White fires back at Wand

[Wild]

Wanderlei Silva was banned from the sport of MMA after running away from an out-of-competition drug test in Nevada, and he wants nothing from the UFC.

The former PRIDE champion posted on his Facebook on Saturday a message to UFC president Dana White, saying that he feels like a slave fighting for his freedom.

"You know that I’ve been chased, discriminated, treated like a slave by this promotion,"Silva wrote. "They don’t want to release me from the contract, so I can’t work anymore, which is my right of not wanting to work for them anymore, and I can’t work anywhere else. I come here asking the UFC to release me from this slavery system. You work for them or don’t work anywhere else. Some good soul, please translate this and send to Dana. I know I will find the best lawyers to help me with that."

On Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 62 post-fight press conference in Rio de Janeiro, White responded to Silva’s message and his slavery comments.

"Wanderlei Silva ran form a drug test. He ran from a drug test. If he’s a slave, he’s a slave of his own doing," White fired back. "He did this to himself. The UFC didn’t do anything to Wanderlei Silva. Actually, everything that’s happening to Wanderlei Silva, he brings to himself."

Dana White fires back at Wanderlei Silva’s slavery comments: ‘He did this to himself’ - MMA Fighting

 

[dacofty]

Funny how alot of retired or fighters that have moved on from the UFC are saying pretty much the exact things. Im sure there is more to it then a disgruntled employee. As long as the UFC has dfw its gonna use and abuse fighters.

 

[Ministry of Silly Walks]

since he is banned from fighting, there is no reason for them to keep him under contract, other than keeping him from making money.

 

[D241]

what benefit does ufc get by releasing him?

 

[sparkuri]

what benefit does ufc get by releasing him?

Monetarily, none.

If they set Wandy free, then every slave will demand freedom.
Then who's gonna pick cotton?

 

[Hong Kong Phooey]

You mean Bellator is out of the question ?

 

[Jonny Quest]

It's a tough situation and I can see both sides of the argument. Fans are the real losers in this one.

 

[girlandcoconut]

Boils down to personal responsibility IMO. I don't think the UFC needs to do anything, they're operating in accordance to a contract that Silva signed. He's absolutely done it to himself, I get so annoyed by people that agree to terms and then whinge later because they don't like it anymore. Suck it up and deal with the consequences instead of acting like a baby and being idiotic enough to compare your failure to meet the agreements of a contract YOU signed to slavery. That is downright infuriating to me. I liked the guy outside of this nonsense.

 

[Ryann Von Doom]

since he is banned from fighting, there is no reason for them to keep him under contract, other than keeping him from making money.

Bingo. And he ran from an illegal drug test lol

 

[Ryann Von Doom]

Boils down to personal responsibility IMO. I don't think the UFC needs to do anything, they're operating in accordance to a contract that Silva signed. He's absolutely done it to himself, I get so annoyed by people that agree to terms and then whinge later because they don't like it anymore. Suck it up and deal with the consequences instead of acting like a baby and being idiotic enough to compare your failure to meet the agreements of a contract YOU signed to slavery. That is downright infuriating to me. I liked the guy outside of this nonsense.

Do you actually believe this shit you typed out? He cannot fight for the ufc, was unjustly banned by the nsac, and is being held from making a living by zuffa. How is that okay? They wont allow him to fight under their banner, that means he makes no money from his profession. But according to you its okay?

 

[sparkuri]

Boils down to personal responsibility IMO. I don't think the UFC needs to do anything, they're operating in accordance to a contract that Silva signed. He's absolutely done it to himself, I get so annoyed by people that agree to terms and then whinge later because they don't like it anymore. Suck it up and deal with the consequences instead of acting like a baby and being idiotic enough to compare your failure to meet the agreements of a contract YOU signed to slavery. That is downright infuriating to me. I liked the guy outside of this nonsense.

No it does not boil down to that!


Did NSAC have the jurisdiction to test him?
Has this been proven?

These are ACCUSATIONS by a MOB run organization! That is a fact!!!!
If it's the Yakuza, people are quick to criminalize, but the Fertitta familia?

Does anyone have a UFC contract handy, so we can analyze the ENDLESS open-ended stipulations and power by the contractor?

This is WITHOUT A DOUBT a monopoly, period.
Anyone with common sense does not need a dictionary to determine this.

