Fight Night Lives Up To All The Hype: Kessler Dominated by Ward in Super Six Tourney; Griffin Gets Sweet Revenge Against Ortiz In UFC 106 Main Event

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | No Comments

POST FIGHT REPORT ON SUPER SIX MAIN EVENT AND UFC 106 CARD

By: Rich Bergeron

WARD WINS BY WIDE MARGIN VS. KESSLER

Mikkel Kessler watched his WBA belt get taken away by what he clearly saw as hometown favoritism and excessive holding and headbutting, but give Andre Ward all the credit for taking it to Kessler Saturday night with potent hand speed and dominating style throughout the fight. Despite the post-fight gripes of Kessler, Ward’s win in the Super Six Boxing Classic opening round is a career defining moment cemented by a new addition to his trophy case and a berth against Jermain Taylor in the next round. Ward secured the upset in the Super Middleweight title fight by a landslide after too many cuts opened by head clashes forced a doctor looking at Kessler to stop the match in the 11th round. The judges scores were 98-92, 97-93 and 98-92.

This was a fight where Kessler never seemed to put any real rhythm together, though he did catch Ward with some great shots. Ward seemed to learn a lot from the Pacquiao fight, though. He used a speedier style and defensive maneuvering to remain out of range of the hardest shots from Kessler. He managed to put together a spectacular in and out offensive attack by constantly moving his body well, using the whole ring, and scoring lightning fast jabs at will. Kessler’s European 1-2 stalking and orthodox style was no match for Ward’s inventive southpaw switches and punching from all angles. Over the whole fight there were only a few moments where the announcers would even debate about whether Kessler won any of the rounds. Ward had the correct game plan and the determination and confidence to get the job done. Though Kessler didn’t go down, he seemed close a few times.

The next stage now puts Arthur Abraham up against Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch against Mikkel Kessler, and Andre Ward facing Jermain Taylor. This fight was a nice distraction during the early UFC fight card.

UFC 106 FEATURES FULL RANGE OF OUTSTANDING FIGHTS

There didn’t seem to be a dull moment at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas Saturday as every fighter on the UFC 106 card gave the fans everything they had in a slate of incredible match-ups ending with Forrest Griffin dominating Tito Ortiz.

Ortiz heard the boos in his post-fight commentary when explaining his in-training injuries and inability to spar much leading up to the fight. He said he endured a cracked skull which gave him the pre-fight black eye he sported in the cage. Wearing his signature “Punishment” gear into the UFC Octagon Saturday night, Ortiz didn’t seem to know how much that P-word would define the fight ahead. Griffin had a shaky first round, and Ortiz seemed hesitant off the bell but well capable of winning again after the first successful takedown and ground and pound session. Forrest scrambled back to his feet and made a round of it later on, but it looked like Tito’s game plan did more damage in the first frame.

The second round was the most competitive of all the rounds with Forrest winding up getting the edge because of really pushing Tito. This is the round where Griffin really began setting Ortiz up to fight the boxing match only Forrest could win. Ortiz opened up a nasty cut over Forrest’s eye when he finally did get an advantage in the round, but Forrest flipped his way back to the top position and ended the round in control.

Round 3 was Tito’s UFC return wake-up call as he realized he just didn’t have enough in the tank to get past Forrest’s superior stand up in the final five minutes. Forrest didn’t land any real thumping head or body kicks, but his relentless leg kicks looked suspiciously like Amir Saddollah’s punishing leg kicks against Phil Baroni from the opening fight of the PPV card. Forrest really let his hands go in this round and laid the pain on thick. He didn’t give Ortiz as much as an opening to land any hard shots of his own or take the fight to the ground. Before a hand could be raised, the two fighters were already making the informal arrangements for a third fight in the trilogy. One judge had Tito winning somehow, but the other two judges gave the split to Griffin and deservedly so. Griffin really needed the win it seems, as he admitted that Anderson Silva “broke me” in his last fight.

