believe that David Stern (NBA) or Roger Goodell (NFL) would co-sign on such inflammatory statements like Dana White.
The UFC unfortunately is viewed as the leader of a second-tier sport and gets treated as such...and behavior and leadership like this further cement second-class stature.
Nope...not at all.
He said he meant it and there would be no apology what-so-ever.
Dana White said he loved it because Chael talked trash and backed it up.
Did he bring the fight to Silva and press him hard? No doubt.
But how did Chael's performance 'back up' his xenophobic, racist and disparaging comments about Brazilian people, language and culture? Or his aspersions cast towards Lance Armstrong?
Any other major sporting league such as MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and believe it or not even NASCAR would harshly admonish and financially penalize an athlete for statements such as Sonnen's. I don't believe that David Stern (NBA) or Roger Goodell (NFL) would co-sign on such inflammatory statements like Dana White.
The UFC unfortunately is viewed as the leader of a second-tier sport and gets treated as such...and behavior and leadership like this further cement second-class stature.
Posted by Johnny Benjamin MD at 8/8/2010 9:04 AM 
Categories: MMA
Tags: Dana White UFC 117 Chael Sonnen
Categories: MMA
Tags: Dana White UFC 117 Chael Sonnen
Yeah, a little professionalism like Matt Serra GSP would have been nice. He is probably holding out for a rematch, but the truth is, he got beat, and it would have been nice for him to acknoledge that he was just selling the fight, if that is actually what it was. If not, well, I have no use for him then.
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Unfortunately Dana white lacks the understanding or intellect to grasp that not reprimanding for this type of behavior is bad for the sport.. nor does he realize that they should have at least released a statement distancing the UFC Brand and its management from those who share this fighters attitude and behaviors..when will they realize that the UFC is not immune to sponsors abandoning ship to avoid scandal involving racism.
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