After a tumultuous 24 hours, during which he was abruptly terminated, former number one contender Jon Fitch is back on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster after a discussion with Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Feritta.
MMAmania.com spoke to Fitch, who described the conversation as, “good, really good.”
He also added this via MMARated.com shortly after getting the good news:
“Communication kind of broke down with Dana (White) so we talked with Lorenzo. (I) just got off the phone with him and we came to an agreement. We’re going to move ahead and I’ll be back in the UFC. We’re going to sign off on the video game and I’m back. It was never even about the agreement or the contract. It was the approach that we felt Dana was being a little bit hot-headed and was threatening us right off the bat. It didn’t seem like a professional way of doing things.”
White and the management team at Zinkin Entertainment, which represents several of the fighters who train at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) where Fitch is stationed, had an explosive falling out over business-related agreements just yesterday.
In short, White made it clear that the fighters at AKA needed to sign a video game agreement that would give the promotion exclusive lifetime rights to their likenesses or risk losing their jobs. It was the “your either with us or your not approach.”
So when Fitch’s management team attempted to negotiate the terms, which were nonnegotiable, White escalated the situation and cut ties with the camp, terminating the promotional contracts of Fitch and stablemate, Christian Wellisch, shortly thereafter.
The move sent shockwaves through the entire mixed martial arts community, which was made more alarming when the president of the company indicated that others could be next who did not want to be “partners.” He indicated that the AKA contingent was historically the most troublesome when it came to the business side of things and that, essentially, he no longer wanted to work with them … and their fighters.
That included Fitch, who is tied with Royce Gracie and Anderson Silva for the most consecutive wins in UFC history (eight). He even just recently lost a gutsy unanimous decision to welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87: “Seek and Destroy” on August 9.
The message was clear: No one (at AKA, anyway) was safe.
Fitch today took to the airwaves to please his side of the story, saying that his management team, in fact, eventually encouraged him to sign the the deal. But based on the way he was treated and the way the situation was handled, Fitch stood his ground and worked to find a solution to a situation that probably should have never happened.
That solution, of course, was Lorenzo Fertitta. He spoke with Feritta directly (he never spoke to White throughout the ordeal) to hammer out a resolution.
He signed the video game agreement and was reinstated shortly thereafter. In fact, he is once again scheduled to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 94: “St. Pierre vs Penn 2″ on January 31 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
So in the end, cooler heads did indeed prevail. Now the focus can hopefully shift to what is really important, which is fighting … inside the Octagon.
THQ — the acclaimed video game development company — is scheduled to release “Undisputed” sometime in early 2009.
188 Comments »
Sounds like Dana needs some anger management classes. I take Fitch at his word.
No kidding, who didn’t see this one coming …
Once again Dana’s Good cop / bad cop act works again. Did you guys think Dana was not going to get exactly what he wanted?
Exactly, you wanna fight sign the F ing contract.
I called it look back befor this, all a big stunt for the Vgame to get everyone talking about it…..look back
I sound like Kevin, trying to get props @#$@, dont look back, bypass my last statement.
If anything, this would get people pissed off about the games in general. If the UFC games are essentially leading to me not seeing certain fighters compete in the UFC (the promotion that I have the easiest way of watching) then I will boycott the games. I know that THQ isn’t responsible for it, but if Zuffa isn’t making much of a profit, then they won’t see these games as worth it. I understand that I am only one person but I would certainly try to initiate a boycott.
you probably dont have a game system.
was this quote from Fitch or his management?
TOLD YOU.
SWEET THE FISH IS BACK
I sound like Kevin try to gets props…Damn-it I take it back dont look back.
It’s OK to ask for props Wiggy. I’ll take some for predicting Lorenzo getting involved and solving this idiocy. I wonder if the Fertitas called Dana in and smacked his hand with a ruler for acting like a child?
Sounds like they should.
yeah, Dana is the type of dude who just wakes up on the wrong side of the bed looking to reak Havoc!
Props to Lorenzo for always being a cool as businessman.
BTW, check the archives I told you guys not to worry, that Fitch would still be fighting Gono in the UFC.
-The mma Gospel of JOhn!
actually that was me…
I think its time that the Fertita brother’s consider letting Dana White go. If Dana’s breaking bridges with camps like this, it can’t be too good for business
I just want to see a Dana vlog with him walking into the Lorenzo’s office.. With his hands behind his back and his head down. Apologizing for being immature and then getting yelled at! Come on Santa, give me this!
Medecine Balls: Now that would be a GREAT blog to see!
I guess Dana never heard about what happened to that guy from Affliction, if he keeps his theatrics up he may be next give us his story about how he apologizes to everybody and he has resigned. That is why Lorenzo step in not to expand the UFC but too make sure to keep Dana on check, I dont care how good of friends they are business is business and this is becoming a common issues were Lorenzo has to tep in for Dana.