Now, speaking of the opening PPV bout of the night, Amir Sadollah put himself on the map with a 3-round war with Phil Baroni. The return to the UFC after a long absence for “The New York Badass” ended with Baroni a bloody mess after suffering one of the worst one-sided beatings of his career against a relative newcomer to the sport. Baroni displayed tremendous heart and actually opened up the fight with an overwhelming offensive attack. If Sadollah’s granite chin didn’t save him, Baroni could have knocked him out in that first round. Instead, the adrenaline rush sapped Baroni of all his speed and power. His body began to slow down, his hands dropped, and Sadollah teed off over the course of the rest of the fight. Baroni’s gassed out attempt to stay in there and slug left his face a bloody pulp at the final bell. Yet, Baroni somehow stayed on his feet after a vicious succession of punches, elbows, and knees from Sadollah.

Sadollah might have seemed overmatched going into this one with such little cage fighting experience, but he showed great focus and ability to adjust to any style of fighting. Baroni wanted to slug and street fight, but he couldn’t get Sadollah down to the mat for ground and pound or at the right range for his wide hooking haymakers. Baroni never recovered from that burst of fury in the first, and Sadollah proved to be the more well-rounded fighter with better conditioning and a few extra tools beyond dirty boxing and half-ass wrestling.

Josh Koscheck and Anthony Johnson turned out to be an incredible fight with Koscheck turning the tables on the oddsmakers in the end. Controversy marred the start of the fight when it appeared Koscheck might bow out due to an eye poke after an illegal knee to the head from Johnson. Instant replay during the hiatus and confusion revealed that Koscheck didn’t even get kneed in the head at all since his elbow and arm blocked the shot. A glancing finer in the eye appeared to be the only way his eye could have been injured at all. Regardless of whether Koscheck milked the clock or not, Johnson got his rest, too. Johnson also later got more time to rest and a chance to recoup from some hard punches after a Koscheck poke later in the fight that came in the midst of attack that might have ended it by KO had the poke never happened. Instead, Koscheck used superior stand-up and outstanding wrestling to bait Johnson into being more aggressive than he had to be in the second round. Koscheck caught him for every mistake he made and wound up securing Johnson’s back and getting the hooks in late in the second round. Johnson only had a few seconds to pry Koscheck’s fingers apart and prevent the grip from locking the rear naked choke into place. It wasn’t nearly enough time, and he didn’t have the energy to prevent the inevitable. Johnson tapped out and put Koscheck back in title contention again.

In other action Ben Saunders used his big frame to impose his will on Marcus Davis, who left the cage looking like an “Irish Hand Grenade” had blown up in his face. Davis was unprepared for the long range knees and heavy hands of Saunders. The end came at 3:24 in the first after a masterful attack from Saunders ended with some vicious knees that left Davis with a heavily swollen face.

Paulo Thiago squeaked out a tough decision against Jacob Volkmann in a fight that went all over the cage and seemed to be the most competitive match-up of the evening. Both fighters could have ended it at times, and this was a great fight to make up for the unpredictable backing out of Karo Parysian due to substance abuse issues. Volkmann showed he can bang and roll with the best of them and Thiago proved the experience factor is still his major edge. There was a lot of scrambling in this fight, and the main reason nobody could get a KO was because both fighters were so good at getting out of trouble when they had to.

Other fights saw Kendall Grove winning by triangle choke in the first, Brian Foster winning by TKO against Brock Larson at 3:25 in the second, and Jason Dent going down by arm bar against George Sotiropoulos.

Cool Combat Sports Links: Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, Boxing (11-21-09)

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | No Comments

Martinez triumphs in front of home crowd at “Unconquered” MMA event

Time for Colorado to wrestle MMA rules

MMA or Triathlons: The Real Ironmen

MMA Madness Hits the BankUnited Center Tonight

New mixed martial arts gym trains ‘mind and body’

Plenty of MMA next 2 weekends

Coolio Talks Mixed Martial Arts Fight, “H*ll Yeah I’ll Cheat to Win”

http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=4672564

The Top 10 Pound-For-Pound MMA Fighter Rankings

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BSU wrestling to face tough opponents this weekend

College Roundup: Poly wrestlers beat No. 10 Missouri

High school wrestling: Lehmann returns to North Dakota

Dual upsets for Missouri wrestling

Terps wrestlers rally late to stun Big Red

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UI wrestler Dan Dennis has a big opening weekend

