Dana White says he ‘expected’ Georges St-Pierre to vacate middleweight title

[20falarVerdades]

I think you're the third person I see saying this. It's the third time I ask for a source for that and who was tested, and I guess it's the third time I won't get any source for that supposed "fact"?

This is all well documented. The program started in December 2013, GSP retired weeks before

"We are no longer going to just test fight night or post-fight. We're going to test depending on how we feel as a commission."

"The program is a major improvement from the traditional fight-night tests the NSAC relies on, as it calls for random blood tests during an athlete's camp. Different fight-night urine tests screen for steroids, diuretics and drugs of abuse and cost as little as $145, but are routinely criticized as being easy to cheat."

"You don't give the fighters any notice. The collector calls and says, 'I'm half an hour away from your house. Be prepared to provide a sample.' That same collector has to fly from Salt Lake City to where the fighters live and train, collect a sample and then fly back. That's the most expensive part."

http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/...d-jake-ellenberger-robbie-lawler-ufc-173-bout

 

[ufcfan4]

Dana can assert he’s angry but the fact is UFC 217 got a boost from georges’ presence and that’s what the UFC wanted.

St-Pierre got the fight he wanted and the payday. UFC got more eyes on the card- one of the best selling shows of 2017. I’m a big fan of JJ, Dillashaw and No love and think Rose is the shit but I’m not going to pretend that the card would have had over 800k buys without GSP headlining against Bis.

What did it cost them? The MW Belt has to get vacated. Big deal- Bis was not fighting the best of the best and having an absolute legend of the sport take that title from him was a cool moment that now just opens up the division more which is a good thing.

Not trying to knock Bispings fighting spirit. He’s always taken on all comers except when he got the belt and became overly concerned with the advantageous fights.

 

[Mga223]

But Dana bf can run around doing dumb shit and not defend.

At least gsp didn't hold the title for a year and then say ugh nah I can't fight
.

 

[Ace88]

I think it’s clear Dana doesn’t like him because he’s about as risk-averse as a grandmother at a casino who feeds a dollar into a penny slot machine and then goes home for a nap.

Dana isn’t just a businessman. He is also a fan.

Pulling in coin isn’t enough. You have to exhibit a warrior spirit which George hasn’t shown in eons.

I agree with you except for the last sentence. GSP normally didn’t put it on the line but against Bisping he did. He proved me wrong. He threw down, got bloodied up and finished him. To say he didn’t exhibit a warrior spirit after that performance and moving up a weight class is just plain wrong. But everything else you said I think has merit.

 

[leolozon]

This is all well documented. The program started in December 2013, GSP retired weeks before

"We are no longer going to just test fight night or post-fight. We're going to test depending on how we feel as a commission."

"The program is a major improvement from the traditional fight-night tests the NSAC relies on, as it calls for random blood tests during an athlete's camp. Different fight-night urine tests screen for steroids, diuretics and drugs of abuse and cost as little as $145, but are routinely criticized as being easy to cheat."

"You don't give the fighters any notice. The collector calls and says, 'I'm half an hour away from your house. Be prepared to provide a sample.' That same collector has to fly from Salt Lake City to where the fighters live and train, collect a sample and then fly back. That's the most expensive part."

http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/...d-jake-ellenberger-robbie-lawler-ufc-173-bout

But his isn't december 2013, it's a fight in may 2014 and it says in this article that it's a first. The testing in december was because Barnett had to be tested for his license, because he had tested positive previously.

Plus, how many fighters were tested before it became widespread at the end of 2015? It seems like it wasn't everyone and that the tests weren't as thorough.

"The testing consists of a "WADA partial menu... None of this testing appears as though it would catch any narcotics, drugs of abuse, stimulants, diuretics, etc....There is no EPO testing...there is no CIR testing..."

https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/2/11/5402242/nsac-ufc-drug-testing-steroid-cir-ped

And it seems like it was in part because of GSP : "The UFC came under some PR fire following Georges St. Pierre stepping away from the sport as the long-time welterweight champion said that he felt the UFC did not have his back on cleaning up the sport."