About ten years ago I had one of the most successful business models for my type of business. I banked big time. I was making so much money I was getting a bigger head. We grossed millions upon millions. I became a real a hole and started doing the exact same things Dana is currently doing. Long story short it took me about 5 to 7 years of doing this and I started losing my best clients. I fired employees for doing things I felt was stupid. It all caught up with me and things started crashing down right before my eyes. Moral to the story is you can spend years building something and lose it overnight with attitude. Just this last month I had a flare up of my attitude and it cost me once more. Eventually something happens. You can’t keep doing this over and over again and not lose in the long run. He needs anger management and lots of prayer guys. I understand business is business, but calling people names, talking about other companies etc never accomplishes anything. I was always told as a child that if someone talks that much about other people the person talking has a poor self esteem. Call it what you want, but this guy is getting out of control.
and you know him persoanly, you saw what happened?
and Lorenzo saves the day!
Or him and his brother grounded dana. I knew they would get pissed at all this fiasco and dana’s bs.
is Christian Wellisch back in the UFC also mania?
Yep along with everyone
if i was him id stay far far away from them and try to be a seth petruzelli type somewhere else
How do you know Christian is back in the UFC? I haven’t read that yet.
Sherdog has it on their main fitch article way at the bottom.
This is the biggest non story ever! But anyways, I got to admit, Dana comes off bad on this one!! On the flip side, if it wasn’t about the video game, why all this? Why take a stand and try to prove a point when without the UFC, no one would know who you are and certainly not want to use you in a video game. Remember those knock off video games where they couldn’t use real NFL teams. The UFC shoulda just had a character named Don Bitch! it would have been easier than this.
Good call John and me saying this wouldn’t last!
do you want to be bullied around and strong armed or forced into signing anything?
signing what though roy? I’m trying (I really am) to see your point. It’s signing his likeness away for a video game. Do you or anyone honestly think that Fitch will ever be in another video game? No!! so who cares, this is a non issue and is why Dana got so upset. Anyone with half a brain realizes that the only reason they are being put in this video game is because of the UFC.
hey mania, how’s the t-shirt contest doing? what is your take on this? am I nuts or right on man?
/
are you really trying? it shouldn’t be that hard.you just went on strike right but said you didn’t need the money you have a great job why jepordize your great job for something you didn’t need? why would he give it away?why not look into signing a liftime contract no matter what it was for can you understand that?would you liked to be forced into signing something?
I kinda responded Kevin, I’m in complete and total disaggreance with you, but I’m in moderation. The tactics used were underhanded at the best, and what was asked? I would have told Dana to go f*ck himself. My image in MINE, nobody else’s. You can pay me for it’s use. But I would never, ever sign it away for life w/o the possibility to renegotiate it. Complete foolishness.
Um, kevin…lol….roy has a point in the analogy of you and your job to Fitch and his.
Fitch looks bad…..in the end he signed off….Dana must have made sense because he got what he wanted, if it was a bad deal then why sign?
Yeah, ultimately, Dana got his way. It was either sign or you’re out…and Fitch eventually signed.
Please explain how dana got his way? He fired a guy and his boss rehired him basically admitting dana made a poor decision. Do you know how many fighters are now going to try and talk to Lorenzo instead of dana?
I’m guessing fitch will now have a bullseye on his back. I know he’ll beat gono but I think he’ll need to destroy him to keep his job once all this smoke clears.
He got the fighter to sign what he wanted, If Dana Insist he be out beleive he would be out, Dana’s made alot more money for the ferritas than Ftich has.
Roy, I agree, and going a step further, if u read more about the contract, it’s esentially locking down the video game and mercandising rights for any fighter signing that contract FOR LIFE…even with another organization, anything to do with that fighter making money in merchanidising his likeness outside of a fight is 0. Dana you’re killing any competition while keeping your fighter down… I get it… u toss John Fitch a brick of $$$K in bonus after making enough in 1 fight to live off for the year, and say thanks. The UFC will make 100 mill on this game easy, u don’t get a cent, because I MADE U, I OWN U and this is unlike being a sports celebrity in other sports.
Dana, don’t say you’re not a DOUCHEBAG BOXING PROMOTER (there’s times when u definitely are) while being a crybaby about how much u do for the fighters, or blame the MGMT company. UFC is a business, and as much as White does for these figher’s up front, he takes away even more on the back end especially at the height of their success.
Dana White is a cut throat business man much like DON KING… he’s just a slicked up modern day WHITE version!