Former NHS wrestler lauded

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#10 Wrestling Stuns #3 Cornell 18-17 in Ithaca To Move to 3-0

Pacquiao-Mayweather Match to Give Tremendous Boost for Boxing

Boxing and MMA fights at GSR on Dec. 11

Five Arguments Why You Should Bet on Pacquiao – Boxing

Registration for 83rd annual Daily News Golden Gloves boxing tournament to start

Hometown crowds mob boxing hero

ABU postpones Zambian boxer Chingangu’s fight

Boxer hospitalized after getting hurt at Blue Horizon

Boxing Promoters: DMX Got Us in a Real Fix

Shawn Miller Meets Adrian “The Shark” Diaconu

A Tribute To Boxing: Ivan Calderon

Griffin decisions McCreedy, O’Connor dominates, Clampitt shines

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | No Comments

LINCOLN, R.I. (Nov. 20, 2009) – Otis “Triple OG” Griffin outlasted Joey McCreedy to win a unanimous 8-round decision tonight in the main event on the “Autumn Classic” pro boxing card, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Griffin (21-6-2), best known for winning the “Next Great Champ, displayed his ring savvy and experience, successfully counter-punching McCreedy (11-4-1). “I’ve won in other fighter’s backyards, but I was concerned about the decision because I got robbed against Jeff Lacy. McCreedy fought his best. I thought I clearly won. He brought his A-game and really stepped-up. He wasn’t the same fighter we watched on tape. He obviously can take a good shot because I hit him with some good ones. Joey is a brawler and the plan was to make him pay when he missed and stay clear of trouble. It was Boxing 101. Next, I’d like to come back here and fight Joey Spina.”

Unbeaten junior welterweight prospect, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate Danny O’Connor (10-0, 3 KOs) pounded a game James Hope (4-3) from the opening bell for six solid rounds in a masterful display of boxing. O’Connor broke down Hope, hooking to the body from his southpaw stance and unloading unanswered rights and lefts to Hope’s head, in a dominating performance Danny easily took by 6-round decision. “I felt great tonight,” O’Connor commented. “It was my most complete fight. Everything we worked on so hard started to come out and when it watch out when it’s all there. It’s all about angles, like (Paul) Spadafora, and a total team effort. I couldn’t do it without my team behind me.”

Eight months after giving birth to her daughter and 20 months since her last fight, 4-time world champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (19-4-1, 7 KOs) returned to the ring in triumphant fashion, out-working and out-classing Rachel Clark (4-2-1) en route to victory by way of a one-sided, unanimous 6-round decision. “It felt unbelievable,” Clampitt said after the fight. “After the first round I came back to the corner and told Kurt (Reader, head trainer) she was a lot faster than we thought. She had a great jab. I think my experience and body punching was the difference. It’s tough right now in women’s boxing and I give her credit for taking the fight. I’m very happy with my performance.”

Former U. of Rhode Island football player, Providence super middleweight Vladine Biosse (5-0) kept his undefeated record intact with a first-round TKO win against 25-fight veteran Jeffrey Osbourne.

Long Island light heavyweight Joe “The Irish Bomber” Smith, Jr. (2-0) registered his second straight sensational knockout in the opening round, using a vicious left hook, followed by a powerful right that put Branden McGowen (0-1) to sleep midway through the opening round.

Worcester heavyweight Rashad Minor (3-1) knocked out Lance Gauch (1-2) in the second round, while Boston super middleweight Maceo Crowder (1-0), whose brother is 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade, won his pro debut by stopping Duane King (0-1) in the third round.

Go on line to www.cesboxing.com for more information about CES go. CES’ next show is Dec. 10 at The Roxy in downtown Boston.