It seems, seems, to me, that someone who dislikes GSP is changing the truth in some parts (testing in december 2013) and decide to ignore that GSP being vocal AND getting tested for his bout against Hendricks maybe had an influence.

It's like if some activist working in a clothing store complained about the use of fur and decided to leave. Then a couple of months later, because of pressure, the store decides to stop using fur. And some people look at that and say : "The store isn't selling fur anymore and the activist isn't working there!!! That must meen he was for the use of fur all that time!!!"

How stupid would that sound?

 

[GSP_37]

What's the contractual penalty?

 

[thobra]

There is a connection with four of the five aforesaid fighters...

Sure, and nobody wanted to go there to challenge them.

 

[McGruber]

How stupid would that sound?

Lance Armstrong was one of the biggest anti-PED crusader of all time. In fact, virtually every single athlete who has ever tested positive for PED's is anti PED. It's company line of professional athletes. It means nothing.

 

[UL]

No he didn't.

 

[fzoid4454]

Maybe if Dana made real championship fights instead of letting a guy like bisping hold the title hostage for 17 months, shit like this wouldnt happen. GSP has made a mockery of the UFC title credibility and a mockery of the accomplishment 2 Division Champion. 'An accomplishment that should always have an * next to it in GSPs case as he was never an undisputed champion and there was a more legitimate belt in his weight division. The guy he took the UFC tin belt from only had 1 great career win.

GSP choked out the undisputed MW champion. Bisping beat Rockhold, who beat Weidman who took the strap from Silva. There's a clear lineage of the MW crown that was unbroken. There's no disputing that GSP is (well, was) the legitimate champion. I also think there's no disputing that there are 5 to 10 guys who can probably take it from him from within the division.

Since GSP never ducked anyone, and took the belt from the champ, he's undisputed as the MW champ. If you have an issue with whether the very best MWs are holding onto that strap, you need to take that up with Rockhold.

 

[moreorless87]

So just to be clear here, Dana knew GSP was just coming in to take a winnable fight and had no intention of defending but they still went ahead and gave him the fight anyway? Am I supposed to feel bad for Dana or the UFC here? Honestly all this bullshit with Bisping, GSP, McGregor, Diaz, Dillashaw, Mighty Mouse, they all have one thing in common and it's that the UFC are just as willing to dick around to make a short term payday. At least the fighter's can admit they have a limited shelf life and understandably want to make the most of it, what's the UFC's excuse?

Dana "dicking around" in favour if Bisping is IMHO worse as you can't even really point to a business positive there, Mike has never been a big draw even here in the UK as champ he's almost totally unknown. Dana's biggest issue IMHO is that he likes to play favourites, certain fighters who are viewed as "loyal" tend to get preffential treatment.

I very strongly suspect that whilst the UFC wanted GSP's draw Dana actually thought Bisping was going to win this match.

 

[Rider1]

George’s came to his house and smacked him in


Dana reigned in the aggression after that

 

[krelianx]

GSP just disclaimed a career ending disease, and people treat him as if he's a bitch.

He said his disease was mild and that he would be fine in response to the question whether this was career ending.

So, no.

 

[MMA Maine-iac]

GSP conned Dana.

As he should have. People forget Dana, and the UFC, completely shit on GSP after the Hendricks fight. I'm glad GSP got his revenge.

 

[giusti825]

GSP choked out the undisputed MW champion. Bisping beat Rockhold, who beat Weidman who took the strap from Silva. There's a clear lineage of the MW crown that was unbroken. There's no disputing that GSP is (well, was) the legitimate champion. I also think there's no disputing that there are 5 to 10 guys who can probably take it from him from within the division.