HEy’ all that is fine, but don’t preach what a nice guy u are and how all these fighters are your FRIENDS and how much U CARE about them. I believe there is a certain amount of sincerity to White when he says that’… but it’s really as long as they see contracts his own way.
Don’t get me wrong Dana White is the man for the UFC job! I just think he’s really twisted and I support Fitch & the fighters on this one!
Ok dude, AKA was the ONLY camp in question with this contract. You can’t say that you support Fitch AND the fighters, because that would be both sides, unless by “the fighters” you mean the guys from AKA only. EVERY other important fighter has already signed the agreement. Are you calling them and their management teams pushovers? No, the management teams are not retarded. For example, Forrest Griffin and Rampage both know they wont be in another video game, unless they make a follow up to this game. Therefore, why the hell not sign for this? If they only signed a 10 year deal, then after 10 years, they would have to sign an extension, because people would still have that game (although maybe not play it still), and because Fitch’s contract would be up, he technically wouldn’t be allowed in the video game anymore, which would be IMPOSSIBLE. Not Dana’s fault. Fitch and AKA’s dumb management team.
SYNYSTER DUDE, I don’t mean to be rude, it’s more than just DVD’s and VIDEO games… it’s all likness… u need to read this:
http://www.tapoutlive.com/images/mags/ufc_legal.pdf
It’s very biased, but it seems to present the facts so just figure it out yourself putting the biased info aside… I’m going to take this as legitimate info until I hear otherwise.
He probly didn’t anticipate the reaction from the MMA world despite his all encompassing “we are running a business” line. It’s nice to see that the fertittas still have a leash on him. Hell i wouldn’t want someone fucking up a company where i have majority interest.
kevin i think you should change your name back to kevin doesnt know shit
how so, look back, I said this was no news and he’d be back…unless it got moderated!
Don’t get too confident. Fitch was indeed terminated yesterday.
mmamania is it true he had fire his manegment and leave aka to get back in the ufc?
No, he’s still with crazy bob and zinkin. They went over dana’s head. Apparently dana was acting too nutty. During a radio show yesterday they had to stop and delay the show coz they couldn’t sensor everything dana was saying.
lmao ATTA BOY DANA! GO GET ‘EM!
kevin, I have to say, that one this one, IMO, you are WAAAAAYYY in the wrong. There is a correct way to do things, and a correct way to deal with your people. To sign that w/o being allowed to renegotiate???Only an idiot would do something so completely ………(hard to find a word to describe someone so blatantly dumb.) It may involve a video game, but to sign away one’s image for life, idiocy, plain and simple, and to strongarm someone into doing it? Ouch, Dana took a HUUGEE hit in the PR department, with me anyways. I’ll think twice before I go on one of my rants/raves trying to justify/protect his ways of doing things.
CHEFDADDY, my post above states that I see eye to eye with u here on almost all aspects of this issue, no question.
It is a big deal, because this is a sore PR sticking point, White is not the nice guy he portrays himself to be. That’s fine, just don’t cry when we see u as the Modern Day Don King.
DANA WHITE: “I’M NOT A DOUCHEBAG!!!! LMAO!!
Mania hates me. I’m in moderation TWICE trying to respond. I disagree w/ you bigtime. But I’m sick of trying to respond on this and other threads and my posts not getting through.
I get what you’re saying, but who is going to make a video game using John fitch in his lifetime, thats my point. If it’s so bad, why didn’t ALL the fighters say no way? there are waaaaaay bigger names than john fitch out there, but they seem to have no problem with it.
Roy, I get what you’re saying, but my contract was for my “bread and butter,” if it was a lifetime contract for fitch to FIGHT at the same pay for the rest of his career, I’d be 100% behind Fitch on this one!
If it was only for this video game, who cares. But it is his image FOR LIFE. Why can’t you guys understand this????? If Fitch ever does anything, whether under the UFC umbrella or not, the UFC would be the one to make money off his image,not Fitch.
Aaaahhhhh!!!!F’in moderated AGAIN!!!!!! lmao.
CHEFDADDY, I get it, u get, most of us that read the highlights at minimum of the contract get it. Those that did not do any research or just don’t give a crap.. fine, pretty ignorant if u ask me.
At least Jon Fitch is back in the UFC, that’s the good news. He better open up his gym and make $$ that way, just as long as he doesn’t mention he’s a UFC fighter in any of his materials… or try to make any money with another organization with his likness for life.
I hope White really pushes UFC fighter cards, bobbleheads and whatever he can to compensate these guys, for signing away in that contract. White better see to these guys that they’re really making $$$ for life!
you’re wrong chef, this was likeness in video game only, it specifically said that!
kevin where’s the link so I can do the research. The stuff I’m finding is saying the opposite of what you’re telling me. gracias.
