Except you’ve been residing below a rock, you’ll have heard or seen UFC president Dana White hanging his spouse following a drunken altercation. Is all of it that shocking that White did this? Realistically, no it isn’t. He isn’t a person that’s ever informed ‘no’, he does no matter he needs and in addition has a historical past of turning a blind eye to all issues home abuse.
We check out White’s historical past of using home abusers, the problem with it inside fight sports activities, particularly MMA and why these folks should be punished and banished from the game.
“You by no means bounce again from placing your arms on a lady”
These aren’t solely logical phrases however phrases from White himself. Again in 2014, White commented on NFL star, Ray Rice after it was revealed he abused his spouse. White, subsequently must dwell by his personal phrases, he can’t merely ‘bounce again’ from this.
Regardless of White apologising for his actions in an interview with TMZ, your complete scenario appears to have been brushed below the carpet. Neither the UFC, Endeavour nor none of these concerned with White have handed touch upon the matter.
White’s ‘PowerSlap’ promotion has a horrible irony hooked up to it now. Followers weren’t eager on the ‘sport’ earlier than this, nevertheless, now it’s leaving an terrible style in folks’s mouths. TBS has delayed the programming of the PowerSlap League, which is a step in the fitting course. Regardless of this, the UFC remains to be selling the league and doing so closely. Throughout 2023 alone, there have been three Instagram posts via the UFC. They’re clearly nonetheless selling it.
White and the UFC Giving Home Abusers Work
Ought to we actually be stunned that Dana White has been caught domestically abusing his spouse of 26 years? He has a troubled historical past with fellow home abusers. The UFC itself additionally has an especially troubled historical past of using home abusers or persevering with to provide them fights.
Jon Jones was arrested for home abuse in 2021 towards his then fiance, Jessie Moses. Regardless of initially describing the abuse that Jones inflicted on her, the costs have been dropped by Moses. Jones remains to be below contract by the UFC and White is continually seeking to e book Jones in a struggle following a transfer as much as heavyweight.
The Las Vegas Metro Police Division has launched the mugshot of Jon Jones from his Friday morning arrest. pic.twitter.com/WlLXOJIL3u
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 28, 2021
Former UFC fighter, Mike Perry was additionally given a number of fights after his ex-wife, Danielle Nickerson got here out and accused Perry of home abuse on a number of events. Chatting with MMAJunkie, Nickerson detailed the worst of the abuse following an evening out collectively. Even then, Nickerson knew what the deal was. She brazenly stated: “I do know that my phrases aren’t going to have an effect on his profession”, proving simply how huge a difficulty that is. She went on to say: “This isn’t (one thing UFC president Dana White will see) and be like, ‘He’s lower.’ There’s no approach. I don’t have that form of affect“.
Thiago Silva is one other instance of a UFC fighter who has been caught up in home abuse allegations. He threatened his then spouse at a gymnasium the place she was coaching with a gun earlier than fleeing the scene and having a stand-off with a SWAT staff. Though his contract was terminated, he was re-signed to the promotion. The promotion consequently launched him following additional proof, nevertheless, the very fact stays, they have been prepared to re-sign a expertise, regardless of his previous.
It was revealed earlier than his struggle on UFC on FOX 5 that lively UFC fighter, Abel Trujillo had twice pled responsible to home assault expenses and in each instances, the sufferer was the mom of his baby. Regardless of this, Trujillo remained on the cardboard and within the promotion for an extra 10 fights.
Travis Browne was faraway from the 2015 worldwide struggle week occasions after his now-former spouse accused him of home abuse. Jenna Webb was the lady accusing Browne of the offences and regardless of her nonetheless contemplating urgent expenses, the UFC continued to provide Hapa work for an extra 5 fights spanning two years.
Flyweight contender, Priscila Cachoeira has additionally been accused of home abuse towards a former girlfriend. Regardless of denying any wrongdoing, her ex-girlfriend was granted a restraining order, so there must be some proof of abuse. Cachoeira remains to be employed by the UFC, has been given fights and is scheduled to compete once more quickly.
These examples clearly present that there’s a precedent set for UFC fighters who’ve been discovered responsible of home abuse. Relying in your standing within the sport, similar to Jon Jones being an enormous ticket vendor and PPV star, the UFC are prepared to show a blind eye to the problem.