And what LITERALLY SICKENS me, is that Zuffa's propaganda permeates SO DEEP into the minds of "fans", that they have become involved, and interested in litigations, judgements, and proceedings in never ending battles between Zuffa and the founders and legends of OUR sport.

We can no longer train, promote, or root for our fighters and camps without dark clouds cast upon each situation, fighter, or camp.
One day a man is a hero, and next he is cast as villain, when Zuffa can no longer maximize profit from them.
They are demonized, every one of them.
How has this happened?
How is it that fans of fighting are now casting judgement upon LEGENDS, PIONEERS, TRUE creators of NHB/MMA?
In favor of a promoter???? Promotion???!!!!
One that pays anonymous men and women to post pro-company propaganda across the internet, blackballs reporters, badmouths legends and chastises any entity that crosses them?
Who does not understand that there will be no one left to respect?

 

[Pitbull9]

Fact is Dana and Wand are right but only Dana has the power to release him from his contract which he should imo.

 

[Wild]

Release him and let him go earn a living. There are too many shady variable with regards to the testing, for this to be so black & white.

 

[ChaosOverkill]

since he is banned from fighting, there is no reason for them to keep him under contract, other than keeping him from making money.

Mostly to stop ANY OTHER PROMOTION from making money or headway in Brazil. UFC loves it's control of Brazil MMA, Wand working with Bellator is a threat in Brazil to that.

 

[D241]

girlandacoconut isn't actually wrong with her thinking.

bottom line is he did sign a contract that now he is wanting out of.

I think what is being missed is that at the time of Wanderlei signing his last contract, UFC, like 99% of the time, HELD ALL THE CARDS. UFC sets the standard when it comes to fighter pay, and who here can honestly say that Wanderlei signed the UFC deal knowing other promotions could've given him an equal to better deal, but Wand chose UFC b/c he simply likes them better?

Wand went with the best deal he could get. Now that his career is where it's at now, hindsight has him 2nd guessing. Unfortunately UFC doesn't include a hindsight addendum in their contracts.

 

[Wild]

I think BLAF brainwashed you in Dallas, @D241. You have been blinded by pictures being taken and free tickets

 

[Zeph]

girlandacoconut isn't actually wrong with her thinking.

bottom line is he did sign a contract that now he is wanting out of.

I think what is being missed is that at the time of Wanderlei signing his last contract, UFC, like 99% of the time, HELD ALL THE CARDS. UFC sets the standard when it comes to fighter pay, and who here can honestly say that Wanderlei signed the UFC deal knowing other promotions could've given him an equal to better deal, but Wand chose UFC b/c he simply likes them better?

Wand went with the best deal he could get. Now that his career is where it's at now, hindsight has him 2nd guessing. Unfortunately UFC doesn't include a hindsight addendum in their contracts.

There is no legal obligation for the UFC to not offer him fights though. They are choosing not to offer him fights by abiding by the NSAC ruling. If they so chose, they could offer him fights somewhere else to fulfill their end of the contract, by not doing so, it is possible they are in breach of contract. Of course it will all come down to wording, however, a situation like this might not have been seen before, so it is possible they didn't have it covered.

It also has a morality issue to it, holding someone to a contract, from which you can't make anything from, and from which they have no recourse in which to end it. There needs to be some recourse in which Wand can end the contract, be that a time limit or some other means. It may be that the UFC have a legal right to hold him to it, I am not a lawyer and none of us have read his contract, however, forcing someone to give up their career in perpetuity is cruel and unusual punishment for missing a test, compared with the punishments everyone has and is receiving. At some point it would just be nice to see the UFC not nickle and diming everything and acting from a position of what is morally right.

 

[sparkuri]

girlandacoconut isn't actually wrong with her thinking.

bottom line is he did sign a contract that now he is wanting out of.

I think what is being missed is that at the time of Wanderlei signing his last contract, UFC, like 99% of the time, HELD ALL THE CARDS. UFC sets the standard when it comes to fighter pay, and who here can honestly say that Wanderlei signed the UFC deal knowing other promotions could've given him an equal to better deal, but Wand chose UFC b/c he simply likes them better?

Wand went with the best deal he could get. Now that his career is where it's at now, hindsight has him 2nd guessing. Unfortunately UFC doesn't include a hindsight addendum in their contracts.

