Dana White: "Its part of the business"
 

Video inside.

I hate to say this but i think the UFC needs to take away the health package it put out there for the fighters. I used to think it was great and a step in the right direction but now fighters are pulling out of fights more and more often. I hate to think the two are related but it definitely looking like the health package has increased fighters pulling out.


Or maybe they can change it up a bit???

The first thing they need to do is put restrictions in their contract.

If anyone remembers Jay Williams, he was gonna play in the NBA and had a nice college career but he was on a bike and wrecked. Same thing happened to Mir a few years ago and now Aldo's been hit by a car but thankfully he's not that hurt.

Why on earth ANY sports league allows their guys to operate something like a motorcycle is beyond me.

They have restrictions in their contracts. Dana White has stated that he can make them give up pretty much everything.

Dana White obviously just hasnt used that power of his. Not for motorcycles anyway. Im sure he makes them give up extreme sports.

Watch the pre fight conference for the Donald Cerrone vs Denis Siver or Nate Diaz. I forgot which one he said it in. Whichever was the one where they made Cerrone seem like an extreme sport junky.

It could get very restrictive down the line especially for big marquee fights. As in you're wearing an ankle bracelet and we're going to monitor you 24/7...lolz. K...maybe not that bad, but if any "injuries or unforseen circumstances occur the UFC has the right to deduct a portion of the purse and revoke certain sponsorships for missed fights."

I have to say it's getting ludicrous with the amount of changes in the card. If you signed the contract you have to commit to it and more importantly be very careful on how you conduct your everyday life. IE: Not going to bars, partying, getting naked in a church, snorting bath salts, riding mo-peds, mouthing off to natives in Thailand or Guam, sparring without headgear, sparring without a mouth piece, training hardcore a week before the fight, drinking V, crashing into utility poles, _______________fill in the blanks.

Maybe more job security so they are not so afraid of fighting at less than 100%, losing, and worried that they might get cut.

Note: I have no idea if this is an actual issue regarding the prevalence of cancelled fights. It's just a thought.

I think the only thing we see eye to eye on is our dislike for Jon Jones, Sideways. I cannot believe what I'm reading right now.

You are suggesting the UFC do away with it's insurance policy because fighters are getting injured and having to pull out of fights? How is it fair for the fighters who will have to pay out of their pocket for injuries they sustain in training camps preparing for a fight? Fighters pulled out of fights before the insurance policy was in place. Your solution suggests the insurance policy for fighters creates an incentive for fighters to drop out of fights which is wrong. Fighters want to fight because they get paid per fight, per show, they miss out on a potential bonus, on marketing, they age etc.

Fighters are pulling out of fights because they have to, not because they want to.

I am not saying its fair.

But the amount of pull outs due to injuries has increased quiet a bit since the UFC offered its health care package.

So they can either take it away or re word it in a way where people wont be taking so many risks in training and getting injured knowing the UFC will cover the costs.


This isnt something i feel really strongly for. Its just a spitball type suggestion.

If you can come up with a better way for the UFC to force its fighters to train smarter instead of harder then please im all ears. Im just trying to think of the best way for the UFC to stop all these injuries.


And yeah its obviously because they have to and not want to. Thats not what my suggestion was about.

Ironically that same thought crossed my mind mentioned by the OP. It's the business in me that was doing the talking. In reality that would make the entire organization take a step back. The best approach would be to add reasonable clauses as mentioned in my earlier post. Preventive measures are always the best. There's positive and negative reinforcements that can be applied here.

Sign the contract, fight injured or whatever ailment you have and get an automatic bonus OR cancel and the UFC deducts their fight purse. Simple. With nothing at stake fighters will continue to pull out. Again it doesn't have to be too drastic. Just enough to get the point across. The UFC is still in a learning curve.

I just hope Dana has a heart monitor cuz he must deal with some serious stress on a daily basis.

Exactly. The best approach would be to possibly change the package up a bit.

The fighters are obviously taking more risks during training and in doing so costing the UFC alot more money then just the money they spend covering their medical costs. Something should be done about it.


Not to mention that its screwing us fans over.


Just a second ago i read that Vlad Matyushenko got injured during training and needs to pull out.

This is getting ridiculous.

Perhaps there are more injuries since the UFC and commission started random drug testing and cracking down on PED use ;)