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Fox Sports: "Zach Arnold's Fight Opinion site is one of the best spots on the Web for thought-provoking MMA pieces."

« | Home | »

Dana White: The only thing consistent about the NSAC is that they’re inconsistent

By Zach Arnold | February 17, 2012

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This is a rather interesting interview. For the first four minutes, Dana talks about the state of the Welterweight division and where things stand. He then gets a shot in at Aaron Simpson for having a fight that is a ‘blur’ and in Danaworld that’s a quick way to get the axe or put in the doghouse. “Don’t ever be the blur, man.” He then rips Dave Herman for wearing a pink scarf and coming out to “Macho Man.”

The UFC Japan is briefly mentioned. Dana vehemently denied that anything PRIDE-style would be done and that it would be the standard UFC production format, which he says is one of the best live sporting experiences a fan can enjoy.

“No, we’re not doing anything PRIDE.”

However, the portion of this interview that has everyone’s attention is what Dana had to say about Nick Diaz and his upcoming suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

ARIEL HELWANI: “What is the latest on [Nick Diaz] and when do you think we’ll find out how long he’ll be suspended by the commission?”

DANA WHITE: “Who knows? I mean, who knows? Let me put it to you this way… they’re very consistent at being inconsistent. So… Floyd Mayweather is allowed to, you know… first of all, not only by the Nevada State Athletic Commission but by the judge is allowed to not go to jail until his fight is over. Right? Chael Sonnen, who had paid all his dues and everything was behind him, was not allowed to coach The Ultimate Fighter. Recently, a boxer tested positive for marijuana. He’s suspended for a year and they take 40% of his purse. Floyd Mayweather walks into the Nevada State Athletic Commission and they literally kiss his ass.”

ARIEL HELWANI: “Double standard?”

DANA WHITE: “Double standard, bias, whatever you want to call it… there’s one thing that’s consistent there and consistent as hell, it’s one of the most insane things that I’ve ever seen in my life. You know, and the response would be, ‘this guy brings a lot of the money to the city of Las Vegas.” So do we! So do we.”

ARIEL HELWANI: “And considering the fact that he has that prescription to smoke medical marijuana in California, do you think he has a case here?”

DANA WHITE: “Who knows, I mean… as far as I know, marijuana is illegal, right? But here’s what I do know… the Nevada State Athletic Commission does not allow you to smoke marijuana. You cannot have traces of marijuana in your system. It’s pretty simple. There’s a list of drugs you can and you can’t do and marijuana is one of the can’t dos, you know what I mean? Whether you got a medical card or a doctor shows up and says, ‘yeah, I allow him to smoke weed.’ ‘I don’t care, we don’t.’ Heh. The Nevada State Athletic Commission does not allow you to smoke weed.”

ARIEL HELWANI: “Did Nick or his manager, Cesar Gracie, when was the last time he did smoke prior to the fight?”

DANA WHITE: “No. I mean, going into this fight, I had a talk with Nick, we sat down, I told him and you’ve guys have heard this a million times. I’m like, ‘Nick, listen, play the game this much. It’s all I need you to do.’ And playing the game that much means don’t smoke marijuana any time around any of your fights. Don’t do anything illegal, you know, show up to some press conferences. I mean, I’ve been very lenient with Nick Diaz, you know, we’ve invested a lot of money in him. He came off looking incredible after that series. People who didn’t like him then liked him, you know, it’s just one of those things. It’s very frustrating.”

ARIEL HELWANI: “Do you think we will ever see him back? Because, at the end of that fight, he did retire…”

DANA WHITE: “Yeah, I doubt he retired. I mean, we’ll see what happens. Nobody’s called me and said he wants to retire. This is what he does. He’s a fighter. Whether he likes it or doesn’t like it, you know, the whole love & hate thing… Nick Diaz was born to fight. This is what he does. This is how he makes a living. He’s an incredible athlete. He does triathlons and all these other things but nobody’s making big money, you know, run, bike, swim.”

**

The Nevada commission will have a hearing on Wednesday at 9 AM PST to discuss young Nick’s suspension.

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 33 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

33 Responses to “Dana White: The only thing consistent about the NSAC is that they’re inconsistent”

  1. 45 Huddle says:

    1) I would be shocked if he didn’t get a one year suspension for being a 2nd time offender.

    2) Aaron Simpson is talking about going to Welterweight, but it doesn’t matter much. He is 37 years old and his career is almost over.

