Don’t know if you’ve seen the update section of my previous post, but I’ve decided to make another post about this issue. After reading all of the court documents that I linked to, I can only say that this whole thing is a joke. Dana White deserves all of the criticism and personal attacks that he receives from the MMA community.
I’m going to break down what each of the four documents covers and then I want to list the full statement from Pat Miletich that the IFL included as evidence in their rebuttal to the attempted injunction by Zuffa.
- Zuffa Application for temporary restraining order - This document lists the original complaint issued by Zuffa in Nevada Circuit Court. It lays out what Zuffa claims as evidence for “stolen corporate information” and how the two former employees took info from the UFC when they joined the IFL.
- IFL Complaint - This document is a counter-suit by the IFL for damages done by Zuffa. Mostly for slandering their corporate name and for preventing their television deal with Fox Sports Network.
- Zuffa request for shortened time period for hearing - This document simply request hearing dates due to “loss of revenue” that the UFC could lose due to the IFL.
- IFL response to Zuffa injunction - This document is the good read where the IFL refutes Zuffa’s claims on a point-by-point basis as well as providing their own evidence to the contrary - most notably that of Pat Miletich.
Pat Miletich is one of the best-known MMA fighters in the USA and is the found of the Miletich Fighting Systems team. Miletich has a three page statement at the end of the IFL document where he claims that the UFC, Dana White in particular, are only trying to prevent any type of MMA competition to the UFC here in the US. Pat’s statement begins on page 75 and I encourage you to read it, even if you don’t read anything else on this subject.
Miletich has now put himself out there, basically in opposition to Dana White. I feel from reading these files that he has a problem with Dana, not with the UFC organization or with the Fertita’s. Miletich and his camp supply the UFC with some of their top fighters right now, including Middleweight champion Matt Hughes. I think this puts both the UFC and Miletich’s fighters in an interesting position due to Dana White’s comments.
If Dana truly is planning on “banning” from the UFC anyone who is involved with the IFL, then he is looking at banning some of his best fighters and a large number of fighters from MFS. However, I think Miletich knows that Dana is out of control and just trying to intimidate anyone he can in order to keep the IFL from growing. Pat Miletich knows that if Dana drops all of his fighters, he basically is dropping a good number of the most well-known UFC fighters today.
If I was Pat, my only hesitation would be that this type of move isn’t unprecedented for Dana White. He dropped Tito Ortiz and B.J. Penn. Penn was the reigning champion and Ortiz was the “face of the UFC” at the time. I wouldn’t put it past Dana to cut off his nose just to spite his face. The truly sad thing is that Dana White is the president of Zuffa, LLC. In that role, he pretty much is the man in charge for the UFC’s operations and what he does reflects on the UFC. At this point in the game, Dana White is causing more damage to the UFC due to his attitude and how he carries himself.
Miletich has taken a stand, and in doing so he becomes the first to oppose Dana White in public. I have a feeling that he will only be the first of many. Dana White has threatened and strong-armed too many people along the way, and I think that now those people will see Miletich taking a stand and we may see more people doing the same. Something is going to have to change; either Dana White and his “professional practices” or perhaps we will see a new Zuffa president completely.
I’d love to hear what all of you think on this subject so please leave some comments.
Loading ...
