UFC 100 is not only the biggest event in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It's also a time to celebrate the history of the UFC and the sport of MMA. But some of that history is being ignored.Although the UFC is recognizing its champions past and present this weekend in Las Vegas, two former champions -- Tito Ortiz and Frank Shamrock -- are conspicuous by their absence. Both Ortiz and Shamrock have had personal and contractual battles with the promotion, and with UFC President Dana White, and as a result they're not welcome at UFC 100, and the classic battle they had against each other at UFC 22 wasn't included in a fan poll of the greatest fights in the history of the organization. That has a lot of members of the MMA media crying foul.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer and Yahoo writes, "It's so petty that they didn't even allow fans to vote for the fight."
Kid Nate at Bloody Elbow decries the UFC's tactics in a post headlined, "UFC's Stalinist View of MMA History Erases Frank Shamrock."
Steve Cofield of Cage Writer and ESPN 1100 in Las Vegas says, "Frankly, this whole thing is ridiculous."
Like everyone who follows MMA, I respect the accomplishments of Shamrock and Ortiz in the Octagon and would love to see them recognized as UFC Hall of Famers. But I don't think that's going to happen for a long, long time. The UFC won't be extending an olive branch to Shamrock and Ortiz any time soon.
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Well that's because the organization as much as I love its product is corrupt to the soul.
The deeper you dig into the UFC, the more dirt seems to show. Such a shame, and I'll bang on this drum until the sport dies I guess, there needs to be a re-think in how MMA promotes its fights.
Maybe there needs to be government regulations stating that no sporting organization can allow itself to act as owner, agent and promoter to its fighters and fights for a start. Of course that doesn't deal with this particular thread, the UFC is a great show run by unscrupulous classless thugs.
Having said that, I will be watching tonight as I usually do.
Is the NFL supposed to recognize accomplishments from the Canadian Football League or USFL or XFL. Is MLB supposed to do the same for the Japanese Leagues and the NBA recognize athletes in the European Leagues. Why is it the UFC's job to promote athletes no longer in their promotion? That's what you're expected them to do. I can understand the UFC not wanting to give publicity to fighters not working for them. Maybe when these gentlemen retire, the UFC will show them some love (probably not) but at this time how can you really expect them to give face time during a UFC event which will only lead to helping their competitors. This is, after all, a business.
You jackass, he was in the ufc thats why. It's was a monumental fight in it's history .
Frank is washed up, who cares if they show his fight. They've shown tito ortiz??? So whats your beef tuff guy??
The difference is that those organizations don't deny their histories. They are 'the' premier leagues, the only ones that matter; but that's not through maneuvering and deception, it's because they have the best athletes bar none. UFC is walking a fine line with their tactics. MMA might not have the organizational structure of the NFL or NBA but if it seeks to be "mainstream" it can't be seen to engage in this kind of bullshit. Even if legitimate disputes happen, can a world-class sports league make it personal?
Dana needs to take the high road and move. Shamrock & Tito helped make the UFC what it is today; they should be acknowledged for their contributions in the cage.
Actually chuck made the UFC what is is today
Actually, Dana and the Fertittas made the UFC what it is today... Remember, the UFC had no credibility until these guys bought it and changed it from a near-underground fight promotion to a viable business.
They own it, they've made it successful. So, they've earned the right to run it the way they want.
I'd love to see them acknowledge all the fighters who have helped make it great, but they don't have to. They can exclude people they don't like.
And don't put all the blame on White. Because:
1. There are 2 sided to every fight (yes, I am saying that Ortiz and Shamrock are a$$holes, too), and
2. White is the President of UFC, but the Fertittas OWN it - they have a part in the silly soap opera sideshow.
boy i hope people don't really care what these writers think.
ortiz and shamrock would love nothing more to see than the ufc go out of business and both have had nothing nice to say about ufc. they both think the grass is greenier ($$$$) outside the ufc. they both feel the ufc mistreats their fighters and have nothing good to say about the company.
so why should the ufc give a rats ass about them.
why should the ufc give the 2 most vocal malcontents any face time?