Full results below:

RESULTS FROM TWIN RIVER

Lincoln, Rhode Island

Nov. 20, 2009 – “Autumn Classic”

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Rashad Minor (3-1, 3 KOs), Worcester, MA WKO2 (2:47) Lance Gauch (1-2, 1 KO), Hannibal, MO

LIGHT HEAVWEIGHTS

Joe Smith, Jr, (2-0, 2 KOs), Long Island, NY WTKO1 (0:45) Brandon McGowen (0-1, 0 KOs), Eden, NC

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Otis Griffin (21-6-2, 8 KOs), Sacramento, CA WDEC8 (78-74,78-75, 77-76) Joey McCreedy (11-4-1, 6 K)s), Lowell, MA

Vladine Biosse (5-0, 4 KOs), Providence, RI WTKO1 (1:25) Jeffrey Osbourne (8-15-2, 3 KOs), Davenport, IA

Maceo Crowder (1-0, 1 KO), Boston, MA WTKO3 (1:38) Duane King (0-1, 0 KOs), Reidsville, NC

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS

Jaime Clampitt (20-4-1, 7 KOs), Warwick, RI WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 60-54) Rachel Clark (4-3-1, 3 KOs), Fayetteville, NC

Danny O’Connor (10-0, 3 KOs), Framingham, MA WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 60-54) James Hope (4-3, 4 KOs), Rock Hill, SC

Promoter: Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc.

Matchmaker: Ted Panagiotis

EDWIN RODRIQUEZ IMPROVES TO 13-0 WITH VICTORY OVER NORMAN

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | No Comments

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Worcester’s unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez, after watching his opponent escape from trouble in the three previous rounds, finally stopped seasoned super middleweight Brian Norman with a relentless flurry of power punches at 1:16 of the fifth round to score his lucky 13th victory, and ninth by knockout, before a sellout crowd of 2,000 last night at the Main Street Armory.

Norman (17-10, 5 knockouts) was knocked down in the second round by a brutal combination that Rodriguez capped with a savage left hook to the head. In the third round, Rodriguez (13-0, 9) unleashed a long combination that had Norman in trouble on the ropes before he was saved by the bell.

Rodriguez’s assault continued in the fourth round when he hurt Norman with a big right hand, but the bell again intervened on Norman’s behalf.

In the fifth, however, there was no being saved. Rodriguez cut loose with a damaging fusillade of blows — what manager Larry Army called “a good 35 to 40 seconds of nonstop power punches” — before the referee finally stepped in.

In the end, it was Rodriguez’s punishing body attack that seemed to cut the well-sculpted Norman down to size, according to Army and trainer Peter Manfredo Sr.

“I’m pleased,” said Rodriguez, who was ill enough last week that his handlers considered postponing the bout as recently as Saturday. “I don’t think it was my best performance, but I was able to get the W, get five rounds in, and get the knockout, so I can’t complain about my performance. … What else can I ask for?”

Rodriguez said he didn’t feel great before the scheduled eight-round main event.

“I just felt like I wasn’t gonna be at my best,” he said, “but I still felt I’d be good enough to beat this guy.”

Manfredo, who usually finds something to be critical about after Rodriguez fights, was pretty satisfied was last night’s performance.

“It was a great job,” he said. “Edwin boxed well, threw a beautiful combination. I yelled at him between the fourth and fifth rounds, I told him, ‘This kid’s ready to go, it’s time to put him away.’ He was hitting the kid with some bombs, some monster shots. He looked very good.

“I’m pleased with everything I saw. He was attacking the body, that’s what broke this guy. This was a big, physically strong guy, real tough. He was a quality opponent. He (Edwin) is not fighting easy guys.”

Katajisto, Selesmaa and Jack were victorious at Vaasa on last Saturday

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | No Comments

Finland, Vaasa-based Caramelito Promotions – professional boxing stable arranged on last Saturday combined amateur and professional boxing show at its hometown Vaasa. There were three professional matches which were fought in front of a bit more than 200 spectators in the legendary local sports hall as a exceptional day-time show.

In the first pro fight of the show the 33-years old Aki ”Boogieman” Selesmaa squared off with Latvian Jevgenijs Fjodorovsin in a match which was scheduled for 6 rounds. Selesmaa, who had won in his previous fight (marked as eliminator for Finnish National title) Pertti Keita with TKO, dominated the whole fight against his brave and durable opponent. Selesmaa punished Fjodorovs with plenty of good shots to the body and head but Fjodorovs was not near to go down for a count at any moment. After six well-spaced rounds Selesmaa´s hand was risen as the sign of unanimous point victory by referee Santeri Kanninen. For Selesmaa who started his pro career back in April the victory was the fourth straight win. Selesmaa who is now 4-0, 3 KO, is managed by Jaakko Helminen.