HEY MANIA!! Can you clarify some of this for all of us. I don’t want to debate with incorrect/absent information. I’m sure the others don’t either. Thanks!!!!!
again kevin what does it matter what it was for, if someone came to you and said we want your likeness of a game we own your rights to your image and name forever for video games would you just sign it and not ask any questions?
Fitch is a great talent and did awesome against GSP at UFC 87. Good to hear hes back in UFC and keeping the welterweight division alive especially after watching the videos of him training pads in thailand a few week back.
Fitch is tough, but the only awesome thing he did was take an awesome beating. I’m a fan and he will give anyone a tough fight, but taking 25 minutes of beating is not that impressive. How awesome did heath herring look against lesnar?
Come on. Fitch went 5 full rounds against the number 1 WW in the world. No one else has done ever done that with GSP. Give the man his due. He never gave up and took a solid beating for your entertainment.
I fully respect what he did, but Koscheck went 3 whole rounds without taking near the damage. I think fitch is better than kos, but to say Fitch did awesome against St pierre….. I don’t know. Plus, I don’t find 5 rounds of a beating entertaining. I love competetive MMA, back and forth battling for five rounds is great. 5 rounds of domination I find a little boring. Again, fitch is a hell of a fighter, but that fight shouldn’t be considered such a high point in his career.
Do you hold herring in high regard for going three with Lesnar, nobody else has done it.
I do. Heath took a beating and had a broken orbital bone for that entire fight. Pretty impressive.
So, you woukld say Heath did an awesome job against Lesnar?
Agreed. Had he of mounted any type of offence or put GSP close to being concerned let alone in trouble I’d agree, but this was not the case.
I didn’t realize your definition of awesome was “an ass whooping”
no, I think it’s enduring the ass-whooping rather than cracking like Randy did
Dana must be pissed about this. He’s never going to like Fitch now that he went over his head. Regardless, I’m glad that Fitch is back!
maybe a little like dana and tito. i think fitch is to classy for that though. all in all though the ufc has lost some quality fighters lately Arlovski, werdum, cro-cop, tito(at least he was a draw),fitch and randy(temporarily)
last thing, I really don’t get why you guys care so much about money. To be on a video game is exposure. He was willing to risk 80% of his sponsorship money over this! The UFC gives them a % of every T-shirt with their names on it, do they have to? No, the UFC fronts all the money from insurance to production. If they print 100k John Fitch t-shirts and only 10k sell, does John Fitch help out with the cost? no, the UFC takes the hit. Next time you guys want to argue money, look at it from the business standpoint! They take all the monetary risk!
It’s the chicken and the egg, kevin. Without fighters…who would they pu ton the t-shirt? Dana? I doubt it.
We could banter back and forth about who’s more important, the UFC or the fighters, but we’d banter all day. The problem is that in most sports, there is somewhat of a partnership between the athlete and the organization…today pretty much brought to light that there is no suxh thing with the UFC…..it’s all about them, and their money….they shitcanned their #2 WW over some video game money. They are not the “we are in this sport because we love the sport and the fighters” people that they claim they are…this issue proved that, and the proof is in the pudding.
Son of a f’in b*tch. I agree with introvert on this one. I think your waaaayy off kevin. I’m in moderation all over these threads. Tired of typing responses that don’t make it through.
Crap, introvert does raise a valid point. Dana has not displayed or fostered a sense of co-op on the video game front.
Kevin, I see your point in that the UFC provides a place for the fighters to ply their trade. Not to mention as I stated in an early post on another thread, this video game money is not going to be some financial windfall.
As a side, why is Dana so stuck on this damn video game? Okay it is a way to make some money. However, I have seen the graphics and understand the concept of the game and they are not sitting on the next Halo or Gears. I don’t see this thing selling 3.5 million units in the first 8 hours.
Holy shit!!!!!!!!!
We agree?
Somebody call somebody !!!!!!!!!
To use one’s image on a video game is one thing. To sign the rights to one’s image away for LIFE is another thing entirely. So let’s see, “you work for me. In exchange for services rendered, I give you a paycheck. Oh, by the way, I would like to use your picture to promote my business and make more money. No, no , no. I’m not going to pay you but a few bucks. Yeah, I know I take the risk, but that’s my decision. Huh, what do you mean you don’t want to let me use your image? WHAT??? I mean F’IN WHAT!!!! YOU’RE FIRED!!!!”
Hmmm….Maybe Dana could’ve said OK, we won’t use your image, we’ll promote someone else. There’s ways to get things done w/o strongarm tactics.
WE USE YOUR IMAGE OR YOU’RE FIRED=I’M TAKING MY BALL AND GOING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Introvert! I just called somebody. They couldn’t believe it either. lol
Yeah, I called somebody too. They were still in shock from what Chefdaddy told them. They just couldn’t take the news from me too.
yep
maybe the UFC should climb into the ring and fight Fitch’s fights for him too?
lol adam!
