UFC fighters with the most "Dana White Privilege"?

My short list.

1) Conor McGregor - He's been a mid to lower level fighter for years but gets whatever he wants because he's the biggest cashcow in the sport and the embodiment of a WWE character who's mouth has gotten him places because he can sell a fight like no other.

2) Jorge Masdvial - I'll admit it's cool he comes comes from the Kimbo era but it seems like the UFC wants him to be at the top of company because he's a draw more than because of his achievements in the Octagon.

3) Sean O'Malley - He's a talented striker and a worthy top 10 fighter but the fact that he's ranked #2 and next in line for a titleshot in the stacked BW division after a highway robbery against Yan tells you all you need to know. His personal style really speaks to the Zoomer crowd.

4) Colby Covington - He really has no notable wins outside a past their prime fighters. He's a good fighter but doesn't belong anywhere near another title shot. Some find his gimmick lame but he invests a hell of a lot into it so you at least have to give him that.

5) Brian Ortega - Hasn't had a win in years, two titleshots already. He's a good fighter, but let's be real about how his looks have gotten him where he is. He doesn't even really have a gimmick like the others here he's simply the UFC pinup boy.

Honorable mentions

Paddy Pimblett - It's pretty obvious the UFC wants him to be something he probably never will be and are trying to protect him against lower level fighters hoping he'll one day blossum. He has a goofy charm that makes him memorable but he's probably the least skilled fighter on this list.

Micheal Chandler - he loses an awful lot yet is somehow still relevant and I'd probably put him higher on the list if he didn't sacrifice himself to the JBG every single fight and wasn't so damn entertaining in the cage.



I´d add Jon Jones in there although he is not white, he still gets treated like a priveledged golden child of the ufc and usada. Entire ufc Events and entire ped testing procedures have been reworked to accomidate this cheater.
 
So what, Dana likes good fighters with personality and charisma. Belal has none except good fighter for example. . You have to bring energy to any job interview or an audition or you’re getting passed up. UFC no different.
what if you bring that energy you speak of, and are the perfect candidate for the job but the employer discriminates you based on factors you cant even control?
 
And in what fucking world were Diaz (x2) and Cerrone top five fighters?
Conor hasn't only fought top 5 guys since 2014. He fought Nate twice and Donald Cerrone. He hasn't beaten a top 5 fighter since 2016.

The world where they quite literally were ranked top 5.

Feb 29, 2016 rankings prior to Conor/Diaz I:

Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos
1Eddie Alvarez
2Khabib Nurmagomedov
3Anthony Pettis
4Tony Ferguson
5Nate Diaz
6Michael Johnson
7Beneil Dariush
8Edson Barboza
9Donald Cerrone
10Dustin Poirier
10Al Iaquinta
12Bobby Green
13Evan Dunham
14Michael Chiesa
15Rashid Magomedov

Aug 9, 2016 rankings prior to Conor/Diaz II

Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez
1Khabib Nurmagomedov
2Rafael Dos Anjos
3Tony Ferguson
4Nate Diaz
5Edson Barboza
6Donald Cerrone
7Anthony Pettis
8Dustin Poirier
9Michael Chiesa
10Michael Johnson
11Beneil Dariush
12Will Brooks
13Al Iaquinta
14Gilbert Melendez
15Rashid Magomedov

Dec 24, 2019 rankings prior to Conor/Cerrone:

Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov
1Tony Ferguson
2Dustin Poirier
3Justin Gaethje
4Conor McGregor
5Donald Cerrone
6Paul Felder
7Dan Hooker
8Kevin Lee
9Al Iaquinta
10Edson Barboza
11Anthony Pettis
12Gregor Gillespie
13Charles Oliveira
14Alexander Hernandez
15Islam Makhachev

Nate and Cerrone were top 5 when Conor fought them. In fact when you look at the rankings, when Conor got his LW title shot he was coming off the best win of anybody other than Eddie himself. Beating Nate actually did semi-legitimize his title shot.
 
My short list.

1) Conor McGregor - He's been a mid to lower level fighter for years but gets whatever he wants because he's the biggest cashcow in the sport and the embodiment of a WWE character who's mouth has gotten him places because he can sell a fight like no other.

2) Jorge Masdvial - I'll admit it's cool he comes comes from the Kimbo era but it seems like the UFC wants him to be at the top of company because he's a draw more than because of his achievements in the Octagon.

