I’ve been publishing SbB since 2001, and I’ve never, ever reported on anything as vicious and incendiary as what Dana White said about MMA reporter Loretta Hunt on his Youtube video vlog this week (via YAHOO’s Maggie Hendricks).
(Seriously Dana, get some help)
White, in response to a story Hunt recently wrote about UFC locker room credentials, unleashed an appalling five minute, hate speech-laced attack at the Sherdog.com/ESPN reporter.
During the disgraceful diatribe, White calls Hunt a “f—ing bitch” and refers to a source of Hunt’s as a lying, “f—ing faggot.”
And it’s all on tape - uploaded to Youtube at White’s behest.
After watching it, I don’t know who to feel more sorry for. Hunt right about now, or White once this video hits the mainstream media (it just did by the way).
The video is after the jump, along with portions of White’s comments transcribed.
Most of White rambling, hate-filled harangue isn’t worth printing, considering how he addressed Hunt and her reportage. But here’s some of the missives:
“I just heard there was an absolutely f—ing retarded story written by Loretta Hunt. Loretta, you f—ing moron. …
“Just to show how f—ing dumb you are, number one. … you don’t even know what the f— you’re talking about. … shut the f— up. …
“Whoever gave you that quote is a pussy, and a f—ing faggot and a liar. …
“Maybe you’re the liar Loretta, writing bullsh– f—ing stories. Everything that comes out of your mouth is f—ing stupid. …
“You f—ing dumb bitch, f— you Loretta Hunt.”
White also kicked in an obscene gesture while making the final comment.
Now for a little background on Hunt from one of my well-placed MMA sources:
“This Loretta Hunt and Sherdog have been banned from covering UFC for years. They are not credentialed to the events. Yet Sherdog is the content provider for ESPN and Hunt is their lead writer.”
Interesting. So not only is White verbally spitting in the face of Hunt, but he’s also, albeit indirectly, doing the same to ESPN.
Wonder how the Worldwide Leader will respond to this? Hopefully by airing the comments to an audience of millions, so people can see and here the real White.
So, do you now think White is the man who should be running UFC? Or should he be fired by parent company Zuffa?
After watching that display, I can’t imagine White will now ever be taken seriously again by anyone of import in the UFC, the business world or the media.
White’s actions also make him all the more vulnerable since his bosses (and longtime buddies) at Zuffa are enduring bankruptcy with their casino biz - and might consider selling the UFC business to shore up capital in their main enterprise. That might leave White with a new boss. For about 15 minutes.
UPDATE: MDS at FANHOUSE reports the video has been pulled.
… and we’re back!
9:23 am on April 2nd, 2009
cage fighting is kinda extreme and edgy, shouldn't the president kinda be the same way?
9:26 am on April 2nd, 2009
on a side note whatever happened to free speech? it may not be a good business thing to say or earn you any rewards, but he can say whatever the F he wants.
9:34 am on April 2nd, 2009
Just arrogance. Its one thing to say those things, and a totally different thing to upload it to youtube. If you walked into a restaurant where the owner was laying down a tirade like that on a server, would you ever go there again?
2:22 pm on April 2nd, 2009
Snooze…Dana White is always good for entertaining interviews. So here is more of the same. Of course it's offensive, I'm sure he meant it to be. Why should he play nice if he hates her? She's trying to take shots at his company. He isn't running a bank or an orphanage. He can say what he wants.
2:40 pm on April 2nd, 2009
I think its the roids talking.
3:05 pm on April 2nd, 2009
so here is a women and a website that has motivation to lie bad mouth ufc and white,…
…and we are suppose to believe her and sherdog?
white did nothing wrong, especially when you consider it is a sport based on beating the shtT out of your opponent.
did you expect some guy to invite her over for tea and crimpets?
for all we know she lied trying to make a name for herself and that website.
THINK ABOUT IT, IF SHE DID LIE AND TRASH UFC FOR PERSONNEL REASONS THEN WHITE IS CORRECT IN DOING WHAT HE DID!!!!!!!!!!
6:40 pm on April 2nd, 2009
good. i hate this guy. what a loser and he runs a loser organization. all the ufc guys are like this and thats why ufc is the dumbest sport in America. I hope he gets thrown out on his ass but then he'll probably just go around beating on prostitutes and strippers on the street.
10:44 pm on April 2nd, 2009
this guy is a joke
11:53 pm on April 2nd, 2009
How is what Dana White said any worse than some of the ignorant shit said by the people here in response to this? Accusing him of beating strippers? Steroids talking? I love how America has become such a cesspool for fat, lazy losers that anyone who isn't 40lbs overweight is accused of being on steroids.
BTW….who or how, is the President of UFC going to be fired? He owns about 15% of UFC and his buddies are going bankrupt, as ha sbeen said, so why are they going to FIRE the one guy who makes their sport money and gives them visability.
Hey…America! First off, stop being fat and lazy. Secondly, stop being so f**king sensitive about everything! The pussification of this country continues.
1:07 am on April 3rd, 2009
Even despite everything that people have said in defense of White makes some sense, I pose this question; is it a good image for UFC to have one of their leaders act like this? You expect this from the athletes but from the leader of the sport? Its just not smart business and he needs to act with some class. You don't see David Stern talking like this about Stephen A. Smith or Bill Walton.
2:03 am on April 3rd, 2009
Props to Dana for standing up for himself and the UFC. The evil 4 Letter Network, ESPN, is always bullying people around. I'm glad Dana is not afraid of the evil 4 Letter Network and has not change who he is even with all the success. Why must he act a certain way because of who he is or what he represents. If Dana uses foul language, so be it. Grow up America, stop being sensitive. What next, UFC fighters must wear suits to their fights? Ala NBA?
And to all the MMA haters, MMA is here to stay. Its a sport and it will continue to grow!
1:49 pm on April 3rd, 2009
Female reporters…yawn. Good for Dana White. He's the face and the frontman, and he's backing his guys and his business up. I couldn't think of a better person to lead the company.
8:14 pm on April 6th, 2009
It kinda shows you where the sport is as far as professionalism goes. At times it climbs the ranks and is recognized as a popular sport and shown on espn.com and other times you see things like this were its no better then wwf wrestling. I dont think vince mcmahon would do that and certainly not roger goodell!
6:12 pm on April 10th, 2009
mma, ufc, and cage fighting are basically theater for the lowest common denominator. its an entertainment business for the frothy simple minded segment of the population and for people who haven't made the transition into adulthood yet (or never will). shouldn't it have a manager who is representative of the fanbase? sure. dana white's a perfect idiot for the job. what, would you expect someone with an IQ over 80 and a real personality to want to run that moronic shit for a living? no.
6:27 pm on April 10th, 2009
actual LOL. how was that offensive? wouldn't it be funny if it turned out that Loretta was gay and mentally challenged? then what? Dana would be right. who cares one way or the other? she can stick up for herself. you write stuff, you take responsibility for the written word. if Dana gets mad, that's his problem, no one elses.
8:34 pm on April 10th, 2009
I don't know much about MMA, and after seeing this, I really don't want to.
9:23 pm on April 23rd, 2009
So, doesn't this rant prove that the anonymous guy was right? If this is the way White retaliates against a reporter, imagine what he would do to a fighter who was a member of the organization the White runs.
White is his own worst enemy here because he has clearly proved at least one of the points Hunt made in her article - sources in the UFC need to be protected by anonymity or else the company president will lash out at them.