What's also being missed is that the NSAC is Zuffa's lapdog. As are elements of CSAC, and every other athletic commission that likes kickbacks.
Remeber when CindyO "Had a feeling" Affliction 3 wouldn't happen because of "inside information", mockingly?
3 weeks later CSAC "randomly" tests Josh Barnett.

So, when Zuffa wants to end a career, they do.
Legal?
Maybe.
Wrong?
Yes.

I see legality as nothing but arbitrary. Whoever has the biggest gun wins.
In Washington a guy gets prison for banging a 14 yo. In Hawaii he gets high-fives.
In Hawaii you're carrying an ounce of bud you're a felon off to prison.
In Washington you're a citizen having a good time.

I personally have not heard NSAC had any right to test or exercise contractual discipline on OOC testing in Brazil.
And don't believe for a second departments within Zuffa HQ are not dedicated to these types of "measures", where plausible deniability can* be exercised in the future, like any billion dollar empire.

 

[D241]

I think BLAF brainwashed you in Dallas, @D241. You have been blinded by pictures being taken and free tickets

Are you disagreeing with my statement that UFC controls the cap on fighter pay, which is where the real problem lies?

 

[D241]

There is no legal obligation for the UFC to not offer him fights though. They are choosing not to offer him fights by abiding by the NSAC ruling. If they so chose, they could offer him fights somewhere else to fulfill their end of the contract, by not doing so, it is possible they are in breach of contract. Of course it will all come down to wording, however, a situation like this might not have been seen before, so it is possible they didn't have it covered.

It also has a morality issue to it, holding someone to a contract, from which you can't make anything from, and from which they have no recourse in which to end it. There needs to be some recourse in which Wand can end the contract, be that a time limit or some other means. It may be that the UFC have a legal right to hold him to it, I am not a lawyer and none of us have read his contract, however, forcing someone to give up their career in perpetuity is cruel and unusual punishment for missing a test, compared with the punishments everyone has and is receiving. At some point it would just be nice to see the UFC not nickle and diming everything and acting from a position of what is morally right.

Zuffa has done good, Zuffa has done bad. I can differentiate between the two, however you are totally losing me on this post.

To my understanding, Wand is under contract with UFC. Most UFC contracts have a stipulation that makes fighters have to have a certain # of fights offered to them within a certain time period, or they are under contract for a certain time period.

As I see it, Zuffa has Wand under contract-right?
Wand is currently under suspension from NSAC-right?
How in the heck is Zuffa supposed to offer a SUSPENDED FIGHTER a fight?

This is where you lose me.

 

[Wild]

Are you disagreeing with my statement that UFC controls the cap on fighter pay, which is where the real problem lies?

All I'm saying is - don't let a 30 minute meet & greet and a couple tickets, completely brainwash you. Dana and Cindy know they're able to convert people to "fans for life" at those things...for 30 minutes of their time and a couple tickets that likely weren't going to be sold anyway. Those people go on message boards or tell their friends how awesome the UFC & Dana are, they never question Zuffa anymore, etc. 50 people at that meet & greet tell 10 people about what Dana & Cindy did for them...that's 500 people they've reached...those 500 tell 10 more...etc, etc. What they did for your kids was cool as hell, but all I'm saying is stay open minded my brother. They aren't doing those meet & greets out of the kindness of their hearts.

 

[D241]

I think you are reading what you want to in my opinion, and ironically aren't being open minded.

I don't fault the UFC for using the leverage they established and have regarding Wand being under contract.(This is where you think I'm brainwashed)

I DO fault the UFC for controlling fighter pay/contracts. The UFC *could offer more freedom to their fighters, but as a business that benefits them how?
As a fan, I just want fighters to be paid more, respected more, and UFC could do it, but doesn't.(me being open minded but you don't see it)

 

[Wild]

As a fan, I just want fighters to be paid more, respected more, and UFC could do it, but doesn't.(me being open minded but you don't see it)

Now this we are in agreement on my man! And apologies for making assumptions as well.

 

[D241]

Also, I do not approve of bad mouthing Wand. He's a legend and has earned respect. I clearly understand UFC is a business so although I don't agree with how they run things, from a successful business standpoint, I understand it.

Sorry if that honest(imo open minded) opinion makes you feel Zuffa brainwashed me.

 

[D241]

Not just Wand, all fighters deserve respect, especially him though. Few fighters resume's can compare to his.