UFC President Dana White Hits Out At EA Sports

by VGChartz Staff, posted on 12 July 2009 / 1,827 Views

After the historic UFC 100 event, a press conference was held and several reporters got time to talk to the fighters and Dana about the event, and the hit new MMA game "UFC 2009 Undisputed". Judging from what Dana has said, there is a lot of bad blood between the UFC and EA Sports.

Dana claimed that he is "at war" with the highly popular videogame company, and has even gone as far to say that those who go to EA... will find themselves out of the UFCs good graces.

"It's easy to sit on the other side of the table and judge me on how I react to stuff like this, but let me tell you what. I've been in the trenches for almost 10 years, and I've been dealing with all these businesses, and EA was one of them."


Dana and the UFC approached EA sports about a game, to go alongside the likes of FIFA, Madden and Tiger Woods but was turned away without even discussing the possibility.

"EA Sports told us, 'You're not a real sport, we wouldn't touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this.'"

"We put our asses on the line, THQ and the UFC, to make a video-game deal in the worst economy in the world. We go out there and do this thing, and it's successful, and now [expletive] EA Sports wants to do a video game. Really? That's not what you told us a year-and-a-half ago. You told us you'd never be in business with us. They wouldn't even take a meeting because mixed martial arts disgusted them. This wasn't a real sport. Boy, they got over that real quick, didn't they?"


Since EA rejected UFC, the rights for the UFC game got passed to THQ and the effort released from them, "UFC 2009 Undisputed" has sold 2 million copies worldwide approximately in under 2 months on sale.

 

Its always nice to have some rivalry in videogames, lets hope that this one will bring us even more hit MMA games!

You can read Dana's full attack on EA Sports here

 

Article originally submitted by Carl2291


27 Comments

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Carl2291
Carl2291 (on 13 July 2009)

@ robotech Dana is talking that way about Brock because UFC are trying to make him the sports "villain" character. Its plain business and a good business strategy to get the press talking about him. And as for the KO of the night... it was the only KO, who else would have won it?

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Forager
Forager (on 13 July 2009)

Robotech....chill....Dana White is just a successful CEO that is making sure his sponsors and fans aren't dissed by fighters....the only reason MMA is still a sport we can watch on tv is because Dana got the politicians to allow it by making professional changes to the sport...if you were a fan you would know that...but my guess is you're just another frustrated EA tool....

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ROBOTECHHEAVEN
ROBOTECHHEAVEN (on 13 July 2009)

dana white is a pure a$$hole and a moron as well. he bitches about brock lesner giving the bird to the crowd at ucf 100 and makes him say he is sorry at the press conference. but the undercard fight he see's a guy get knock the f-out and then gets punched again and he gives the guy a bonus for the best knock of the night and doesnt make him say he is sorry, white is a pure glory hound and he is just getting his so called sport some limelight. he needs to shut the hell up. i hope ea's game sells a ton so ea can give him the bird big time. :)

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Jumpin
Jumpin (on 13 July 2009)

N/M last comment, Dana White is a man?!?!

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Jumpin
Jumpin (on 13 July 2009)

As long as there are hillbillies, UFC/WWE will always sell. Maybe Dana white doesn't know how to treat people with respect, and can't get a contract; she sounds like a total bitch; everything I ever hear about her is about how much she whines. Anyway, when UFC champions come out and fight against MMA or K-1 fighters, they lose in less than a minute. I doubt anyone in the UFC would last more than 5 minutes against Semmy Schildt, Fedor Emelianenko, Badr, Bonjasky, Alistair Overeem, or Jerome Lebanner. I remember seeing Fedor destroy UFC's heavyweight champion in like 10 seconds.

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toadslayer72
toadslayer72 (on 13 July 2009)

Yeah, that's a good one about a Fedor game, I mean we all know he's the man but who wants to play a game where he's kicking the shit out of a bunch of UFC has beens? And like The Steve said, the average hot wing scarfing goon only knows UFC. I'd be willing to bet that there 's more than one pocket protector wearing, Star Wars trivia buff, gaming nerd that only knows UFC as well. Oh and how bout the ESPN coverage for 100? So there you have it, UFC for the masses. Good luck with a non UFC game. Dana White is good at what he does and the one of the coolest things I've ever heard him say regarding the UFC is that he's not gonna let it go down the same path as boxing has. Anyone here remember the days of kicking out the $50 to see Iron Mike pummel some shmuck in like 30 seconds? For less that that you get to see a few quality fights. I don't buy every UFC card but I don't think I've been disappointed with one yet not to mention the good shit you get on Spike every now and then. UFC 100 was awesome, I mean what more could you ask for, Bisping got knock stiff, GSP beat the fuck out of a young cocky bastard for 5 rounds and that smug mother fucker Mir literally got his face rearranged, dude looked like Frankenstein after that fight. UFC FTW!

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richardhutnik
richardhutnik (on 13 July 2009)

Welcome to the world of dealing with EA.

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CaptDS9E
CaptDS9E (on 13 July 2009)

" they are still missing the top heavyweight fighter (Emelianenko), so there's plenty of room for another game skipping the UFC banner. Also I'm not too sure what's happened with the other top heavyweights who've fought Emelianenko recently - I'm presuming they had to drop UFC affiliation for it. There's no Arlovski or Sylvia in the game for instance. The problem is the UFC is big and it's a one-off deal, while collecting the rights for other fighters is going to be a bit more fragmented." Sylvia became a horrible fighter after his battles with Arlovski. not one good match after them. Same with Arlovski. It's like they both wore each other out before there time.

