Get ready UFC fight fans because the circus is coming to town – and Don King is their Ring Leader.
For those of you who don’t know who the infamous boxing promoter Don King is, I am sorry. I am sorry that you have had to spend your entire life living under a rock.
The rest of us however, who are more than familiar with who he is may or may not have known the following:
Don King was convicted of non-negligent manslaughter for the 1966 killing of his employee, Sam Garrett, after he was found guilty of stomping him to death. Sam Garrett apparently owed Don King $600. King served just under four years in prison.
That’s right – you read that correctly. Stomping him to death!!!
Now imagine how ruthless Don King is going to be in his upcoming attempt to “stomp out” the UFC.
Recently, Don King was quoted as saying:
“The UFC is a great contribution. It’s a return to glory for people who like sophisticated barbarism.”
“I’m the people’s promoter. Whatever the people want, I’m going to promote. Whatever the public wants, that’s what I want to give them.”
“When I bring my guys in we’ll be getting prepared to take on Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta in their league vs. our league. The same thing I want to do with the sport of boxing I want to do with MMA.” (source: mmanews.com)
Take a deep breath.
On one hand, I can understand why panic may be setting in with most of you right now.
(Breath…don’t forget to breath….)
On the other hand, this could be a very good thing for MMA.
Allow me to explain:
A monopoly (refer to my article entitled: UFC and the Game of Monopoly) is not good for any industry and I attest that MMA (and its’ UFC dominance) is no different. Don King will no doubt bring fourth the strongest competition that the UFC has had to face yet (no offence to Strikeforce, but nobody outside of the hardcore, already-existing MMA fan – CARES).
I see 2 major benefits happening:
The first is that fight fans will have more variety and option. Some may love it. Others will hate it (and they will stay loyal to the UFC). I predict however, that anything new will need to be “different” in order to be perceived by many as being “better”. Change is good.
The second benefit is that competition forces evolution. The UFC will start putting on better shows, paying their athletes more, appreciating the fans more, etc. or they will suffer the consequences.
Either way, the fans (and the fighters) will win, so it’s all good.
On a daily basis, someone (usually myself) is complaining about something that they don’t like about the current fight format and system. This is the perfect opportunity (perhaps) to improve things.
Don King brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and I am confident that he will be successful.
One thing is for certain. The best fighters in the world are about to get PAID – and like it or not, it could potentially be at the demise of the UFC.
Oh and Don, if you are reading this (very doubtful), just know that I am currently in the process of developing a business plan for you to look at. You want to promote what the fans want – well, I’m going to give it to you.
Stay tuned.
James, All I can say is wow. That picture is phenomenal.
Please read: “The UFC and the Game of Monopoly”
http://mrjamesryan.com/2009/09/28/ufc-and-the-g…
With sports, I don't necessarily believe having a monopoly is such a bad thing. This way, the best of the best play each other, and I think fans and athletes get the most out of this.
I know MMA is a little different then other sports, as there is no open drafts, or clear way to develop prospects. Also, there is no ownership group (like the NFL for example), but I'm ok having one dominant league (UFC or whatever) and having athletes work their way up to that league through smaller shows and leagues.
I wouldn't want to see MMA turn to boxing, where by, if someone has enough money, then they can create a new championship to compete for. I just find things get diluted this way.
I do believe competition is healthy, and can promote growth of the sport, and potentially push organizations to like the UFC to change their policies.
James,
I am doing my best to contain myself here, but,….”Don King”….”good for the sport”…..HELL NO!!
Don King is one of the biggest crooks in the history of crooks!
You make the statement that if you don't know who he is, you need to get out from under the rock, take your own advice bro.
I have every belief this article was to generate comments, and you got me, hook, line and sinker.
I cannot believe what I just read…..
Hi David,
Not trying to be controversial. Just giving my take on a reality-based situation which is that – like it or not – Don King is going to get into MMA and – like it or not – he is an amazing sports promoter who will no doubt find success.
His long list of controversies and criminal activities are well documented – I am familiar with them all. Yet, despite these activities, he has still managed to find success in boxing and despite these activities, he will also find success in MMA.
If you are a top ranked fighter earning $50 G's a fight and Don King steps up and offers you 10x that, would you say no because of his reputation??