I’m now wondering if the papers or whatever for releasing Fitch were ever made official so to speak. As in is he still on the same contract or does he have to sign a new one. Maybe after his talk with Lorenzo he can bump his pay up a little, but I doubt it somehow, probably the same terms.
was wondering the same thing!
Yeah kevin “look at it from the business standpoint” because the UFC,Dana White, and the Fertitta’s are really hurting from a business standpoint aren’t they. Get off Dana White’s nuts and realize their making money hand over fist on merchandising,pay-per-view sales,and gate revenue.Then when one of the fighters gets pissed off with Dana’s bullying tactics the Fertitta’s have to step in and do the right thing.Lorenzo Fertitta had to step in for the UFC with the Tito Ortiz negotiations and make an offer because Dana’s ego got in the way but that relationship appears to be beyond repair.
lol gate revenue? they paid the fighters 25% of the gate. do you think doctors, camera men, announcers all do it free? what about insurance costs, they aren’t big right? there’s no risk huh?!
kevin are you Kevin Iole?’cause you kiss Dana White and the UFC’s ass with the best of them!
What a stupid response to a legitimate question.
On the other hand, the consumer will wish to buy that particular T-shirt because it has John Fitch’s face on it.
But the UFC has to fund production costs for the shirt to exist, read above “The Chicken and the Egg”
But the demand for the shirt is created by John Fitch, otherwise the T-shirt would just have the UFC logo on it.
Great! Now Fitch can be a great stepping stone.
There is no way is ever getting that belt.
Unless the Fertittas check Dana again anyway.
I think Fitch may have the cardio to beat BJ (BJ lovers hate this fact, put he is a saggy 170)…but he’ll never beat GSP.
I say Fitch vs Condit….
Are you sure the WW division is being disolved into the UFC…I thought it was 185+ that were moving
LMAO………and Dana gets put in his place by the brothers…..LMAO…….fucking hotheaded, egotistical tool.
I knew you couldn’t let it pass. Anyways, I agree with you Lorenzo needed to step in and put Dana in his place.
And in the end, Dana got what he wanted.
HAHAHAHA…its worse than the WWE…Tito will be back for sure…
tito was always coming back, I’ve said that from day one. where else is he going to go? who would pay him what he wants?
off the subject,can anybody tell me why Randy was talking to Brock at the 4:06 mark in the 1st round,1:47 in the 1st round,4:13 in the 2nd round
Yes, the fight was fixed and Randy was saying “not yet….not yet”.
Why? Why even imply that the fight was fixed? Are you missing Elite?
Chill…it’s a joke dude.
I know. Just needed to get one shot in. I was agreeing withyou too much it was starting to get to me.
lol
Did anybody else see that in the fight
Is anybody still here
I’m about to watch it again on my PVR
ok
so did you notice it
Look out Dana! Jon Fitch is going to be your new Tito Ortiz. Soon we’re gonna hear about a contract Jon and Dana are trying to sign to Box each other in an exibition fight
Hope so. Fitch would show unlike Tito. He would also put a serious hurtin’ on Dr. Evil.
Wow. What the fuck. I understand why you wouldn’t want to sign a contract that includes a “lifetime” commitment, but if you are going to end up signing it anyways, then why cause all this. At least Fitch will be back.
I wonder if Dana gets money for his “name and likeness” regarding this video game from the Fertita’s?
Excellent question. But dana doesn’t need the pocket change they would pay for it.
Watch out for the next UFC video game trailer. It’s goint to feature GSP beating the snot out of Jon Fitch, with Dana smiling at ringside.
That would be classic.
actually i think dana should be in the game. he can be the really big boss that fights dirty to win, hah.
Dana not being professional… Isn’t that his ‘thing?’
on the flip side this is good news.
Is it too much to hope that Kos won’t settle things and go away?
Nice.
I just want to know if anybody else noticed Randy talking to Brock during the fight ,I posted the times on a earlier post,and what do you guys think about it
CAN YOU REPOST THE TIMES!
4:06 and 1:47 in 1st round,4:13 in the 2nd round
there was others but ,sh@t I can tivo only so many times
Daddy Feritta had clean up his little boy’s mess again. Glad there is an adult in charge around there.
Dana White keeps this up and I’ve 2 words for him!
YOU’RE FIRED!!!
Who cares about this shit….what I want to know is what’s gonna happen to Christian Wellisch?
So what about Christian Wellisch?
Or do people only care about big name fighters being “mistreated”?