3) Sean O'Malley - He's a talented striker and a worthy top 10 fighter but the fact that he's ranked #2 and next in line for a titleshot in the stacked BW division after a highway robbery against Yan tells you all you need to know. His personal style really speaks to the Zoomer crowd.

4) Colby Covington - He really has no notable wins outside a past their prime fighters. He's a good fighter but doesn't belong anywhere near another title shot. Some find his gimmick lame but he invests a hell of a lot into it so you at least have to give him that.

5) Brian Ortega - Hasn't had a win in years, two titleshots already. He's a good fighter, but let's be real about how his looks have gotten him where he is. He doesn't even really have a gimmick like the others here he's simply the UFC pinup boy.

Honorable mentions

Paddy Pimblett - It's pretty obvious the UFC wants him to be something he probably never will be and are trying to protect him against lower level fighters hoping he'll one day blossum. He has a goofy charm that makes him memorable but he's probably the least skilled fighter on this list.

Micheal Chandler - he loses an awful lot yet is somehow still relevant and I'd probably put him higher on the list if he didn't sacrifice himself to the JBG every single fight and wasn't so damn entertaining in the cage.
you just made a list of the most bankable promoters. many of them (perhaps all of them) work extremely hard to promote their fights, which helps ufc. not to mention, many of those fighters still win over top competition. since a privilege by definition can’t be something earned, id say these fighters can’t have “dana white privilege.”

a better example would be sam alvey. i think ufc even admitted, they kept him around because they like him.
 
betting against andrei and diego if it gos to the cards is betting against the house
 
My short list.

1) Conor McGregor - He's been a mid to lower level fighter for years but gets whatever he wants because he's the biggest cashcow in the sport and the embodiment of a WWE character who's mouth has gotten him places because he can sell a fight like no other.

2) Jorge Masdvial - I'll admit it's cool he comes comes from the Kimbo era but it seems like the UFC wants him to be at the top of company because he's a draw more than because of his achievements in the Octagon.

3) Sean O'Malley - He's a talented striker and a worthy top 10 fighter but the fact that he's ranked #2 and next in line for a titleshot in the stacked BW division after a highway robbery against Yan tells you all you need to know. His personal style really speaks to the Zoomer crowd.

4) Colby Covington - He really has no notable wins outside a past their prime fighters. He's a good fighter but doesn't belong anywhere near another title shot. Some find his gimmick lame but he invests a hell of a lot into it so you at least have to give him that.

5) Brian Ortega - Hasn't had a win in years, two titleshots already. He's a good fighter, but let's be real about how his looks have gotten him where he is. He doesn't even really have a gimmick like the others here he's simply the UFC pinup boy.

Honorable mentions

Paddy Pimblett - It's pretty obvious the UFC wants him to be something he probably never will be and are trying to protect him against lower level fighters hoping he'll one day blossum. He has a goofy charm that makes him memorable but he's probably the least skilled fighter on this list.

Micheal Chandler - he loses an awful lot yet is somehow still relevant and I'd probably put him higher on the list if he didn't sacrifice himself to the JBG every single fight and wasn't so damn entertaining in the cage.
If you don't like it, then don't freaking watch it.
 
Holly Holmes gets a title shot after 1 win
 
He didn't fight either of them at LW, but lol at them just placing Nate in the top 5 because he was fighting Conor. Here's the sherdog rankings from 6 weeks before the fight where Nate wasn't even top 10.


https://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/6/Sherdogs-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-98739
Lightweight

1. Rafael dos Anjos (25-7)
Dos Anjos’ first UFC title defense could hardly have gone better, as the Brazilian ace tore through Donald Cerrone in 66 seconds to end 2015 with gold around his waist. The Kings MMA product has lost just once in his last 11 outings -- an April 2014 decision defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov -- and while dos Anjos would surely like to avenge that loss, the champ has booked a March 5 super fight with new featherweight king Conor McGregor at UFC 197.

2. Donald Cerrone (28-7, 1 NC)
Cerrone may be one of the most exciting fighters in the lightweight division, but “Cowboy” continues to stumble when it matters most. His bid to take the UFC title from Rafael dos Anjos lasted only 66 seconds, as Cerrone wilted under an early onslaught from the champion. The loss snapped an eight-fight, two-year unbeaten streak during which Cerrone bested the likes of Benson Henderson, Eddie Alvarez and Edson Barboza. He will be back in action on Feb. 21, when he moves up to 170 pounds for a UFC Fight Night main event with Tim Means.

