As the UFC continues to bring MMA to mainstream, every decision Dana White makes will be questioned.
When Dana White was in Toronto as part of the GSP-Penn II press tour, one of the many things he stated on the podium was that every day he wakes up, another problem has started. Another critic, another fighter, another manager or agent rocking the UFC's boat. There is not a day that goes by that he’s either preventing a fire, fighting a fire -- and let's be honest -- starting a fire on his own.
As the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, White wears a virtual bulls-eye on his chest. Underneath must be a bullet-proof vest that has been hit by its fair share of shots from the media and fans alike. Day in and day out, he faces the music on every decision the company makes, no matter if one agrees or has disdain for the company's next move. Therein lies one of the frustrating issues of being UFC president.
The UFC as a private corporate entity learned a long time ago that no matter what fight it puts on and no matter what is presented in a press release, there will be critics. There will never be a unison of voices that sings the praise of a job well done. For every state they lobby and achieve sanctioning for mixed martial arts, another state is knocking on the door, wondering if they are next. In fact, why did they go to the original state in the first place?
When Brock Lesnar was granted a shot at the UFC heavyweight championship, few agreed with the UFC's decision, thinking it was too early and Lesnar was non-deserving. Lesnar won the bout to become champion, and now the critics turn their attention to whether Lesnar is beatable and who might pose a challenge to the 265-pound champion.
While the company is privately run, many of its actions are placed under a magnifying glass, scrutinized to bits and pieces by anyone who has access to a keyboard. Free speech reigns supreme as the defenders of the brand draw the line against the long-range attacks launched from every direction of cyberspace. There is a plethora of chatter from both sides of the fence that for one to formulate their own opinion, research material is plenty, with buckets full of facts, figures and tidbits of great analogies.
Taking sides with the fighters is often the easy route to go, whenever a dispute arises. Case in point is this week's fiasco that saw Jon Fitch cut from the organization after refusing to sign away his likeness for a lifetime, as part of the upcoming UFC video game release. It goes without saying that often times, signing an agreement of this nature is simply a bad decision. After the firestorm, saner heads prevailed and Fitch came to terms with the organization and order was restored in the chaotic world that is behind the scenes of the UFC.
For Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, arguments are rarely raised in their favour seeing as their market share is of massive proportions when balanced against other MMA organizations that currently exist, as well as those who have fallen by the wayside. For any company that runs a business where there is a competitive market, the goal is to increase and maintain market share; often times driving to the point where the company has a monopoly within the industry. Capitalism at its finest you might say, but this is a reality since the first exchange of money for a service or product occurred.
Whether one agrees, disagrees or simply sits on the fence to watch situations unfold, it's always a treat in this day and age to see, read and hear both sides to every story. For if you do not, and only side with one party, you do yourself a disservice. As a former promoter and manager, I have walked in both pairs of shoes and can often see the finer print that the UFC and its fighters dispute on a regular basis. As a current owner of a business, I often agree with Zuffa's attempt to keep a stranglehold on the market, but not necessarily the antics used by some of their staff. I can say the same for many of the fighters and their representation, some of which have models that should be followed, while others have no idea what they are doing.
The industry that is mixed martial arts is past its infancy and must now be considered a little older than what many previously tagged it as. The UFC continues to grow, while the sport blossoms on a grass-roots level. Zuffa has made great strides in leading the charge but must be (and surely is) cognizant that eventually, there will be competition that manages their capital effectively, while building stars for its own promotional use. Until then, the UFC will be able to pretty much do what it wants, wherever and whenever.
Critics will always be there as well as the fighters, their camps and others who will cry foul. When I say foul, it may pertain to merchandising agreements or financial compensation, but without serious competition, what options do they really have? They can fight for other organizations, but may fall off the map with sponsors, as there will not be as many eyeballs on the product or logo they are trying to get seen.
For every risk the UFC takes, they are often rewarded not only financially, but eventually in the public eye. It may not be right away, but in due time, people often turn the corner to give them praise, or often times, the issue falls by the wayside. Getting to the top was no easy road for them and staying there continues to provide its challenges. As the top dog, there are always those who are nipping at their heels trying to chop away at their legacy.
As the sport continues to evolve, so will the UFC. They may be brash and their tactics may be crude, but with the state of MMA the way it is today, I do not see it changing anytime soon. For fighters, managers and fans alike, the UFC is the top dog and unless an organization can rise up to be considered serious competition for them, the status quo will remain. After buying the company from SEG, it's safe to say they are not going anywhere, anytime soon. Like all other businesses in the corporate world, they will continue to chip away at their market share until they have maxed out their stake, monopolizing an industry that quite frankly, they created.