In the second fight the Swedish McClory Sports –stable boxer Badou Jack, 26 continued his victorious pro career while facing Latvian Aleksandrs Taputsin in a fight which was scheduled for 4 rounds. Jack who has competed in Olympic Games in Beijing back in 2008 and is also 6-time Swedish National champ as amateur made again a great performance for his Finnish fans! For both boxers it was the second time to fight in Finland as pro. Latest time Badou Jack spent only 47 seconds in the ring with his Russian opponent and this time Swedish quickly rising star entertained the crowd for about 2,5minutes before than repeatedly connected heavy body shots ended Taputs´ fight. Although not being Finnish fighter Badou Jack (now 4-0, 3 KO) has started to gain his own fan base here in Finland. And with these skills it is not a miracle!

In the main event Caramelito Promotions –stable´s own heavyweight boxer Janne ”Finnish Butterbean” Katajisto, 31, took the third straight victory during his pro career which started back in August this year. This time the victory came with second round TKO over Latvialaisen Jevgenijs Zolotovs.

In the first stanza Katajisto knocked his opponent down twice but both times Zolotovs rose up to continue his desperate battle despite of clear weight- and skill difference. Katajisto´s hand speed and technical skills left Zolotovs without any weapons during the whole fight and the referee has to stop the fight while Latvian boxer was down for the third time in the fight in early of the second round.

-Next time Janne Katajisto will step into the ring in my next show called as Amarillo Boxing Night 2 which will be promoted at Vaasa on the 6th February 2010. I´m currently looking for so far the biggest challenge of his career for him for a 4 round scheduled heavyweight bout, says promoter and manager Petro Koskimies.

Cool Combat Sports Links: Mixed Martial Arts, Wrestling, Boxing (11-19-09)

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | No Comments

Mixed Martial Arts Coming to Columbia

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ECHS, Newnan begin wrestling season tonight in tri-match

Silver Lake youth wrestling sign ups

Davison wrestling coach Roy Hall to join Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame

Wrestling hits the mat at Body Bar Invitational

Around 30 working out with YHS wrestling team

Lehigh wrestlers hit the road, face Ohio St., Michigan

Upcoming Movies Starring WWE & TNA Stars

Oklahoma scene: Former OSU wrestler Shane Roller wins $10,000

Ward writes off Kessler’s advantages ahead of Super Six fight

Daniel Dawson Can’t Compare Kickboxing to Boxing, but He Loves Both

Rumble at Rama: Boxing begins climb off canvas

Arroyo confers Order of Sikatuna to boxing champ Pacquiao

Boxing set for Babcock tonight

Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao returns a hero

USA hopes riding on Ward

Boxing: Tua may get championship bout soon

Inside the Celebrity Boxing Federation

TOUGH PRIZEFIGHTER START FOR FORMER WORLD CHAMPION REES

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | No Comments

FORMER WBA World Champion Gavin Rees will take on ex-European title holder Ted Bami in the quarter-finals of Prizefighter Light-Welterweights.

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jnr, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, performed the draw, which was broadcast on Sky Sports on Friday night.

Prizefighter Light-Welterweights takes place on Friday, December 4 at the National Hall, Olympia, London with eight of the best British light-welterweights competing for a top prize of £32,000.

Rees and Bami were two of the bookmakers’ favourites but one of them will be eliminated at the first phase after they were paired together in a mouth-watering clash.

Both men have a point to prove after recent setbacks. Rees lost his world title to Andriy Kotelnik last year, while Bami was stopped by Matthew Hatton in an IBO eliminator in March.

“Whoever wins Prizefighter will prove themselves as one of the best light-welterweights in the country,” said Brixton-based Bami.

“You have some big names in there with the likes of Gavin Rees, Colin Lynes, Young Muttley and David Barnes but no one has seen the best of me yet.”

Welshman Rees, who has only been beaten once in 29 professional contests, added: “A lot of people see me as the favourite to win Prizefighter but we will see what happens.

“I’ve had a long time out of the ring and I’ve come back hungrier than I’ve ever been. When I had the world title I was taking things for granted and didn’t think I could lose.

