The content that is being produced in the MMA community right now is upside down and frankly, it starts with Dana White. Dana White has been promoting SLAP more than his fighters since he bought in. Dana has opened the door to influencers running a muck during UFC PPV weeks by allowing the Nelk Boys and others to have as much freedom as they do working with the UFC. Dana has gone on Logan Paul's podcast not too long ago and openly said that Logan had skills and "has the boxing." Logan lost to another influencer. Logan now thinks he can just declare himself a spot on the undercard of Zuckerberg vs Musk for free. What am I even writing about right now? I literally just got a notification that Dana is live with Slap News, you can't make this up. He's doing their weigh-ins right now, meanwhile, it's international fight week and the Undisputed UFC Featherweight Championship is on the line as well as the Men's Flyweight Championship with a loaded card. I wanna laugh because it's honestly pathetic.
The reason I say it starts with Dana is because I don't think he realizes how much influence he has over idiots. Some people truly believe Colby Covington deserves a title shot. That's because Dana promotes Colby. Dana should be promoting Bo Nickal vs Val Woodburn, two unbeaten fighters. Woodburn is taking this fight on short notice, what if he slumps Bo? Especially because Bo already has so much superstar potential. Jack Della Maddalena vs Undefeated Josiah Hill taking the fight on short notice feels like it could build some hype. It honestly feels like Dana stopped caring about TUF as well because I haven't seen nearly as many promotions for it, as well as I think Dana knows Conor isn't fighting Chandler at this point. It feels like Dana is ready to move on to other things in life and if that's the case he needs to step away because once leadership has other focuses, the company will spiral downward. Dana is noticeably focused on other things. If his leaving betters the promotion of fighters and the only cost is Rogan I'm kind of okay with that. I remember a time when fighters were built as Gladiators, now billionaires and influencers think they're entitled to have that same opportunity? Stay in your lane. If Dana allows this to actually happen under the UFC's banner I feel he really needs to step away, or all fighters should just let him turn in the UFC into a clown show and go to the PFL and ONE. George Washington is one of the greatest Presidents of all time because he knew when to step away. It's time to move on Dana, you clearly don't care anymore.
Even Ariel Helwani supports this movement of YouTube boxing. Helwani used to be an unbelievably credible journalist, but now he just feels like a generic podcaster and his show is being carried by the co-hosts and the guests. Conner Burks and Eric Jackman do a fantastic job and that's why I'll still tune into the MMA Hour on occasion. Now there's like fifteen to thirty minutes a day devoted to soccer, darts, pro wrestling, and YouTube boxing. Pro Wrestling is honestly the only one that fits the space and the others really shouldn't be entertained on a MMA show. A lot of YouTube boxers train, I'm not saying they aren't athletes. They're just not pro athletes. Defeating washed MMA fighters in a sport they aren't acclimated to preparing for will never be impressive. I would have been moderately impressed if Jake Paul could beat Tommy Fury considering where he comes from, but he honestly got outclassed in March. Now in two months, Nate Diaz is going to hand Jake all his hype back when Jake becomes the guy to "chin" Nate Diaz. It's just an inevitable sight I don't want to see. Ariel has been promoting that forever. Now he wants KSI vs Jorge Masvidal. These YouTubers have no business disrespecting legends. I understand Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz signed up for this, but Tyron Woodley is widely viewed as a joke by fans who didn't watch the sport before the pandemic which notably brought tons of viewership. Ariel is looking at these athletes backward. Let the pros fight each other while the clown show can happen at the circus where it belongs. KSI vs Jake Paul, done. Nate vs Jorge in a boxing match to finish the fight that should have never been finished because of a small cut on a guy like Nate Diaz in what was booked as the "Baddest Mother-Fucker Championship Fight."
The only good podcast and legit MMA show going right now is the Anik&Florian Podcast. I'll trust Jon Anik on pretty much whatever he says based on the fact that he watches fights for a living and his calls are sensational. Kenny Florian is an ex-pro fighter, a legend in his own right, and now he announces does the same thing as Anik for the PFL. I have no reason not to trust these guys. There are no hidden agendas. It's just the world of fighting, it's great. Also who doesn't love the Ray Longo Hour when they get Ray Longo on the show to discuss fights? They're the best thing going right now. I can't believe I just wrote an article on that during this week of all weeks, but that's how upside-down the MMA world is right now. Dana White's actions make Sean Strickland sound sane, think about that for a moment.
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