Dana White and UFC Brass Got Played By Fedor Emelianenko Because They Love the Sport

Ironically, as much as Dana disses internet fan boys, he's one himself. Only a fanboy would pay what Zuffa shelled out for a mortally wounded promotion whose scandals had already cost them their TV deal. Only a fanboy would be so threatened at the prospect of PRIDE mounting a financially disastrous Las Vegas show that they panic and start offering money. Clearly due diligence wasn't performed or Zuffa would have figured out BEFORE the sale that PRIDE's contracts with its fighters weren't transferrable. Basically, Dana and his crew got played.

Fightlinker has a whole series of posts comparing the UFC's efforts to book first Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva and now Fedor vs the UFC heavyweight class to Charlie Brown's hopeless attempts to kick Lucy's football. That's what it is and that's how Dana and company played themselves -- actually it's only half the story but I'll get to part two later.

Dana and the Fertittas decided that they wanted Fedor and they put together a deal they thought he would have to be crazy to turn down. Then they started spinning the press and the fans to the effect that it was a done deal. Then they didn't close their deal so they started spinning the press and fans that Fedor and M-1 had to be crazy to not sign the deal.

Maybe they'll work something out down the road, but I hope it doesn't come at the cost of hardening their fanboy hearts. The Zuffa crew might be bullies and shameless manipulators of the media and fans, but they really do love the sport and it shows in the quality of their product.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/7/31/970098/dana-white-and-the-ufc-brass-got