they both come across as self indulgent ego maniacs. just like the writers that also consistanly trash the ufc.
to not take into account a company's business welfare....is ignorant and one sided.
here is an example of what i'm talking about:
lets say you owned the #1 strip club in town, would you allow 2 girls that used to be your top earners at one point. that, now are sort of over the hill but still look kinda good and are now working down the street for the competition. now, they are no longer top level at your club but they could still be mid level earners and you would gladly still like them to work for you. however, they still covet the spotlight of being the best.
so they leave to go where there is less competition and continue to be the top earners at said place.
now you, (the #1 place), are having a huge 10 year anniversary party and are expecting the biggest turnout in history. would you allow those girls in your club if you knew they were handing out cards and letting your customers know where they are now. all the while cutting your club down and inviting them to come see them where they are now.
if you really would allow this then feel free to rip the ufc all you want.
however, if not, then please keep your hypocritical pie hole shut.
please people think for yourself.
Lol, what an awful analogy...the UFC wasnt the "#1 strip club in town", they werent much of anything, and they BUILT said reputation on the backs of these mentioned fighters. Ortiz and Shamrock respectively were the MAIN draws for the UFC for a decent stretch, and if fair is fair, perhaps White shouldnt talk about Ortiz's fight history during ppv's, or using his likeness on a video game, with special history matches to boot.
Ill type it clearly enough for you to read...the ONLY reason they can do this is because unlike REAL professional sports, the UFC doesnt deal with a union, doesnt have to deal with arbitration, or anything else that oh, the Major League sports deal with. This is why for the most part? the UFC is more on par with pro wrestling than with true major league sports, existing on ppvs, and goofy tv shows with skits until they go legit.
Dont invite a guy you still make money off of? Classy. Reallllllllll classy. Keep in mind, Gracie at one point said hed never work for the UFC again, and they endlessly made money off of him.
I love MMA, but White spends as much time trying to kill the spirit of it as he does building it. Kinda reminds me of a poor mans Bud Selig.
Here is my opinion, These guys didnt build the UFC, the UFC launched these guys careers. If it were not for the organization of the UFC they would still be fighting in small events getting payed enough to make it to the next show. It has been a long time sinse Shamrock has won a major fight, and Tito got beat up a lot. Yes he won a couple good fights, but ultimately they are no longer apart of the program because they could not stand with the tallent that is in the UFC so like all the other fighters who cant win they get dropped. Its the same with any sport. If you can not produce, you will not stay in the bigleauges. No matter what your record used to be.
Ohh, and if the fans did get to chose the best fights obviously the fight between two people who were heading out the door woudltn make it on a list when so many other people deserve to be shown. 100 fights over 20 year periode, i imagine a lot of fights that were great didnt get picked. Get over it, stop crying.. Frank is washed up as a fighter, and if Tito wants to do something about it.. Start winning fights that matter. Bottom line!
i meant that to be a reply to impossilbe
the good points and i agree thing.
my rant just after this is just a response to claytor's criticism of my earlier post
not to impossible, whom i agree with.
Would you tell Frank Shamrock to his face that he is washed up LOL...
really why is it an awful?
if you think so i don't think you understand
business.
and yes they are number 1 now because they built it on ken, royce, tank, severn, coleman, coutoure, belfort, etc.. and yes frank and ortiz.
but the main reason is because dana and crew took it over and legitmized it. and the fact is once espn really marries into it thats when mainstream will accept it totally and then the money will be really unbelievable.
ufc is probably going to have over 1.5 million ppv buys. it is estimated to be the biggest ppv outside boxing.
you think ufc is making any type of real moolah off of ortiz and are doing anything at all with frank shamrock, be real.
they are just protecting what they've got and not giving face to their competition.
and royce and randy both said they were done only to fight again with ufc.
and while they were bad mouthing they were just trying to get what they wanted.
now they are lovey dovey with ufc, not because ufc held a grudge, rather ufc just did what it had to do to protect itself.
but go ahead suck up to frank and tito.
i agree with the ufc on this and thats just my opinion and if you think my analogy is laughable then at least i made you chuckle.
i happen to think my analogy is valid.