“But now I have three kids and I want to be a winner again. Losing a world title is gutting for anyone but I wasn’t training or eating properly.

“I’m more hungry to win this than when I was defending a world title and I have a lot to prove to a lot of people.”

Another quarter-final sees Colin Lynes and David Barnes, who have both been British Champions, fight each other, while another former British title holder, Young Muttley, takes on late replacement Barrie Jones.

Former European Lightweight Champion Jason Cook is involved in the opening fight of the night when he takes on undefeated londonder Michael Grant.

Each fight lasts a maximum of three rounds and four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and a final will all take place inside a frenetic three-hour period.

Tickets cost £40 (unreserved) and £80 (reserved) and are available from See Tickets on 0870 903 9033, www.seetickets.com or from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900. All the action will also be screened live on Sky Sports 1.

Prizefighter Light-Welterweights
Friday, October 4
Quarter-final draw
1. Michael Grant (Tottenham, London) v Jason Cook (Maesteg, Wales)
2. Ted Bami (Brixton, London) v Gavin Rees (Newbridge, Wales)
3. Colin Lynes (Hornchurch, Essex) v David Barnes (Manchester)
4. Young Muttley (West Bromwich) v Barrie Jones (Newbridge, Wales)

Semi-final draw
1. Michael Grant or Jason Cook v Ted Bami or Gavin Rees
2. Colin Lynes or David Barnes v Young Muttley or Barrie Jones

Station Casinos Bankruptcy Tumbling Out of Control: UFC Could Suffer From Long Term Financial Effects on Fertitta Family

Posted on | November 20, 2009 | No Comments

By: Rich Bergeron

Fittingly, it was a powerful union (The Teamsters) that is credited with making Vegas what it is today, and now another union (Culinary Workers Union Local 226) is trying to set the record straight about the new Vegas Landscape and what the Station Casinos bankruptcy situation is doing to it. A new report from Local 226 (see below), an unlikely source but nonetheless an appropriate voice, reveals how the Fertitta family and other insiders at Station allegedly turned a personal profit of over $1 billion on the back of the business.

The Teamsters’ legendary loans (frequently arranged with mob muscle as Vegas blossomed) built the City of Sin from the desert ground on up. Today, it is more of a corporate mob that makes up the core Vegas playing field. Like many in big business balking at the possibility of facing a declining economy, Station Casinos and other Vegas interests gambled it all on black and lost. The expansion boom they initiated has gone bust, and nobody’s flocking to Vegas looking to spend their life savings in casinos that are losing money and in bankruptcy. Station just announced in the latest quarterly report that losses have ballooned to more than $350 million, and it only gets worse from here.

The culinary union has a stake in the way Vegas weathers this storm, and they have made inroads at other places where they couldn’t at a resistant to unions Station Casinos brass. Maybe part of the motivation for their report is the fact that they have always been at odds with the company, but at the heart of their work is a genuine people’s plea to think about what these business barons have done to potentially ruin the lives of all their employees when this whole thing has to up and fold and close its doors. Even new management will mean layoffs, cutbacks, and possibly shuttering properties. The Station properties are mortgaged and reverse mortgaged and upside down mortgaged to the hilt. $6.4 billion in debt doesn’t accumulate overnight and should not have been such a surprise to Station Casinos insiders. The cooking union has a point about the cooked books at Station.

Think about it. It is the sandwich makers at Palace Station that knew Frank Fertitta, Jr. as a regular patron of the lunch counter there. In his better days he ate lunch there every afternoon. He believed in his own staff and was the kind of businessman that built his style of business off the model of taking good care of employees and customers. Vegas was a playground he knew how to operate in and succeed in despite his skeletons. His sons only knew how to draw from the piggy bank and screw the next generation it seems. Frank Junior died before he could see it all collapse as the Fertitta Family and Colony Capital continually delayed these bankruptcy proceedings until it exploded in their face.