    3) There is a fine line between making yourself marketable and just making a mockery of things. I think Dave Herman either crossed that line or at least came right up to it. Didn’t he dye his body hair? Hey, you don’t want to be a metro and all clean cut, I think that’s cool. But dying your body hair reeks of “Look at me!!”

    4) Can we stop talking about Nick Diaz until 2013 now. He can’t fight for a while, so he is about as relevent to MMA for the rest of 2012 as I am. Which is a big fat old NOTHING!!

  2. liger05 says:

    Yo Dana Floyds runs this shit lol

  3. I agree with Dana about all the inconsistancy. There should be consistant standards. As for Nick, I think he’ll take a year off and he’ll be back itching to fight. It’s in his DNA.

  4. Kyle says:

    “Floyd Mayweather walks into the Nevada State Athletic Commission and they literally kiss his ass.”

    Literally?

  5. 45 Huddle says:

    217,000 viewers for UFC on FUEL TV 1.

    In the scope of MMA in general, the numbers are very low. There is no other way to say it.

    But the silver lining is that it shows the potential for FUEL TV. It will never be a FOX or FX in terms of exposure. The UFC will always need those 2 stations in order to attract the masses.

    What FUEL TV can turn into is a place that the UFC can eventually put on a monthly event and get 500,000 viewers. If they can increase the number of homes (including HD)…. along with the fans slowly getting used to events on this station…. this would probably end up being the main goal.

    And as the UFC continues to look at international expansion, it is reasonable to assume that they could easily fill these cards with local prospects for the prelims and the more seasoned talent for the main cards.

    Since it doesn’t look like Bellator will be bowing to the UFC and assuming the much needed feeder system that MMA needs…. FUEL TV can be that place…. And then just a nice main event to draw the fans like a Sanchez/Ellenberger.

    • 45 Huddle says:

      Also, I see a lot of people online comparing this cards ratings to past SpikeTV ratings. It is completely irrelevent.

      This card wouldn’t exist if they were still on SpikeTV. The SpikeTV cards transfered over to FX. The Versus cards got put on steriods and were transfered to FOX. This is a whole new thing.

      And that thing basically has very low ratings now…. With the potential for growth for a 3rd tier of MMA type of fights.

      • The Gaijin says:

        The criticisms of the FUEL TV ratings/numbers is a myopic exercise at this point. It’s about added exposure and the long-term potential on FUEL and within the FOX family. Not to mention (and to steal your analogy) that the FUEL cards are basically the Facebook fights on steroids and given their own card. Finally, let’s not forget that based on all the numbers that are out there the UFC is driving a bumper rating for the network vs. the other programming it runs.

    • Mark says:

      Yes, but the point people are making in calling the FOX family and UFC partnering questionable is that they’re going to have to go through at least a year of 1) Figuring out how to do things 2) Having UFC fans get Fuel from their provider because they are dying to see these shows (and UFC making Fuel was a huge reason in why FOX wanted them) 3) Figure out how to sell PPVs without anybody watching Countdown shows for the forseeable future.

      People (well, reasonable people, not “this troll on the Underground said this so it’s what people who don’t love Zuffa think”) aren’t saying this show proves there’s no chance the UFC/FOX marriage will ever work. It’s that learning on the job has a possibility (not a guarantee, but a possibility) of doing lots of harm to UFC’s business. If more and more fans are only having UFC on their mind from the FOX network shows 4 times a year, and don’t watch TUF on FX because Friday is a lousy TV night for young adults and don’t get Fuel, what is going to happen to their business in the meantime? Especially when they start giving what would have been solid co-main event PPV fights to FOX and people start arguing they’re becoming one-fight PPV shows like boxing.

      Again, not saying this is going to happen, but it’s a bigger possibility than people who say “You can’t fail with a network TV deal” are believing.

      • 45 Huddle says:

        The only thing the UFC lost out on with the deal with FOX is countdown and Unleashed episodes having a bigger platform. Instead they got 4 shows a year on FOX and 2 hour prelim shows for their PPV’s. And FX is still showing Primetime shows for the really big events.

        The change to Friday hasn’t proven to be a failure yet as the first UFC on FX show had respectable ratings. Personally, I prefer Friday night fight nights. When I hang out with other people, it’s almost always on Saturday and during a MMA event.

        So, already the FOX/FX deal is a net positive for the UFC.