3. Eddie Alvarez (27-4)
Alvarez utilized a gritty, grapple-heavy game plan to grind out Anthony Pettis during their three-round Jan. 17 bout in Boston, and the result was a much-needed decision win for the former Bellator champion. After stumbling in his UFC debut against Donald Cerrone, Alvarez has won back-to-back nods against Pettis and Gilbert Melendez, albeit by slim margins.

4. Anthony Pettis (18-4)
In his first fight since losing the UFC lightweight title to Rafael dos Anjos, “Showtime” was once again suffocated by aggressive grappling, this time at the hands of Eddie Alvarez. Pettis’ split decision loss to Alvarez on Jan. 17 marked the first time the Milwaukee native has dropped back-to-back bouts in his nine-year career.


5. Tony Ferguson (20-3)
Over the course of two years and seven straight victories, Ferguson has become one of the hottest commodities in the UFC’s famously deep lightweight division. The former “Ultimate Fighter” winner’s latest conquest came at “The Ultimate Fighter 22” Finale, where he tapped Edson Barboza with a second-round brabo choke in the show’s thrilling “Fight of the Night.”

6. Will Brooks (16-1)
Brooks maintained his spot atop the Bellator MMA lightweight division by defending his title with a five-round unanimous decision over Polish submission wiz Marcin Held on Nov. 6. The 29-year-old American Top Team fighter’s record includes wins over veteran names like John Alessio and Satoru Kitaoka, as well as a pair of victories against ex-titlist Michael Chandler.

7. Beneil Dariush (12-1)
Dariush got his fifth win in 12 months when he nabbed a close and controversial split decision from Michael Johnson on Aug. 8 in Nashville. Though his takedowns were stuffed throughout the 15-minute affair, the Kings MMA product kept busy with leg kicks and came on strong in the final frame to earn the nod from two of the three judges. Dariush’s current hot streak also includes victories against Jim Miller and Daron Cruickshank.

8. Al Iaquinta (12-3-1)
Iaquinta snatched a highly controversial split decision from Jorge Masvidal in their April encounter, but his previous three wins -- technical knockouts of Joe Lauzon, Ross Pearson and Rodrigo Damm -- were unquestionable. The New Yorker was slated to compete on July 15 in San Diego, but an injury to Bobby Green and a failed drug test from Gilbert Melendez left Iaquinta without an opponent. Iaquinta has since undergone knee surgery and will be out of commission until the middle of 2016.

9. Edson Barboza (16-4)
Barboza fought tooth-and-nail with Tony Ferguson for nearly eight minutes before succumbing to a second-round brabo choke from “El Cucuy.” The setback leaves Barboza with a 1-2 record in 2015, with a decision win over Paul Felder sandwiched between losses to Ferguson and Michael Johnson.

10. Evan Dunham (17-6)
Dunham had a few rough years in the UFC lightweight division but resurfaced in 2015 with a trio of solid victories. The all-action Oregonian this year earned decision wins over Ross Pearson, Rodrigo Damm and, most recently, Joe Lauzon.

Other Contenders: Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje, Michael Johnson, Adriano Martins, Gleison Tibau.
 
He didn't fight either of them at LW, but lol at them just placing Nate in the top 5 because he was fighting Conor. Here's the sherdog rankings from 6 weeks before the fight where Nate wasn't even top 10.


https://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/6/Sherdogs-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-98739
Lightweight

1. Rafael dos Anjos (25-7)
Dos Anjos’ first UFC title defense could hardly have gone better, as the Brazilian ace tore through Donald Cerrone in 66 seconds to end 2015 with gold around his waist. The Kings MMA product has lost just once in his last 11 outings -- an April 2014 decision defeat against Khabib Nurmagomedov -- and while dos Anjos would surely like to avenge that loss, the champ has booked a March 5 super fight with new featherweight king Conor McGregor at UFC 197.

