UFC

Dana White's upcoming ESPN interview canceled

Originally posted by Trent Reinsmith on August 21, 2011, 12:35 AM CDT

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UFC President Dana White took to his twitter account on Saturday to inform his more than 1.5 million followers that ESPN had canceled his upcoming interview on the sports network, “ESPN always hated us and now they hate us more now that we are on FOX. They canceled my int next week for UFC Rio (expletive)ESPN.”

UFC 134 will take place on Saturday, August 27 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event will only be the second time the promotion has travelled to Brazil and the first since 1998.

White has appeared on ESPN in the past, most recently speaking to Franklin McNeil following UFC 133. It should also be noted that ESPN did cover the recent announcement that the UFC would be joining forces with FOX. The partnership was the lead story on the most recent episode of ESPN’s “Inside MMA.”

The question I have for you, LowKick’ers is, will the UFC on FOX deal impact ESPN’s coverage of MMA?

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thealex what does this do to mma live. i like that show Reply 9 months ago

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dropkickmurphy After what Newscorp did lately, I have a protest on anything Rupert Murdoch. Looks like I have to go back in. F**k you, you F**king F**kers. But I won't like it...just keep imagining Who's that guy who looks like Shamu ass with down syndrome...Beck...I just keep envisioning him commentating.
The Murph has ranted and swore enough for a Sunday Morning. Reply 9 months ago

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GeorgeRuetiger No way dude, this won't affect international coverage. Like in Canada where Sportsnet will maintain their exclusive right in Canada to broadcast UFC content, I'm sure someone picks it up in the UK if the current contract isn't already still well alive. Reply 9 months ago

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ClosetCasey Espn sounds like they're a bunch of little girls. Avoiding business with the Ufc over something like this only hurts their bottom line and for what? They get all butt hurt, and decide to cancel Dana's interview? Yeah, that'll show him. Reply 9 months ago

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UnderdogGreatness I have a feeling Bill O'Reilly's mouth had something to do with that...Just playing. Reply 9 months ago

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johnedge IF Dana 'douche bag" White continues to keep MF'n ESPN. Then this sport will NEVER mainstream. If I can go to ESPN.com and one day click on MMA, instead of going to OTHER SPORTS, then MMA has arrived. Until, then he needs to shut his mouth and get back in line. I'm glad ESPN can just say "F, Dana". Reply 9 months ago

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mmauk Well the new deal with FOX will help the UFC go ''mainstream'', as for ESPN as far as know John Anik the presenter of MMA Live pushed real hard for a long long time to get ESPN to take MMA seriously. F Dana ? People like you seriously underestimate how bad MMA would be right now if it weren't for Dana's vision and ZUFFA money. People look at how smoothly the UFC run things and take it for granted like it's easy. Reply 9 months ago

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GeorgeRuetiger The haters and retards have the blinders on so narrow, they can't seen even a few trees for themselves. As if MMA would just be accepted now without the work that Zuffa and that lot has done, pushing it everywhere, garnering mainstream success and acceptance. It's rivisionist history to claim that their impact wasn't greater than any other thing that has happened in the history of the sport, you stupid kids don't remember when John McCain was up there calling it a bloodsport and states were looking to reverse their laws or New York style straight-up BAN it.

NOT everyone in the world thinks the sport is awesome, NOT everyone in the world has loved it from the start - even most people who love it now doubted at some point or didn't recognise its validity as sport. Reply 9 months ago

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johnedge Um yes, ESPN is the network of sports not Fox. Reply 8 months ago

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GeorgeRuetiger Umm the POINT is that MF'n ESPN are the ones ****in with Mr. Douchebag. They're jealous divas. You're a blind hater with no knowledge or logic. Start watching boxing or judo. Reply 9 months ago

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johnedge To answer the question, Yes this will impact MMA's coverage on ESPN. IT will end it, with his comments. GReat Job you douche bag. Reply 9 months ago

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Keyboard Contender Dammit! there goes all the free ppv's in the UK and Ireland on ESPN Reply 9 months ago

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overhand right And if they're dumb enough to do that then I'll gladly torrent their events the next day for free! Reply 9 months ago

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whitey .... glad I live in Canada, this won't affect me one bit. Reply 9 months ago

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BruceLee I live in Canada too. See keyboard contender's comment above. I loved that stream Reply 9 months ago

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MereDictum I agree with Dana haters on this one. Does he know for sure that it was cancelled cause they "hate" him or is he just being a narsasistic ****, as usual. It's all about him. Reply 9 months ago

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diamond-mma2 ESPN has NEVER giving MMA any attention so who cares! MMA Live was cut by 15 minutes the other before this, and is barely talked about or shown... MMA doest need ESPN and ESPN doest need MMA, if this affects ESPN in the UK IM SURE! Zuffa will just find other network to let you guys watch the PPV.... how many times do any if you guys go to ESPN to check MMA?... not many right if any lol UFC made it to FOX Networks without ESPN...if Dana would say that about Spike then that would be another thing but Spike helped,respected, and were there for UFC/MMA...unlike ESPN....who went has far as too canceled an interview right before a major event why?...maybe because the deal with FOX Sports ESPN competitor in a way, maybe because they dont care about MMA or maybe because they wanted to feature someone else in some other sport...canceling a major interview before a major event in a sport is lame and so its ESPN, would have they canceled an interview with an owner of a team in NFL,NBA,Hockey,Baseball...no they would have not, ESPN is either butt hurt about the Fox deal or just dont like MMA...in which case **** them...this sport dont need them look how far its come without any ESPN coverage, and it will continue to grow with or without them Reply 9 months ago

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EnsonInoue you must not like other sports i take it? i watch espn everyday mma is more of a forum based information center. and to its credit espn does show the results of some ufc ppv events on the bottom line and does show mma live/did. Reply 9 months ago

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diamond-mma2 i do watch other sports, but i gotta admit ESPN is the last place i go for news and stuff, i like Mike and Mike the morning show but besides that i rather go to the NBA or NHL websites get more scoops on things...and yea ESPN does show a 30 minute show about MMA and also a show that was cut by 15 minutes the other day before Dana said anything...other sports cool but ESPN dont cover MMA and thats the point why in the MMA world ESPN really doest matter...alot of other outlets that IMO are better Reply 9 months ago

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nakedtriangle mma will be fine with fox this is a step in the right direction Reply 9 months ago

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