Dana White's Double Standard Regarding Fighter Discipline
Dana White used to keep fighters in check when they acted out, so why is Roy Nelson still allowed to compete inside the Octagon after kicking John McCarthy?
Roy Nelson squared off against Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva back in September at UFC Fight Night 95, knocking him out at the 4:10 mark of the first round. The most controversial blow of the fight was landed after it had concluded. As referee “Big” John McCarthy was tending to a still unconscious Silva, Nelson charged across the cage and delivered a swift kick to McCarthy. A fighter struck a referee, and everyone thought Dana White would take action.
“I wouldn’t take it back,” said Nelson during the post-fight press conference, who would later add that he feared for his safety due to prior conversations with “Big” John.
“I mean, it hurt me (my feelings) – to keep hitting a guy that doesn’t need to be hit.”
The Brazilian Superior Justice Court of MMA ruled that Nelson would be suspended for nine-months, as well as receive a $24,000 fine. The punishment handed down even has a clause in it that if Nelson were to apologize to McCarthy publicly before December 31, then Nelson may be able to return in March.
Following his September incident with @JohnMcCarthyMMA in Brazil, @ufc heavyweight @roynelsonmma issues an apology. pic.twitter.com/5r8E5AELl2
— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) December 2, 2016
Today, Roy Nelson has officially apologized to McCarthy in hopes that his suspension and fine are reduced. Nelson read a prepared statement in front of a group of reporters in Las Vegas in which he said sorry to McCarthy, the fans of MMA, the Brazilian Commission, his team, the world, and his family for his actions in September.
It took Nelson 68 days to become sorry for kicking McCarthy. Make a note of the number – 68 days.
UFC President Dana White has said that he hopes Nelson is ‘Buried.’
The UFC has not taken action against Nelson though, and the Dana White of old would not have tolerated such actions inside the cage.
This brings to light a new question; just how much power does Dana White really have in 2016?
The old Dana White – backed by his childhood friends, the Fertitta Brothers, was cold and ruthless towards disobedience. Just ask Paul Daley, who’s been blacklisted from the UFC since 2010 for not following in-cage rules.
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At UFC 113 on May 8, 2010, Paul Daley competed against Josh Koscheck in welterweight bout, during which Koscheck controlled Daley on the mat for three rounds. After the final round, Daley stood up and walked towards Koscheck, landing a cheap shot that arguably did more damage than any shot landed in regulation. Referee Dan Miragliotta then pinned Daley against the cage, and the altercation was over. A fighter had struck another fighter after the bell.
Dana White was livid.
The UFC President continued, “… the stuff like the eye gouging, the hit after the bell, all that stuff, that will not ever be tolerated, and he’s done.” White remained adamant, that even if Daley became the best welterweight in the world, he would not be allowed to fight in the UFC ever again.
Daley didn’t apologize immediately, but he did apologize as early as May 10, 2010, when The Telegraph ran a story about Daley’s remorse over his in-cage actions, noting there was no excuse for his behavior.
Paul Daley said he was sorry for his actions after two days.
Since the sale of the UFC to WME-IMG, Dana White’s role in the company has been reduced. No longer is an all-controlling promoter needed. The new owners are more concerned with money than discipline. As a result, Dana White’s beef with individual fighters has taken a backseat to the needs of the company.
Prior to the sale of the UFC, Dana White only had to answer to the Fertitta Brothers. Now, Dana White must answer to the dollar.
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