THE FULL CULINARY UNION REPORT:

Las Vegas Culinary Union Report on Station Casinos –

The Fertittas are looking like targets in the bankruptcy proceedings outside of the culinary union’s concerns. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being lost because of this debacle, and the Fertittas are still high, dry, and not in any soup lines as Dana White pointed out when he insisted there would be no impact on the UFC when the bankruptcy began. Yet, now the picture is vastly different. Finally, it seems that the flood gates are opening and the Fertittas are being seen for what they really are: gluttons, cheats, and greedy scam artists who killed Station Casinos to line their own pockets. This will be borne out over a long and painful litigation process that may implicate some insiders in impropriety, but there likely will be no criminal charges to speak of. This episode won’t send anyone to jail the way I see it unfolding, but it will put the Fertittas in a financial freeze if it drags on for years and lawyers of all kinds have to be kept on retainers. If the business is wrenched away from the Fertittas and Colony Capital by Boyd Gaming, and if creditors pick it apart leaving the Fertittas nothing but the UFC, there will be collateral damage to that organization.

What so many people who watch the UFC don’t realize is that the organization is in debt to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. The Fertittas and Dana White enriched themselves personally by assuming that debt for the organization, and much of the first major loan for the company went to buying and destroying PRIDE. The operation from payroll to promotional expenses is not suffering by any measure, and the debt load is not uncharacteristic considering Forbes Magazine put a billion dollar potential price tag on the UFC. Still, if the Fertittas continue to struggle and get bogged down and distracted because of the Station Casinos bankruptcy, they will not have as much of their own personal money to put toward getting the UFC out of debt. There is talk of selling an interest in the company, and it’s not as unlikely now to think about the whole thing going up for sale in time.

The Fertittas may not be front and center and always in the spotlight for their UFC endeavors, but they are the main financial masterminds behind the organization. As much as folks give Dana White credit for revolutionizing the sport, his people skills have been tremendously lacking of late. He also has only a limited financial interest in the company as far as ownership goes. He doesn’t make the big decisions people might think he does, because he’s simply the mouthpiece and not the money man. Dana White’s business savvy is a facade built by years of brainwashing the UFC’s fan base through constant media manipulation. White’s pulled off a masterful hoodwinking by inspiring such polarizing responses from fans who are split between those who love to hate the guy and those quick to credit him with revolutionizing the sport. My inside sources tell me the guy is not all there in real life. I’ve been told Dana once tried to sell a painting he paid millions of dollars for only to find out on appraisal that the masterpiece was just a simple print.

If you’re looking to Mr. White as the guy who is going to save MMA, don’t hold your breath. This guy will only make it worse if he continues to shit on his own talent. His negativity and irresponsibility will only further the issues currently facing the UFC. The organization is simultaneously dealing with sweeping injuries, a couple bad main event decisions, the Station Casinos distraction, and a Strikeforce resurgence that promises to give the UFC a real run for its money. A follow up to this piece will come out over the weekend. Stay tuned. My next installment will delve into more of the reasons why Dana White’s in your face bravado is turning the UFC as a whole into a bad reality show. Even though it continues to claim the top spot in the industry, the UFC’s treatment of fighters and White’s seemingly constant badmouthing and public disputes with his own most valuable employees (the fighters) would be unhealthy in any organization. It’s downright toxic for the UFC for a guy in Dana’s position to have so much power to muck things up. The push for ratings and controversy is getting stale and turning fighters like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson away from the sport entirely. As the Fertittas run out of money to pay for White’s mistakes, they won’t be able to hide the problems he’s created.

Right now everything on the surface looks like the whole operation could be on autopilot for the next 10 years and be fine. Dig a little deeper, though, and you will notice this is an organization that is heading for turmoil. The main problem is not that it can’t handle such turmoil, though. The real disaster lies in the fact that the UFC as a whole doesn’t even seem to realize how hopeless the situation might be if these trends continue. Like the culinary union coming out of the woodwork to levy serious allegations on behalf of their non-unionized brethren about to lose their livelihoods, at some point the insiders at the UFC will be so adversely affected that someone will have to come out and speak for them, too. The fighter angst increasingly showing itself in isolated incidents might spread like a virus and explode like a powder keg. It’s only a matter of time before people really get sick of White and the Fertittas taking all the credit and the spoils for the work of the many staff members behind their success. That of course includes all the fighters who often sacrifice the most for the success of the company and get the least return on their overall investment. It’s time for the other shoe to drop, and it just might drop in a big pile of dog shit, so don’t say I didn’t warn you when it finally does happen.

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