UFC President Dana White

By Joshua Molina

In what company and industry is the president and figurehead allowed to tell his customers NOT to buy the company’s products – and not face ramifications for it?

In mixed martial arts and the UFC, that’s where. If your name is Dana White, you seem to have a license to say anything you want, at any time, regardless of how it reflects on the company.

White over the weekend told fans never to order another UFC Pay Per View if they didn’t like the Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez fight on Saturday night.

“Don’t ever buy another one. I don’t want your money. You’re a moron, you don’t like fighting, you don’t appreciate great talent, or heart, if you didn’t like that flyweight fight,” White told MMA Junkie.

Dana White’s rampant bullying has got to stop. Fans have the right to boo. No fan would question either of the fighters’ talent or heart.

They were booing because both fighters were playing it safe. It was a close fight and neither fighter wanted to make a mistake. They were booing because they wanted to see more than fast moves inside the cage. They wanted to see fast punches and kicks. They wanted to see a fighter go for the finish.

That’s generally what fight fans want to see.

But who cares if they booed. That’s going to happen and the fans deserve more than Dana White insulting them publicly.

How about this Dana White: “If you don’t like to hear the fans booing one of your shows, don’t ever book another UFC fight. You are a moron and you don’t like fighting. You don’t appreciate the fans, or loyalty that made you a multimillionaire if you didn’t like the fans booing. Please don’t ever put on another UFC fight.”

That’s essentially what White told the fans in reverse.

Plea to the MMA media: STOP WRITING ABOUT EVERYTHING DANA WHITE SAYS.

White blasts Bob Arum – it’s a news story. White trashes Bellator – it’s a news story. White dumps on MMA fans – that’s a news story. White kisses and makes up with Jon Jones – that’s a news story. And that was all in one day.

Is there any wonder why White believes he can do and say anything he wants? That’s got to stop. It’s not a news story every time White opens his mouth. White has proven himself to be a successful promoter of UFC fights, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get better as a promoter and as a person.

The MMA media needs to focus on the fighters.

In another bit of bad MMA news, Showtime canceled this Saturday’s show featuring Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Pat Healy. Melendez suffered an injury and Showtime elected to cancel the show rather than air it without the Melendez main event.

Melendez is perhaps the best lightweight in the world and one of the best fighters in mixed martial arts. Healy would have presented an interesting challenge for him. Josh Thomson was also scheduled to fight Caros Fodor on the undercard.

No word yet on Melendez’ injury, but Healy told Bloody Elbow Radio this: “I’m like in a daze, still. I have to think about, if Gil’s going to be out six months and I have to wait the whole time, I have to start making some plans to make money right now so I’m not in a situation where I have to make money right before training for a fight.”