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ithis
ithis (on 13 July 2009)

I thought the president of UFC was a woman and I was like wow. But now I find that in fact the president of the UFC is a guy and hes name is Dana and I'm like wow.

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Phrancheyez
Phrancheyez (on 13 July 2009)

Dana White = best exec of all time confirmed. I absolutely love this dude. I love the attitude. He's the exec more powerful execs are scared to piss off. He says what he wants. He talks like the average person would in his position, and he's not going to be pushed around. Why? Because he's growing this sport like crazy. Supporters of the sport think he's a King in commoners clothing. Even foul-mouthed, it's amazing how honesty earns you respect.

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TheSteve
TheSteve (on 13 July 2009)

Arlovski and Sylvia ARE in the UFC game, likely because they were still aligned with UFC at the tiem the deals were signed. They will be missing from the next one, along with Mirko Cro Cop and a few others. AA is fighting in Affliction still, Sylvia may be retired after his brutal 18 second KO loss last month. Mirko I believe signed with Dream. I don't believe Couture could appear on the EA game due to UFC ties, but the reason he wasn't in Undisputed was that EA is holding his likeness rights due to Command and Conquer. I suppose UFC is lucky that Brock had beaten Couture, or Undisputed would have shipped without the UFC HW Champion. The big issue for the EA game is going to be the recognition factor... I've met a number of meatheads that say they "train in ultimate fighting" or refer to BJJ, Muay Thai, or other related sports as "ultimate fighting"... UFC has become the common term for MMA, like Band-Aid and Tylenol for adhesive bandages and headache pain relief. Your average hot wing scarfing goon that watched UFC 100 in a bar Saturday night doesn't know what "MMA" stands for... They think it's Ultimate Fighting, and that Brock is the greatest fighter in the history of combat.

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asc99c
asc99c (on 13 July 2009)

Anyone who's followed the UFC much will know that Dana's got a big mouth so this attack is hardly that surprising. The UFC is just one promotion, and although it's the biggest, they are still missing the top heavyweight fighter (Emelianenko), so there's plenty of room for another game skipping the UFC banner. Also I'm not too sure what's happened with the other top heavyweights who've fought Emelianenko recently - I'm presuming they had to drop UFC affiliation for it. There's no Arlovski or Sylvia in the game for instance. The problem is the UFC is big and it's a one-off deal, while collecting the rights for other fighters is going to be a bit more fragmented.

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TheSteve
TheSteve (on 13 July 2009)

The worst thing about this is going to be more redneck goobers that don't realize that "UFC" ISN'T a sport... It's a promotion. The sport IS MMA... MMA ISN'T a promotion, it's a sport, of which UFC, WEC, Affliction, Strikeforce, and K-1 MAX are promotions thereof. *shakes head* Hopefully the EA one can feature some good classic fighters and promotions from days gone by, like Pride FC and EliteXC, and some of the Japanese promotions (Dream, K-1 MAX). Then it will be intresting, even if it lacks the "household name" value of a UFC game.

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blunty51
blunty51 (on 13 July 2009)

Well that's business. I'm glad he publicly pointed them out on it though.

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mike_intellivision
mike_intellivision (on 13 July 2009)

I love how he says "EA Sports told us." Sounds like he got a letter. Right now as much like a publicity hound promoter as an aggrieved party. The truth is that unless all the different factions unite, UFC/MMA/etc. will go down the same route as boxing -- WBA/WBC/IBF/WBO -- until it is irrelevant. Mike from Morgantown

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hunter_alien
hunter_alien (on 13 July 2009)

Who cares... EA actually has the budget to create a real UFC 09 rival ,so if anything Im more interested in MMA then UFC :D GO EA :D

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Forager
Forager (on 13 July 2009)

If you read more one of the owners of UFC actually states the game has now sold 3 million units as of this past weekend....that is an even bigger deal because VG Chartz has the game at just over 2 million units....I hope the fighters that signed with EA are smart enough to back out.....If an NFL player tried to create their own game with EA and circumvent Madden they would get a fine so big their head would spin!

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badgenome
badgenome (on 13 July 2009)

"Worst economy in the world." Oh, Dana. :-D

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CaptDS9E
CaptDS9E (on 13 July 2009)

Dana White is 100% right when it comes to this. Good for him

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animefobber
animefobber (on 13 July 2009)

wow, this might be karma kicking ea in the balls for holding the nfl license hostage and being an all-round complete dick for the past couple of years

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greenmedic88
greenmedic88 (on 13 July 2009)

Whoever it was at EA who stated "You're not a real sport, we wouldn't touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this." should probably be canned for short-sightness. Awesome license; kudos to THQ for picking up a winner.

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S.T.A.G.E.
S.T.A.G.E. (on 13 July 2009)

I cannot stand EA. I am even more angered that they own my favorite devs Bioware.

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NanakiXI
NanakiXI (on 13 July 2009)

I won't be getting either game but if later down the road I do decide for any reason... It will be UFC 2009 Undisputed thanks to this article and my hatred for EA sports games.

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SaviorX
SaviorX (on 13 July 2009)

"GRRRRRRRR" I heard the anger in his voice just from reading that...... Success is the best revenge though. UFC Undisputed has sold a boatload.

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Seece
Seece (on 13 July 2009)

Serves you right EA.

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erikers
erikers (on 13 July 2009)

EA Sports being shortsighted? Who would have saw that coming?

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