2. Donald Cerrone (28-7, 1 NC)
Cerrone may be one of the most exciting fighters in the lightweight division, but “Cowboy” continues to stumble when it matters most. His bid to take the UFC title from Rafael dos Anjos lasted only 66 seconds, as Cerrone wilted under an early onslaught from the champion. The loss snapped an eight-fight, two-year unbeaten streak during which Cerrone bested the likes of Benson Henderson, Eddie Alvarez and Edson Barboza. He will be back in action on Feb. 21, when he moves up to 170 pounds for a UFC Fight Night main event with Tim Means.

3. Eddie Alvarez (27-4)
Alvarez utilized a gritty, grapple-heavy game plan to grind out Anthony Pettis during their three-round Jan. 17 bout in Boston, and the result was a much-needed decision win for the former Bellator champion. After stumbling in his UFC debut against Donald Cerrone, Alvarez has won back-to-back nods against Pettis and Gilbert Melendez, albeit by slim margins.

4. Anthony Pettis (18-4)
In his first fight since losing the UFC lightweight title to Rafael dos Anjos, “Showtime” was once again suffocated by aggressive grappling, this time at the hands of Eddie Alvarez. Pettis’ split decision loss to Alvarez on Jan. 17 marked the first time the Milwaukee native has dropped back-to-back bouts in his nine-year career.


5. Tony Ferguson (20-3)
Over the course of two years and seven straight victories, Ferguson has become one of the hottest commodities in the UFC’s famously deep lightweight division. The former “Ultimate Fighter” winner’s latest conquest came at “The Ultimate Fighter 22” Finale, where he tapped Edson Barboza with a second-round brabo choke in the show’s thrilling “Fight of the Night.”

6. Will Brooks (16-1)
Brooks maintained his spot atop the Bellator MMA lightweight division by defending his title with a five-round unanimous decision over Polish submission wiz Marcin Held on Nov. 6. The 29-year-old American Top Team fighter’s record includes wins over veteran names like John Alessio and Satoru Kitaoka, as well as a pair of victories against ex-titlist Michael Chandler.

7. Beneil Dariush (12-1)
Dariush got his fifth win in 12 months when he nabbed a close and controversial split decision from Michael Johnson on Aug. 8 in Nashville. Though his takedowns were stuffed throughout the 15-minute affair, the Kings MMA product kept busy with leg kicks and came on strong in the final frame to earn the nod from two of the three judges. Dariush’s current hot streak also includes victories against Jim Miller and Daron Cruickshank.

8. Al Iaquinta (12-3-1)
Iaquinta snatched a highly controversial split decision from Jorge Masvidal in their April encounter, but his previous three wins -- technical knockouts of Joe Lauzon, Ross Pearson and Rodrigo Damm -- were unquestionable. The New Yorker was slated to compete on July 15 in San Diego, but an injury to Bobby Green and a failed drug test from Gilbert Melendez left Iaquinta without an opponent. Iaquinta has since undergone knee surgery and will be out of commission until the middle of 2016.

9. Edson Barboza (16-4)
Barboza fought tooth-and-nail with Tony Ferguson for nearly eight minutes before succumbing to a second-round brabo choke from “El Cucuy.” The setback leaves Barboza with a 1-2 record in 2015, with a decision win over Paul Felder sandwiched between losses to Ferguson and Michael Johnson.

10. Evan Dunham (17-6)
Dunham had a few rough years in the UFC lightweight division but resurfaced in 2015 with a trio of solid victories. The all-action Oregonian this year earned decision wins over Ross Pearson, Rodrigo Damm and, most recently, Joe Lauzon.

Other Contenders: Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje, Michael Johnson, Adriano Martins, Gleison Tibau.

Lmfao at using MMA websites rankings to dance around the fact that Nate was indeed OFFICIALLY top 5 in the UFC when he fought Conor. ESPECIALLY when it includes non-UFC fighters that can't even be ranked in the UFC and so take up spots there. Talk about desperate much.

There also was zero conspiracy to make Nate top 5 before fighting Conor. What happened was because Cerrone had been obliterated by RDA in December he decided to moved up to WW and already gone and beaten Cowboy Oliveira. He was no longer a LW and so had steadily been dropping down the rankings as reviewers stopped ranking him at LW now that he officially wasn't a LW. Nate was rightfully top 5.
 
The world where they quite literally were ranked top 5.
Official UFC rankings that the UFC deliberately manipulated to make matchups look less ridiculous? Really? Seriously?