Since GSP never ducked anyone, and took the belt from the champ, he's undisputed as the MW champ. If you have an issue with whether the very best MWs are holding onto that strap, you need to take that up with Rockhold.

Bisping was responsible for 17 of the 24 months the MW belt went without being legitimately defended. In that time, Whitaker beat Natal, Brunson, Jacare and Romero (and Uriah Hall who was coming off the Mousasi win). When Whitaker beat Romero, it had been 575 days (19 months) since the MW belt had been defended against a top contender while Whitaker had knocked off the #12, #6, #2 and #1. Whitakers belt was the real one. A title that isnt legitimately contested for over a year loses its legitimacy, but when they gave the real champ a belt for beating the top contenders, Bisbings claim to the title became the biggest joke in the sport. It would be like GSP claiming he was still the WW champ today.....

Calling Bisping undisputed champ after July 2017 is ridiculous. He hadnt legitimately defended the belt since the fLuke over a year prior and there was a champ in the division who just beat the #2 and #1 contenders back to back. Thats about as disputed as a title can possibly get. Only one belt had any legitimacy....and it sure as hell wasnt the ornament that Bispieng carried around.

The belt wasnt vacated, it died of illegitimacy after going 2 whole years (726 days) without being defended against any top MWs.

 

[milenss]

GSP scared of Woodley?
lol
That's really news.
GSP will penetrate Woodley's head with a jab all night.

 

[FrankieNYC]

So why even put it in the contract? if you arent going to do anything about it, and were already expecting....

Excellent question.

But there are a few things to consider

1. They cannot make a fighter fight.
2. We do not know what EXACTLY is in the contract regarding that clause. GSP could be fined by UFC or GSP might contractually have to voluntarily vacate the belt within X amount of days, etc. It could be both

There is definitely more to the added clause than "you have to fight", because that is not something to be enforced

 

[Verace]

Contracts don't work that way. Especially in the fight game. There are "if, then" scenarios in every contract. The basic "if/then" scenarios in a fight contract are typically:

1. "If the promotion does not offer a fight to the fighter, then the fighter gets paid anyway OR there is a breach of contract and the fighter is permitted to sign with another promoter."

2. "If the fighter refuses to fight, then the fighter does not get paid AND the fighter is not permitted to look to get paid by fighting for another promoter."

Without seeing it, the GSP contract likely says something along the lines of this:

GSP has a three fight contract for x number of dollars per fight.

The first of those fights is for the MW championship.

If he wins, the second of those fights must be a MW defense.

So that:

IF GSP refuses to defend at MW, THEN the UFC does not have to offer him another fight, does not have to pay him, and he is not permitted to fight for another promotion.

That's it. Their only leverage is that he doesn't get paid to fight, by them or anyone else, until and unless he fulfills his contract obligations.

In other words, GSP is defacto retired, unless the UFC wants to renegotiate with him for a fight in another weight class. The ball is in their court.

Excellent question.

But there are a few things to consider

1. They cannot make a fighter fight.
2. We do not know what EXACTLY is in the contract regarding that clause. GSP could be fined by UFC or GSP might contractually have to voluntarily vacate the belt within X amount of days, etc. It could be both

There is definitely more to the added clause than "you have to fight", because that is not something to be enforced

Thank you both for your replies.

Still think GSP seriously conned them with the whole colitis thing imo.

The whole illness thing sounds like a perfect loophole to get out of any contract obligations

 

[FrankieNYC]

Thank you both for your replies.

Still think GSP seriously conned them with the whole colitis thing imo

Your welcome but there is no con.

UFC made tens of millions off that fight & it was the biggest fight of the year.
I wish I could be conned that way.

 

[Verace]

Your welcome but there is no con.

UFC made tens of millions off that fight & it was the biggest fight of the year.
I wish I could be conned that way.

i updated my other post, but i guess wasnt in time... but i added: "The whole illness thing sounds like a perfect loophole to get out of any contract obligations"