I can respect your point of view on the current legitimacy of Ortiz and Shamrocks place in the UFC now, but were not discussing now...were discussing all time, and love em or hate em, Tito and Frank were flagship names for the UFC at one point.
Im lost on the entire oh theyre dissenters bid, because there are fighters currently under contract who say bitter things in regards to how the UFC handles its fighters, they basically pulled mob tactics on Fitch, firing him instantly when he didnt surrender his likeness rights, suddenly rehiring him when he finally gave in. Thats borderline extortion, threatening someones livelihood to achieve personal gain. In my opinion thats hardly legit business at all. In all legitimized sports, the players unions have say in marketing decisions. Hence why the UFC is not a legit sport even if ESPN covers it. ESPN used to cover badminton tourneys in the day too, guess that puts them on par with the NFL now?
Fitch isnt the first, not Tito, nor Frank, and while your argument is all well and good in the meantime, the moment these fighters form a solid union on their behalf is the minute things will change DRASTICALLY in the UFC, and with Whites outlook. Fighters will be paid more, have a say in their likeness and marketing, pretty much an overall better treatment package.
White has changed his opinions on fighters faster than he lost his hair, and usually in a very public, very derogatory manner. Why would ex fighters have something great to say about a person such as this?
That is to me, what this blog is about, the UFC never seemed to mind making that dollar using so called despised characters, why shun now?
good points and obviously i agree.
claytor, that is what my whole analogy is all about, the fact that tito and frank are working for the competition. although with tito who really knows where he is if ever going to fight with. they're both loud mouthed self absorbed malcontents. all i can say is if it was my company i would do it the same way.
if you anaylize any sport and the way they have player policies or unfair treatment of players
you will find they all fail sometimes.
unions don't qualify a sports league into legitimacy.
sometimes imo, unions screw up sports.
i find myself to no longer be a fan of baseball because there is no type of salary cap or floor.
i'm not saying it's the union's fault, however, they played a role in it.
so as far as ufc being non legit because there is no union....is boxing considered legit to you?
because, 1.5 mil ppv buys at $45 a pop
plus ringside seats going for $45k each and a sold out venue, all i gotta say to that is...
dude, those are pretty legitimate numbers.
The point is still lost, im afraid...this isnt about guys promoting another "brand". This is simply about recognizing past events in the history of a successful company during its fledgling years.
Tito and Shamrock arent running around telling people to buy my brand! buy my brand!
Theyre just saying Dana White sucks. I would bet you my left acorn if Dana were bucked down by the Fertittas, both of these fighters would change their respective tunes, so no, its not about Strikeforce vs UFC, or Affliction vs UFC, or Pride past footage vs UFC. This is where you slid right off the tracks, using a its just business approach applying strip club analogies, when the truth of the matter is fans have actually voted this fight in the top ten greatest UFC fights on other websites, and the UFC wont recognize it.
Another thing, if you honestly believe letting Tito in the door to a massive event, and worrying that hell steal competition instead of oh, i dont know, basking in a little past glory, then your business prolly isnt as safe as you assume it.
Sure they draw 1.5 million you guys! in ppv buys, but guess who keeps 90% of the gate? Guess who makes like 7 grand if they win? 7 grand out of millions? 20 grand if you were the uber fight of the night? Really. So by your logic, if a guy can make fight of the night four times in a year, which is the average fight totals annually for a fighter, hell make a whopping 80-100,000.
The top dogs make six figures, and most of that goes right back into paying for camps, travel expenses, they pay for all of this out of their own pockets, Randy Couture literally makes MLB minimum salary money, and hes a title fight draw. Thats sad, no?
That some sports recognise past accomplishments of its employees is nice, it's good for business. But remember, sport teams or franchises are not fraternal non-profit organizations, they are businesses and the business of business is to make money. The strip club analogy is probably best. When those two retire all together, I hope the UFC recognises them, but until then it wold be bad business to promote a competing brand... Besides watch the movie Fever Pitch especially towards the end when they are in the restuarant...