UFC Power Struggle: Conor vs Dana
For months, I have been saying that the relationship between UFC Superstar Conor McGregor and company leadership, i.e Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, was not as great as people were trying to make it seem. Cracks have been there for quite some time. Most notably Dana White's absence from McGregor's press conference after he beat Jose Aldo in December. And I always suspected it was over one thing, Money.
Well, many told me I was wrong, I was being too cynical and reading too much into things. But this week has made me feel even more secure in my thought process. The power struggle that has been happening behind the scenes, finally came to the light this week in one hell of a timeline of events. Let's deatil them in bullet form.
Well, many told me I was wrong, I was being too cynical and reading too much into things. But this week has made me feel even more secure in my thought process. The power struggle that has been happening behind the scenes, finally came to the light this week in one hell of a timeline of events. Let's deatil them in bullet form.
- Tuesday Morning - Conor tweets "I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later."
- Many speculate that it was just a joke or publicity stunt for attention.
- Tuesday Evening - Dana White appears on ESPN and announces that McGregor was taken off UFC 200 for refusing to come to Vegas for press conference and promotion tour.
- White says that McGregor was training in Iceland and didn't want to break his preparation for the fight to come to Las Vegas to promote, which is his obligation, like any other fighter.
- Wednesday Afternoon - Dana denied that money had anything to do with the situation and admitted that the fight could still be saved.
- Thursday Morning - Conor takes to Facebook to make a statement, in which he dropped many bombs and thoughts.
- McGregor stated his desire to still compete at UFC 200 while doing less promotional work as he wants to focus more attention to training for his rematch against Nate Diaz.
- "I am not yet paid to promote. I have become lost in the game of promotion and forgot about the art of fighting. There comes a time when you need to stop handing out flyers and get back to the damn shop."
- "It is time to go back and live the life that got me this life. Sitting in a car on the way to some dump in Connecticut or somewhere, to speak to Tim and Suzie on the nobody gives a f*ck morning show did not get me this life."
- "I feel the $400 million I have generated for the company in my last three events, all inside 8 months, is enough to get me this slight leeway."
- "I must isolate myself now. I am facing a taller, longer and heavier man. I need to prepare correctly this time. I can not dance for you this time. It is time for the other monkeys to dance. I've danced us all the way here."
- "There had been 10 million dollars allocated for the promotion of this event is what they told me. So as a gesture of good will, I went and not only saved that 10 million dollars in promotion money, I then went and tripled it for them. And all with one tweet. Keep that 10 mill to promote the other bums that need it. My shows are good."
- "For USADA and for the UFC and my contract stipulations - I AM NOT RETIRED."
Of course the Conor supporters read this and said, see, he just wants to concentrate on fighting and not all the extra promotion work. But they are idiots. You can't have your cake and eat it to. Conor became the superstar he is today because UFC put him on a platform to go out there and get himself over with his mouth. And he has time and time again ate it up and reaped the benefits. He has made himself into the company man who goes to all the press conferences and talks his shit and panders to "Uncle Dana". But now, now that he's the man, he wants to stay silent and just train and fight? It don't work that way bruh.
Plus you must read his statements carefully. He says, "I am not yet paid to promote". That's all you need to read from that long bullshit statement. For months we have heard how Conor wants co promotion rights, like the stars of boxing have. And the UFC refuses to give it him, because that also is what has destroyed boxing. Once the fighters think they can call their shots and name when and where they will show up and promote, that's when this sport will nosedive down the wrong path. This is all about power and money. He wants to be Floyd Mayweather!!
All of this is a public game. A negotiation ploy. Don't be fooled. All of these social media post are about garnering attention and trying to sway public opinion to his side. And less educated fight fans will fall for his trap. Those are the ones he's targeting. If you are reading this, please don't be one of those people.
If I am Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, I stand my ground and don't give in to the bullshit. McGregor will soon realize that its hard to be a baller if the UFC big fight check ain't coming in. Trust me, its all about the money.
Plus you must read his statements carefully. He says, "I am not yet paid to promote". That's all you need to read from that long bullshit statement. For months we have heard how Conor wants co promotion rights, like the stars of boxing have. And the UFC refuses to give it him, because that also is what has destroyed boxing. Once the fighters think they can call their shots and name when and where they will show up and promote, that's when this sport will nosedive down the wrong path. This is all about power and money. He wants to be Floyd Mayweather!!
All of this is a public game. A negotiation ploy. Don't be fooled. All of these social media post are about garnering attention and trying to sway public opinion to his side. And less educated fight fans will fall for his trap. Those are the ones he's targeting. If you are reading this, please don't be one of those people.
If I am Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, I stand my ground and don't give in to the bullshit. McGregor will soon realize that its hard to be a baller if the UFC big fight check ain't coming in. Trust me, its all about the money.