Good point. Let’s hope he isn’t used as a permanent example.
nobody was mistreated. they were treated in the same manner as every other fighter under contract. some of you all need to jump around and read a little more up on the subject that floated around the net. you only got a small portion of what really went down. everyone that was bashing dana and is now saying “thank god for the loveable fertitta’s” doesnt have a clue. dana runs the show, they will NEVER fire him (who in the world could they get to replace him? rapper wannabe jr). dana is the reason that mma is where it is today and the fertitta’s damn well know it. lorenzo might have handled the situation just to appease fitch, but people are delusional if they dont think dana had a final say in the matter.
BW, I agree. That’s why I used the quotation marks. Personally I blame that agents and the fighters for not being as involved as they should be.
my bad. i missed the quotations. thats pretty bad seeing how much i use them myself.
fuck yeah fitch is back but i agree dana lost alot of respect from me he just seemed like a total dick in this incident, the ufc is lucky they have the ferititas to keep them so succesful with dana wed have a ufc where chuck is a god:P
WHy would dana actt like this and say curse words about Fitch or AKA in public, so unprofessional. I worked for EMINEM once, composing music for him and they wanted exclusive lifetime ownership of my music.
i got a lawyer and he said it’s a bad bad deal, and to top it off all the lawyer lino was silly. My 1st contract stated i could not even so much as say that i worked with EMINEM.
my Lawyer and i resubmitted for more money and for EMINEM to use my music non exclusivly, and for credit to use EMINEM’s name , that i indeed did work for him.
For dana to point a gun at Fitch or anyone’s head and say sign it or leave is stupid and way out of line. Even Paul Rosenburg was better and i know he can be a dick.
YOU DONT ever SIGN AWAY ALL YOU RIGHTS!!!!
YOU THINK GSP or the other tom people in the ufc isn’t getting anything for this video game????
come on, not everyone is in these video games. Randy wasn’t in one of the older video games, did he get fired…did he make what fitch makes no… and look where he is today.
i dont get what your saying go randy. and to scott i didnt notice that.
Thank God!
Cooler heads prevail.
I’m one of Dana’s biggest backers, but he needs to learn how to leave his personal feelings out of his business. He makes emotional decisions, not business decisions.
good for him, i would like to see Jon Fitch face Jake Shields when that bum decides to sign with the UFC.
Dana is a loose cannon, my way or the F**king hi-way!!!!!
this news had be on the adge of my seat tho.
As I’ve been saying for about a year now, Dana needs to take a lower profile. The landscape has changed. He’s probably burned out. Lorenzo needs to “come out of the shadows”. Has Dana “jumped the shark”?
dana could use a little more tact at times, but i dont see how much more different the fertitta’s could have handled it except to be a little more “nicer”. the matter was black and white, sign the deal or dont, there was no in-between (although there have been alot of problems with aka and the ufc that i dont think alot of people were aware of). why did fitch put up all these righteous blogs and interviews and then change his mind just like that? because dana was right and he knew it. dana’s passion for the ufc can somtimes rub people the wrong way, but it is also his passion for the sport that has made it what it is today.if dana white was fired or quit the sport today, the ufc would be in shambles quickly. dana white,the ufc, zuffa and the fertittas are all one in the same imo.
new this would happen this wousnt against fitch in any way it was against the retard place he was at, dana would never let fitch go though i knew he would be back by the end of the week
i dont understand you people. i hate to agree with that kevin guy but he’s right. there is more cost to a show than fighters salaries, but it appears all you big time business men who are slumming it in your crappy dead end jobs know more then these rich businessmen. personally if i dont like a product or even say a manager at a store, i dont go to that store. when nike was one first to use child labour in foreign countries i stopped buying their product. so if you hate the ufc or dana, show him up. stop buying his ppvs. when the show only brings in 100,000 viewers, maybe they fire his ass. everyone here wants mma to go the way of other top sports, you know, those ones that each went on strike. and i bet most complained about those rich dicks wanting more money for playing a game. i want my cake and eat it too.
Lorenzo has done this before,when everybody was saying Tito and UFC were finished with each other,Lorenzo went to Tito before the Machida fight and made Tito an offer to stay in the UFC.Sort of good cop ,bad cop,I would not make anything out of Lorenzo making a deal with Fitch,just he knew that Dana was pissed and would probably make this situation worse than it had to be.He just wanted to have a person in there with a cool head
i agree. it’s just that simple.
it also sounds, by fitch calling lorenzo, that he didnt want to get his a$$ chewed out. i wonder what happened to fitch’s so called “principles”?
I’m glad fitch is back. he deserves respect for being a fighter and for standing up 2 that selfish bully named dana white. he made himself look lika an a-hole
yeah he really stood up to him all-right, what it take, all of 1 day to change his tune? fitch is a rock!
lmao
Lorenzo and Dana should switch jobs…Dana should focus on the international expansion and Lorenzo should promote.
