from sherdog: In an interview with Yahoo Sports on Wednesday, White said the UFC would no longer do business with the American Kickboxing Academy, Fitch’s San Jose-based fight team. “We’re looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly I’m just so [expletive] sick of this [expletive] it’s not even funny,” White told Yahoo Sports. “Affliction is still out there trying to build its company. Let [Fitch] go work with them. Let him see what he thinks of those [expletives]. [Expletive] him. These guys aren’t partners with us. [Expletive] them. All of them, every last [expletive] one of them.” what happens to koscheck and cain valasquez?
Just as I was really starting to like and respect Dana... That was a bullshit contract he tried to push on Fitch, and terribly unprofessional. I'm not the biggest AKA fan, but no one can deny that they are a premier team. Losing Fitch, Kos, and Swick in the UFC WW is a big deal. Not to mention Cain.
Dana is such a dickhead... I mean seriously... Would you for free, sign away the rights to your likeness for LIFE??
what was in the contract? I am curious as to why out of ALL of the fighters, ONLY aka found it to be a bad deal. In just hearing from them, it sounds like a bad idea, but if no one else so much as even raised up public eyebrow to it, it leaves me wondering what was so bad.
Apparently it was exclusive lifetime rights to their likeness for the upcoming THQ video game. Zuffa appears to have already promised those rights to THQ and thinks this is the way to get it done. I can fully understand not signing away exclusivity for your lifetime. It doesn't seem like they're even offering compensation.
i agree with dana on this, he's promoting the sport and helping these guys make money. He said if fitch becomes some big time star in another organization that they wouldn't use him in future games, he says that would be just fucking stupid
Sounds like it was not a good deal for anyone who could sign their own video game deal. I could see someone like GSP getting his own brand like Tony Hawk, but Fitch, he knew he didnt have any future revenues from gaming, and made a business decision on emotion. imo, Dana is a bi-polar scumbag / hero of MMA. If affliction stays afloat and Dana keeps pulling this shit, we might see a mass exodus.
I agree, but what if he becomes a massive star elsewhere, then he doesnt own his own video game rights and couldnt be in a game. If I was fitch I would have signed, as we have all seen how active other fighters in other orgs are.
Perhaps, but what do you think the chances are they'll let the other promotion use his likeness if they decide to put out their own video game? edit: read the comment above mine, who knows wtf is up.
I would say the chances of another org getting together with a major publisher are actually pretty good. The Pride video game was better than the last UFC iteration.
. You're with him or against him. No gray space. You treat him right, he treats you better. Fuck him, mother fuck you.
on the upside I would love to see fitch in affliction. The UFC has been dicking him around for years. He had to destroy the whole ww division and leave them with no other choice before he was finally able to get a title shot. I think he will do better outside the UFC now. He can make more money with affliction fight jay at ww and then take the wamma 170 title.
Apparently the other school Dana mentioned is ATT Looking Like ATT is Next On The UFC Chopping Block From: Tom Stall Posted: 14 minutes ago Member Since: 11/13/08 Posts: 227 The "OTHER CAMP" Dana is talking about is ATT, According to a few of my sources and Greg Savage, they have been urging their fighters not to sign the deal either. Thats why you have yet to see an ATT or AKA fighter in the video game pics, the behind the scenes UFC footage of fighters getting scanned or anything else regarding the game. was it a coincidence that Marcus Aurellio was cut at the same time as fitch and the rest? if This is true, say goodbye to Thiago Silva, Alves and much much more Audio: UFC's Dana White loses it during Sacramento radio interview By Zach Arnold | November 20, 2008 In a USA Today interview, White is back at it attacking 'agents' in the business: "And you know what? This is more than just AKA. There's other camps out there that we're having trouble doing business with. And at the end of the day, this is a business. We run a business just like any other business. You come in, you do your job with your company and you get paid. And the guys that don't want to do business with you — then go work somewhere else. It's as easy as that. You don't have to do business with us. There's other people out there you can do it with."
Jesus, cutting both AKA and ATT? Those are some of the most talented fighters the UFC has... I thought the contract was a bit of a raw deal because by the sounds of Fitch's statement it came very quickly and they were pressuring a decision. This may not be the truth, but it's all we know. Having a day to decide your likeness rights for a lifetime contract? That's not professional at all. Dana could be shooting himself in the foot over this. It is business, it's all about compromise. Everyone doesn't get exactly what they want.
dana has brock lesnar as a heavyweight champ, he could care less about any other fighters and their fanbase right now