Also, I didn't ask in which rankings or, even which "rankings" were Diaz and Cowboy top five at the time of their McGregor fights; I asked in what world and you answered: a fantasy world cooked up by the UFC to make Conor look less ridiculous.

Cowboy was 4-6 in his last ten, with losses to six different fighters, having gotten completely wrecked in his last two fights in the half-year before the McGregor fight, and was very old in MMA years at the time of his fight with Conor. Literally everyone knew that was a squash match.

Diaz was 2-3 over his past 5, 5-5 over his past 10, and 8-8 over his last 16 fights when he first fought McGregor, again with all the losses coming to different fighters, a well established .500 fighter against mostly good. some bad, and a couple of elite fighters, with losses to both elites.

Cowboy was completely done when he fought McGregor, and Diaz was sniffing around the top ten at best, definitely not a top 5.
 
Official UFC rankings that the UFC deliberately manipulated to make matchups look less ridiculous? Really? Seriously?

Also, I didn't ask in which rankings or, even which "rankings" were Diaz and Cowboy top five at the time of their McGregor fights; I asked in what world and you answered: a fantasy world cooked up by the UFC to make Conor look less ridiculous.

Cowboy was 4-6 in his last ten, with losses to six different fighters, having gotten completely wrecked in his last two fights in the half-year before the McGregor fight, and was very old in MMA years at the time of his fight with Conor. Literally everyone knew that was a squash match.

Diaz was 2-3 over his past 5, 5-5 over his past 10, and 8-8 over his last 16 fights when he first fought McGregor, again with all the losses coming to different fighters, a well established .500 fighter against mostly good. some bad, and a couple of elite fighters, with losses to both elites.

Cowboy was completely done when he fought McGregor, and Diaz was sniffing around the top ten at best, definitely not a top 5.

Yes, the UFC totally manipulated the rankings by having Cowboy move up to WW and beating Cowboy Olivieira, thereby making Diaz move up into his top 5 spot now that Cerrone wasn't a LW. How amazingly foresighted of them to have Cowboy move up weeks before RDA was ever even injured and Diaz would have to step in for RDA.

giphy.gif
 
Lmfao at using MMA websites rankings to dance around the fact that Nate was indeed OFFICIALLY top 5 in the UFC when he fought Conor. ESPECIALLY when it includes non-UFC fighters that can't even be ranked in the UFC and so take up spots there. Talk about desperate much.

There also was zero conspiracy to make Nate top 5 before fighting Conor. What happened was because Cerrone had been obliterated by RDA in December he decided to moved up to WW and already gone and beaten Cowboy Oliveira. He was no longer a LW and so had steadily been dropping down the rankings as reviewers stopped ranking him at LW now that he officially wasn't a LW. Nate was rightfully top 5.
Lol indeed. There is 1 fighter on that list that wasn't in the UFC.

Again, Conor didn't fight either of them at LW anyway, and your claim that he wasn't protected when Nate was clearly picked specifically to be an easy win so Conor could hold his title shot, and even that didn't work so they gave him an instant rematch and gave him a LW title shot anyway for going 1-1 with Nate Diaz.
 
there is no dana privilege, guys who make the organization money get treated better. Paddy might be getting extra points though for shit talking Ariel on his fake podcast
 
Again, Conor didn't fight either of them at LW anyway, and your claim that he wasn't protected when Nate was clearly picked specifically to be an easy win so Conor could hold his title shot, and even that didn't work so they gave him an instant rematch and gave him a LW title shot anyway for going 1-1 with Nate Diaz.

Nate was "picked" because:
  • RDA had pulled out
  • Eddie and Pettis had just fought each other
  • Khabib was injured
  • Cerrone had moved to WW
  • Ferguson had just brutally fought
  • Faber turned it down
  • Edgar turned it down
  • Nate had infamously called out Conor after beating Johnson a few months back
  • Nate said yes
 
Exactly. Dana has a history of giving in to fighters who stand up to him, like any good bully.

Dana was legitimately scared of Stipe when he was screaming in his face demanding a title shot.

"Who the hell was going to say no to him? He was like a psycho – of course I wasn’t going to say no"

Stipe's Dana privilege comes not from kissing up to Dana, but standing up to him. Other fighters should learn. Now whatever Stipe wants, Stipe gets.
Weird take

I usually notice the opposite. If you stand up to Dana he makes your life hell. Got any other examples?
 
Back
Top