Are you kidding me you think the UFC would get clerance to come to other countries with the first thing out of danas mouth to the comish,Being Hey Fucker.
all i have to say is Fukc yeah!!! im happy this guy is back haha he technically wasnt gone but oh well… Dude UFC94 is stacked with talent: aside from the monster Main event BJ, GSP, KAro, Fitch, Lyoto, Thiago, Thavares, Gamburyan , Bonnar great card awesome cant wait
i am glad lorenzo did step in this was getting way out of hAND
i hope christian is back as well he needsa to win in jan or else dana will cut him
Bonnar?! I’m excited to see Jon Jones back in action! You think Hazelett looks good at 22?! Jones is sick! And he’s like 19 or something. I love this kid. He’s gonna whoop Bonnar’s ass!
cause
i
can
Mmamania, what’s going to happen to Cain and Kos? Do you know what their stance is on this? I feel this whole argument is stupid. I highly doubt NFL players make money off Madden video games. EA sports owns the exclusive rights to the NFL for their games. THQ is obviously trying to do the same with the UFC. I highly doubt any fighter is going to let their management team get them kicked out of the UFC because of a video game
somehow reading this story reminds me of mel gibson in braveheart screaming, “FREEDOM!!” it may sound cliche, but i still believe in having rights whether or not i choose to exercise them or not, or whether or not they may ever materialize. if someone wants to take away those rights, and then threatens my livelihood if i don’t give them away according to the “FAVORS” that i need to comply with, then that seems a bit unethical to me. and before everyone says, “they’re a private co./ don’t work for them, etc. etc….i agree w/ that, but only to a point. saying something like that is only valid if you have another company or organization to go to. otherwise, if you only have pretty much ONE choice, then that option sort of becomes moot and meaningless.
can i choose then to not be a fighter - sure. but how logical or practical is that? especially in terms of the age, training, money and lifelong dedication spent towards being a pro fighter. which is why i say that………..
i cannot wait for the day that another promotion is able to truly challenge the ufc so that when they pull their strongarm tactics on the fighters, they can actually say “f*ck u dana” and go elsewhere and really have a place to earn a living. for all the bad crap spoken about the other organizations, it seems they at least didn’t squeeze the lifeblood out of their fighters just so they could earn every red cent from them. to go back to something very relevant that luke thomas of bloody elbow posted in one of the many fitchgate stories: he asked several ?’s re: why the contract needed to be exclusive, why is it absolutely nonnegotiable, why cut fitch completely instead of just out of the game & is this more personal w/ zinkin than w/ fitch himself? the truth is, there really are no answers to these questions that can justify the lifetime issue and the nonpayment to the fighter, including upon his death. & it does not matter to me that currently no org. pays their fighters for dvd’s or the like; they should & hopefully will in the future if the fighters get a union or something similar in terms of banding together.
again, it goes back to freedom and rights. the ufc is categorically trying to take them away, and b/c they are the only real game in town, they can pretty much force the fighter’s hand if they want to eat & continue to live. you can argue all u want that they (the ufc) have the right to do this & it’s about $$, and while that may be true, it does not necessarily make it right or fair or ethical.
i hope ea sports makes a video game and asks fitch to be in it and then let the ufc sue and have their contract declared illegal. that would be the sweetest revenge. i know fitch had to capitulate b/c of monetary reasons b/c there just aren’t too many places to go at this juncture. fitch may never have another video offer, but the fact that he could & now cannot exercise that right is the main crux of the problem for me. the pt. is giving up a right that you have as a person and as an employee of a company and giving up that right due to pressure of not being able to thrive b/c there isn’t enough competition. at some pt. what may seem like a small silly video game can lead to larger issues and rights that slowly are devalued by strongarm tactics.
so much for freedom of autonomy. as fitch said, swick has a “special” deal for a video game so he’s not affected the same way as fitch is; and who knows how many other fighters are exempt from the ufc’s special brand of “offers they can’t refuse.”
maybe it’s time for a ufc - vegas tea party……w/ the aka boys leading the way. hey, ken-flo is from boston, maybe he can give em some pointers.
