Chatri Sityodtong open to fight Dana White: ‘I don’t think he knows anything about martial arts’
1 CEO vs. UFC President? Do not rule it out.
On The MMA Hour Wednesday, Chatri Sityodtong remaining the door open up for a struggle versus UFC manager Dana White soon after his A single Championship social media staff despatched out a post lately inquiring, “Who wishes to see Chatri vs. Dana,” accompanied by footage of Sityodtong education.
Sityodtong insisted that the submit and his response — “send me location” — was strictly tongue-in-cheek, but he did not mince text when asked for his feelings on how White operates the UFC and promotions with his fighters.
“I feel he is an exceptional businessman,” Sityodtong said. “I really do not necessarily concur with the way he does things, but certainly he’s crafted UFC into a phenomenal organization. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. But I never imagine he is aware nearly anything about martial arts. I never think he knows everything about preventing. I imagine he’s a supporter, so I have distinctions. I occur from the martial arts neighborhood. I occur from the martial arts history. And how I treat my athletes, they are my peers. I come from the group. It’s pretty, quite various.
“I consider if you have never been punched in the facial area or choked out, you can disrespect individuals publicly [with your comments]. But if you have had lifelong tricky instruction — I just say we have stylistic discrepancies. I don’t especially regard the way he talks down to athletes.”
White, 52, has been the experience of the UFC’s small business aspect of operations given that 2001 and has garnered both equally acclaim and criticism for his community persona. He is credited with owning a important affect on the amazing growth of the UFC, but has also been given criticism for his brash angle and public clashes with other promoters and his personal fighters.
Even though Sityodtong isn’t actively pursuing a battle with White, if the chance ended up to somehow arise, he would welcome it.
“I’m a lifelong martial artist,” Sityodtong stated. “I’ve been executing Muay Thai for 35 years and I’m a jiu-jitsu brown belt. I coach 5, six moments a week. If there’s a combat with someone my age, why not? I’m 50, turning 51 this calendar year. I prepare 5, six days a 7 days, one particular or two several hours just about every working day.”
Sityodtong talked about that his marketing and advertising crew has really questioned him in the past if he would be intrigued in competing, but the right scenario has not offered itself.
When questioned about fighter pay back, an additional popular subject of competition when it comes to speaking about White and the UFC, Sityodtong considers his personal negotiations to be fairer, comparatively talking.
“I never assume athletes complain from our stop,” Sityodtong mentioned. “We have excellent — once more, you are always going to have a handful of folks who disagree with you, but I would say 95 per cent of our roster, we have a superior relationship. Just overall there is a beneficial strength with our interactions. Naturally, it’s not all people. There is heading to be people today who are not satisfied. But I’m expressing all round, whether it’s Muay Thai or MMA or kickboxing or submission grappling, I consider we consider our time to make sure we pay top rated market place. That is why [Demetrious Johnson] would be a part of or Eddie [Alvarez] would be a part of, or Sage [Northcutt], or any of these men and our present-day champions.
“Of course, like any firm, there are always going to be athletes who believe they should really get compensated more. And if it is sensible, then we’ll shell out extra. I imagine the notion for our strategy at least is to try to have a win-win solution genuinely, a partnership method with our athletes. If they supply worth, then we pay out for them, simply because it’s symbiotic.”