Dana White’s scenario is comparable, little has been performed, little shall be performed and there isn’t an enormous name from ‘the powers that be’ to do something both. Disappointing.
It isn’t all unhealthy, nevertheless. The UFC has reacted to home abusers by terminating their contracts on plenty of events.
A stain on the Sport
Luis Pena, a former Final Fighter veteran, was arrested for home battery after he allegedly struck and bit his girlfriend. On this scenario, the UFC acted appropriately. They lower Pena from the organisation which seemed to be simply in time, as he was arrested a month later once more. Pena was arrested by Florida law enforcement officials, dealing with 4 misdemeanour expenses together with battery, legal mischief, battery inflicting bodily hurt, and touching or hanging battery or home violence.
Michael Graves was arrested for home battery and was consequently launched by the UFC.
Let’s not ignore the likes of Dana White’s good good friend, Chuck Liddell, who was arrested for home abuse in 2021 and is a former UFC champion. Former UFC fighter, ‘Warfare Machine’, Jonathan Koppenhaver launched a brutal assault on his ex-girlfriend, grownup performer, Christy Mack in 2014. The beating was so unhealthy that it left Mack unable to stroll for plenty of days afterwards in addition to struggling a number of damaged bones. Fortunately, Koppenhaver was arrested, charged and is serving time on a life sentence.
Simply this week, former UFC veteran, Phil Baroni was arrested below suspicion of murdering his girlfriend. As of but, an final result hasn’t come to gentle.
Greg Hardy and the UFC being Tone Deaf
Former NFL star, Greg Hardy was given a possibility via Dana White’s Contender Sequence. Hardy is a home abuser who has been discovered responsible earlier than he was given a possibility within the UFC. Hardy ought to by no means have been given the possibility within the UFC, nevertheless, White and the UFC appeared to not have thought-about his previous.
Not solely this, however it was his debut that triggered additional controversy. Everybody knew Hardy was an abuser, together with these on the UFC as did White. He debuted on the UFC’s first ESPN+ card, UFC on ESPN+ 1. They gave the man an enormous platform. Not solely this, however in addition they put him on the identical card as Rachel Ostovich. Ostovich, who competed as a flyweight and is a sufferer of home abuse had her orbital bone damaged after an altercation along with her then-husband just a few years previous to UFC on ESPN +1. It’s tone-deaf by the UFC, to place a recognized, convicted home abuser on the identical card as a home abuse sufferer.
UFC Fighters Response
There have been two key UFC fighters who’ve handed touch upon the Dana White scenario, Derek Bruson and Sean O’Malley.
Brunson tweeted:
Was Dana White mistaken , “YES” . Males shouldn’t hit girls. Do I really feel this can be a reflection of who Dana White is , NO. Dana has been a part of second probabilities . I believe talking up towards the subject and possibly sit out two occasions is honest! He admitted he was mistaken !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) January 3, 2023
Regardless of this, he beforehand wore a shirt which acknowledged ‘I beat up home abusers’. Brunson clearly dropped his views and his beliefs in terms of his boss…
O’Malley additionally spoke on his podcast stating that White’s spouse deserved to be slapped again. As we all know now, Anna White slapped Dana first, earlier than he reacted and slapped her again.
Suga stated, “I really feel unhealthy for Dana. His spouse slapped him. That’s impolite. And it deserves a slapping again.”
No matter your opinion on the matter, it’s home abuse. Plain and easy.
Will something be performed?
Will something be performed? Sadly not. Dana White will proceed to be the main man within the UFC even after his recognition of the abuse and his apology. The UFC will proceed to show a blind eye to home abusers, particularly if they’ll flip into or are at the moment ticket sellers. They’ll fail to touch upon the matter within the wider public eye.
No members of the MMA media shall be allowed to ask White questions on the matter at press conferences they usually received’t go towards the established order via worry of getting their credentials taken away from them.
There’s clearly a difficulty inside MMA with reference to home abuse.
The PowerSlap League will nonetheless be pushed via the UFC mannequin and followers will nonetheless tune in and all of this, sadly, be forgotten about within the close to future.