        Then lets bring in Fuel TV. This is the bonus. It gives them a chance to expand the number of live events on their schedule. It gives them Facebook prelims doing 30,000 to now 140,000 viewers.

        There is no doubt that the limited exposure of the channel as of today is a negative. But there is a lot of growth potential. The UFC already preserved their current business with PPV, FOX, and FX. This is the next level of the UFC…. Which is studio shows, showing basically every fight on TV, and expanding internationally.

        So out of this huge 7 year deal with FOX….. The only negative out of all of this is Fuel’s exposure today.

        But we all know when FOX has to negotiate with Comcast or Time Warner in the future…. That the UFC’s ratings will be used to get Fuel TV bundled with FX and their other channels.

        The FUEL TV problem is a short term one. Long-term it gives the UFC a 4th platform to expand their business.

        • cutch says:

          Dana was saying on twitter that he has been meeting the cable companies as well. I don’t live in the US but are the countdown shows not on Fox Sport Net as well?

          News Corp are huge worldwide and the UFC should be moving to Sky Sports in the summer in the UK and that would be a HUGE boost as they will be in about 10 times the amount of homes as ESPN UK and they also have the option of making shows PPV

        • 45 Huddle says:

          Correct, the Countdown shows are on FOX Sports Net now. Basically the countdown shows aren’t getting the 500,000 at one time, on one channel viewings. Instead they are probably shown 10 or so times before an event on a variety of FOX Channels.

          Do you think it would hurt the UFC if they went to PPV in the UK?

        • cutch says:

          It depends, if they just picked say 4-6 shows a year they could do OK, WWE does 8 (the original big 4 events and 4 others) the marketing would be so much better, perhaps advertising it during big Soccer games and interviews on Sky Sports News.

          Some Boxers have done amazing buy rates but it’s mainly home grown guys (Haye, Hatton & Lewis) and Tyson, so they would probably need someone like Bisping or Pearson to at least be on the card

          They stopped doing Boxing PPVs last year after the embarrassing Haye-Klitchko fight but I would assume they will bring it back if they can do Haye-Chisora after that brawl they just had.

  6. […] Dana White: The only thing consistent about the NSAC is that they’re inconsistent | Fight Opinion […]

  7. EJ says:

    So it looks like people like Dana are finally figuring out what i’ve been saying for years about the NSAC. Well better late than never, Kizer has made that AC as big a joke as the CSAC and that is saying something.

    But I am interested to see how they treat Nick Diaz since the blueprint has already been layed out for his supension. Let’s see if Kizer has the guts to go through with it, because it seems he makes things up as he goes along.

    • edub says:

      Dana has been talking down to the Nevada state AC for years.

      Nick has the doctor’s prescription. So the blueprint for his suspension isn’t exactly the same as the boxer who got suspended earlier this year.

      • Steve4192 says:

        Nick does not have a prescription medical marijuana. No one has a prescription for medical marijuana. They have a “doctor’s recommendation” that is recognized by their state of residence, but it is not a prescription. Prescriptions are controlled at the federal level, and medicinal marijuana is not recognized at that level.

        • edub says:

          So he has a state issued “recommendation (which makes it legal to use in his state of residence) instead of one that doesn’t exist at the federal level. And the test he took cannot prove that he smoked marijuana anywhere outside of that state that he has legal permission to use in.

          I’m not saying it won’t happen. I’m just saying that a good lawyer could make a very good case in Nick’s favor.

        • Phil says:

          No they can’t.

          The banned list is the banned list. There are other drugs that are available over the counter, with prescription, or illegal on the banned list, and if you have them in your system without approval beforehand you are going to get suspended.

          There is a process for competing while on banned substances, instead of following it, Nick tried to beat the test, he failed.

        • nottheface says:

          Marijuana is banned for use in-competition but there are no rules governing its use out-of-competition. Unfortunately for Nick the NSAC zero tolerance, draconian testing punishes him for legally using out-of-competition a doctor recommended drug. As for a TUE, why would he need one when he was within his right to use (as long as he wasn’t using in-competition) and how many TUE for marijuana has the NSAC allowed?

          IF I was Nick that would be my basic argument. Will it work? I think it has a better chance of working than merely showing contrition.

        • 45 Huddle says:

          Correct. Weed is banned during competition. And during his fight, he had weed in his system.

      • Steve4192 says:

        On a related note, there is a Cage Potato article where Keith Kizer claims Diaz could have applied for a TUE for his weed use but did not opt to do so. If that is the case, Nick needs to fire Cesar as his manager and hire someone who will dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s for him. Cesar might be one hell of a trainer, but he has repeatedly dropped the ball when it comes to handling Nick’s regulatory issues.

