I've read a lot of negative commentary on Dana's video blogs. For whatever reason, they find Dana running around, pulling pranks, talking to fighters and getting intimately involved with MMA fans boring or childish. I 100% disagree.
Dana's actions are what separates the UFC from other professional sports leagues. Could you imagine David Stern running through the streets of Madrid meeting with basketball fans who long for a European franchise, or Roger Goddell doing the same in Mexico City? Hell no! I also don't believe that Dana does it for the personal attention. He does it because he believes its the right thing to do.
A grassroots approach is the most effective, and economical, means of growing any business, especially one who's fan base consists primarily of blue-collar, middle-class types who respond to this type of high-level accessibility. Presidential candidates do it so why shouldn't a corporate executive do the same?
So many of you have heard about UFC commentator Joe Rogan being a BJJ brown belt. He truly does have some skills and trained extensively at 10th Planet under Eddie Bravo.
Once upon a time, a foolish young man challenged Joe on MySpace, to a grappling match. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, here is the video!
Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva discusses the judging for the Shogun-Machida decision. We also get to see the "day-to-day" at his gym as the video chronicles the training of some fighters out of his camp.
Wanderlei Silva always comes across as an extremely personable and accessible individual, despite his in-ring determination and fearlessness. It's hard to not to love a fighter who's a class act outside of the ring and a murderer in it.
It appears, according to a video interview conducted by FightersOnly, that Shawn Tompkins will be leaving Xtreme Couture. Tompkins states that the split is on mutually good terms and is merely a product of his desire to grow the Team Tompkins brand, a goal that he had set for himself a few years ago.
Tompkins also states that many of the fighters that he coaches will be following him after his departure. Through watching this season's The Ultimate Fighter, I think we all understand the importance of great coaching, and that's what Tompkins provides. He possesses the technical know-how, the motivation and, most importantly, the ability to related to a fighter both in and out of the ring.
I believe that Tompkins will experience great success no matter where he applies his trade and I expect continued, if not increased, success for Tompkins.
There is no denying that I'm a Genki Sudo mark. This guy might be my favorite fighter, ever! His combination of style, skill and presence were, and still are, unmatched. He was Sexyama before Sexyama was cool.
It's with great pleasure, and because of a Mayhem Miller tweet, that I bring you his new, J-Pop video: "World Order"
Is there news here? Not really. Possible implications? Maybe.
Dana White continues to comment, sans filter, on any topic or person, which is why we love/hate him. You must admire his passion and his insistence on taking a stance. There is no gray area with Dana, nor is there any fence-sitting. This is a trait rarely seen in today's world.
The problem here is that he's attacking the greatest radio personality in history and one of New York City's favorite sons. For an organization that wishes to break into the largest television market in the country, I would think a silent approach would make better sense.
Regardless of what you think of Stern, he's one of the most famous, successful and influential personalities in the entertainment world. His opinion carries weight and he has a 20 million person army ready to defend his stance. For an organization, the UFC, that watched their perceived regulatory approval vanish in a matter of days in this state, I would think that treading lightly on any and all matters related to the state would be the best approach. This would include voicing your opinion on Howard Stern.
If every major politician in the state makes it a point to befriend Stern, it would behoove fight promoters to do the same, or at least not antagonize him.
Obviously, quite a bit has changed in the grappling world since 1998. In that time we've seen a seventeen year-old Jason "Mayhem" Miller transfer his hairstyle to Josh Koscheck. In that time, we've also seen Mayhem blossom into a very respectable fighter and television host.
Who would have thought that the kid fighting in this video would become an international, fighting star as well as an MTV personality? The next time you see a couple of kids reenacting the most recent WWE event in their backyard, ladders and plywood and all, don't be so quick to dismiss. They could end up being players. You smell what the Rock is cooking?
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