I don’t understand, Dana can terminate his contract, but say like with Randy wanted to terminate his contract but Dana says you can’t do that and got sued. What’s the difference. The company can do what it wants when it comes to breaking the contract, but a fighter can’t?
yes. thats the way it is. and the fighters KNOW this before signing that contract, so its not like they are pulling the wool over someones eyes. think of it like this, you see guys like fitch,huerta,tito, that are not happy or dont like something in their contract. so what? this is common for ALL major sports, and the ufc is not nearly as big as what some people think. it’s getting bigger, but it aint there yet. and for every 1 fighter who is unhappy with the ufc, there are 10 who are happy. id say about 90% of the ufc’s fighters are happy or content with their current situation. how many people can say that about their job. it just seems worse in the ufc because the internet WAY over-sensationalizes things, to make headlines and to more viewers and posts. dont think the mma websites didnt have alot to do with fitchgate.
thank god, and lorenzo fertitta needs to either talk to dana white and tell him what is good or he needs to lessen dana whites role with the organization and take over as owner and president of the ufc
Who made UFC what it is today? Dana White .That is a dumb statement,to lessen his role,he doesn’t deserve that,everybody gets offended and pissed,that is why Lorenzo stepped in because he knew that Dana would not be able to think about the situation rational,and he could.Thats all ,all business do this,when someone you are not seeing eye to eye with,they have someone else step in,that is one of the benefits of Lorenzo coming in,now they can handle situations just like this
You people can’t be this stupid can you?, anyone saying that Lorenzo stepped in and put Dana is his place are delusional. It’s pretty simple Dana=bad cop, Lorenzo=good cop either way they got exactly what they wanted and Jon “The Martyr” Fitch tucked his tail between his legs and signed the deal. Welcome to the world of the UFC, you either accept their terms or end up like Matt Lindland and Josh Barnett.
Amen
I said that in a earlier post,the only reason Lorenzo stepped in is because he knew that Dana was upset and wanted someone who was calm to handle the situation,that is just business,you can not allow your emotions to blind your judgement
The article never said if Fitch signed a life-time agreement or a modified version that would only give them rights for like 10 years. If anyone knows the agreement they came to, please let me know. Thanks.
What is the difference 10 years he will be gone anyway ,I doubt that they will need his likeness for the rest of his life,not trying to be a dick ,I know it probably came across that way so I’m sorry
no, your 100% correct. when he said he would sign a 5-10 year agreement ,but not a “lifetime” one stood out to me as well. how old is fitch, like 30 . he wont be around in 10 years and maybee not in 5. he made a big deal out of nothing and nobady can argue that fact b/c look how fast he gave in.
Can somebody tell me why my crap want post
Good, sounds like Dana got a nice slap on the wrist.
SOunds like typical ‘going over his head’ when Fitch went to Lorenzo after Dana, a nice in your face that might make Dana think twice about being such a nazzi next time.
Yup… They went to Lorenzo and whinned and cried about how they felt so hurt… Then he still signed the contract LMMFAO!!! Fitch has TON of heart in cage, but as a negotiator? He’s a straight out BITCH!!! IMO
whew finaly this issue is fixed. welcome back Fitch!
Dana is the face of the UFC, could you imagine Lorenzo doing all TUF and ESPN, etc. Lorenzo has the charisma of a sloth. Dana’s controversey sells. Period.
Eh, so he signed the slave contract anyway? Sorry but Fitch is a Bítch.
“Eh, so he signed the slave contract anyway? Sorry but Fitch is a Bítch.” - Longsilver
Could’nt of had said it any better!!! All that talk and at the end… It’s Danas way or FUCK YOU!!! LMAO!!!
Why does this remind me of selling your soul (likeness and image) to the Devil for a taste of Fame and Fortune(watch out for loopholes)? I think Fertitta reacted after reading through the responses from yesterday’s story. I still encourage everyone to purchase the Fedor fight and resist the urge to purchase the January UFC PPV. Remember power corrupts and absolute power (UFC) corrupts absolutely. I think the fighters need a union.
Already planning on it.
I’m a fight fan, not just a UFC fan…..and Affliction has the better fight to purchase…IMO.
I’ve seen this before…usually at a grocery store…the cashier ticks off a client and then they call the supervisor over. I don’t think this situation will end up on Dana’a resume. I’m glad they squared it away.
Damn soap opera!
Sounds like Dana needs to fucking relax.
We all know that Dana would like us to believe that he made the UFC and MMA what it is today! But, he gives himself way too much credit! Unfortunately, a lot of people do! He’s outlived his usefullness and has become a threat to the UFC! He’s causing them to lose top fighters. It’s plain and simple…….DANA WHITE NEEDS TO GO!
I concur. Dana is a BIGOT. If it wasn’t for the UFC and fighter’s that made it famous Dana would still be playing with his balls in a boston gym.
I guess Dana’s idea of “partner” is someone who will bend over at the drop of a hat for him. AGAIN the UFC’s ugly business practices surface. I don’t care if he’s in the fight business - that’s some BS strong arming and completely out of line. Gotta be hard making a living for most in the fight game.
Big props to Fitch for standing his ground.
Fitch only stood his ground for less than a day. He caved the next day and signed for exactly the terms Dana wanted.