        • edub says:

          Hell of an interesting point. Agree with everything you said.

          However, could this theoretically come back to haunt Kizer if he didn’t relay this information to Diaz when he first popped hot against Gomi?

        • Mark says:

          Anybody thinking Diaz is going to get off light or get any sympathy for his plight whatsoever is just doing wishful thinking. He’ll get a year suspension guaranteed. Whether marijuana should be legalized or not doesn’t matter. Currently it is illegal under their strict policy of substances, where it seems over half the medications known to man are banned. If Diaz wants to lead an uprising against the marijuana ban and try to get it overturned, it still won’t help his current situation.

          Here’s how his hearing would go:

          NSAC: “Were you aware we prohibited marijuana from being found in a drug test?”

          Diaz: “Yeah, but it shouldn’t be.”

          NSAC: “Yes or no, Mr. Diaz. Were you aware we prohibit marijuana from being found in a fighter’s drug test.”

          Diaz: “Yes, but I have a prescription.”

          NSAC: “Well, given that we ban many pharmaceuticals, ones legal to prescribe in 49 more states than Marijuana is in only California, that really doesn’t matter, Mr. Diaz.”

          He has no case.

        • edub says:

          “Anybody thinking Diaz is going to get off light or get any sympathy for his plight whatsoever is just doing wishful thinking.”

          Nope. I’m not wishing anything. If Chael Sonnen could get around lying to a commission then a good lawyer could easily blur some lines the way the rules are written.

          “Whether marijuana should be legalized or not doesn’t matter. Currently it is illegal under their strict policy of substances, where it seems over half the medications known to man are banned.”

          It is illegal, but apparently can be a part of the TUE policy according to the Cage Potato article. With the nature of how Nicks career is at (IE a strong draw with the UFC), again a good lawyer along with pressure to pull the breaks might get him a shortened sentence.

          As for your mock hearing; Nick won’t need to talk much. His lawyer can spin everything for him.

        • edub says:

          Also, I’m not saying it will happen at all (Nick getting a shortened sentence). But acting like it’s an open and shut case when taking into account everything involved isn’t a good idea.

        • Phil says:

          Chael didn’t get away with anything.

          He originally got his sentence reduced to 6 months, which history has shown happens to anyone who goes to the CA commission and appeals. You can call them names, bring a lawyer, bring seven lawyers, if you do anything but admit guilt, you get 6 months.

          Then after that, he still ended up sitting out for a year, and was unable to coach TUF due to his screwup.

        • edub says:

          That leaves out the very important fact of getting caught lying to a government commission. All he did was receive his original sentence with no punishment at all for giving a false testimony.

  8. Alan Conceicao says:

    I don’t care what the ratings are for Fuel shows because they’re better than fights which aren’t televised or are shown on Facebook. Period. I’m not about to start complaining about low viewership when I’m getting 2 or more free fight cards every month.

    As far as the NSAC is concerned, well, they’re not gonna stop running casinos. Who cares. If Nick doesn’t have a manager to control stuff like that, too bad. He should have figured it out awhile ago. Ignorance of the law doesn’t fix anything, so I doubt Kizer will be in an ounce of trouble for not telling Diaz he could apply for a exception.

  9. Megatherium says:

    Watching some of the prelim fights from Wednesday night I noticed that Kenny Florian has developed one hell of a lisp.

    I’d be concerned about this if I were him, and not just because it will hinder his tv analyst side job.

  10. RST says:

    “He then rips Dave Herman for wearing a pink scarf and coming out to “Macho Man.””

    Dana seems just a bit to concerned with other dudes personal image’s.

    I’m not saying Dana is an alternative kind of guy or anything…

    because there’s nothing wrong with that…

    but it just seems a bit fussy for a straight man.

  11. edub says:

    Joel Elizondo and David Robertson should be indefinitely suspended for their score of the Campillo-Cloud fight.

    You guys think judging in MMA is bad…

    Texas really shouldn’t be used as a commission state anymore. I’d trust indian casino sanctioning more.

  12. nottheface says:

    Rob Joyner has some sad news about King Mo that is strangely not being reported anywhere:
    http://www.twitlonger.com/show/g0sdg3

  13. […] Dana White Takes Issue with the NSAC (MMAOpinion.com) […]

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