As a fan, would you miss some of the greatest fights ever lined up in MMA simply because Don King is the Promoter?
I see your point, but evolution is a good thing – regardless of Don King or not.
Cheers
This would be cause for concern… 10 years ago.
Don King is barely relevant in boxing anymore now that his bread and butter days are over. Sure he still has a couple guys on his roster but nowadays he isn't a force.
King isn't professional enough to attract the type of investors it would take to legitimately challenge the UFC either. Running small time cards around the size of Shark Fights won't even put him on the UFC's radar.
In addition there aren't a bunch of star MMA free agents out there right now for him to start a promotion with. The UFC and Strikeforce/Dream are scooping up the cream of the crop.
Don King is a blowhard that is looking for a little bit of spotlight and some free press. I'll take any bets that nothing at all comes from his statements.
Why on Earth would anyone want Don King together with ultimate fighting? All I have to do is look at Mike Tyson and automatically I know that the combination of those two are bad.
No publicity is bad publicity as the saying goes. Don King's imminent arrival to MMA will certainly bring a maelstrom of publicity (which in turn will be manipulated and spun in circles by the UFC to the UFC's benefit) and controversy.
Both of which are fuel to the fire.
Perhaps despite Don King's waning influence more fans of boxing may be exposed to MMA courtesy of said publicity and controversy.
In the end people will tune in good bad or otherwise to see what Don King has to offer.
That's what I'm thinking as well.
http://mrjamesryan.com/2009/09/15/boxing-promot…
Don King is just money-hungry and trying to get a piece of what the UFC has been getting in the last couple of years.
I don't think he'll be that much of a competition to them. If anything, I believe he should be involved with Strikeforce.
I doubt he'll offer anything to the sport. He's just another greedy boxing promoter.
“SATAN ENTERS INTO THE MMA SCENE”
Don King is Satan. No, he' not “like Satan” or anything like that. He's the purest evil in human form that is not currently being hunted by US forces, the FBI or some other similar entity. Don King is pretty much the most evil human being alive who is not currently on death row. He is Satan and the horns are hidden by that thing he grows on top of his head.
Should MMA be scared of Don King? Scared of his mafia contacts and scared he'll put a hit out on Dana White? Hell yes! Scared that he'll generate viable competition to the UFC? No, not really. Donald Trump was in bed with Affliction and that tanked.
The real trouble is, most MMA fans of today are casual fans. Most are unfamiliar with the term “Mixed Martial Arts” but they know what “Ultimate Fighting” is. The UFC has burned it's name-association with MMA deeply into the collective subconscious of the people of the USA and of the entire world. If you want to see a County Fair version of MMA, most people know that it's out there. If you want to see the best fighters in the world, everyone knows that the UFC is where you go.
The biggest question in my mind: How much longer until the current mortal coil possessed by Satan (and called Don King) will die? That mortal body is 78 years old. No doubt he'll just possess somebody else and have that person carry on his work, but that's what Satan does.
Bear this in mind:
I used to be a huge boxing fan. The 7 things that ruined boxing for me and caused me to lose interest in the sport:
1.) Don King
2.) Cancellation of Tuesday Night Fights and other free boxing shows.
3.) Don King
4.) Boxing has 85 Champions, how the hell do you keep up with that??
5.) Don King
6.) Mixed Martial Arts is just a helluva lot more fun to watch.
7.) Don King
Did I mention that he's Satan incarnate and that the horns are hiding in that plume of gray mold on top of his head?
We've already seen where a lot of money and a lack of understanding will kill an upstart MMA promotion. I see this happening with whatever King comes up with.
Although it will be nice for Dana to be considered the good guy for once.
Don is a crook, no doubt. But is Dana “not” a crook? I mean the UFC is printing money right now. For UFC 100, do you know what Frank Mir was paid in the main event, and one of the most anticipated bouts in history. 45 grand. Now THAT, is a robbery. Getting beat up, on a national stage in front of the most mainstream audience, against the champion of the uneducated masses, for hardly any of the overall take, that, was enormous. I mean, Don is considered a crook for taking a large part of every fighters salary, including millions from Mike Tyson, in his heyday? Is this any different?
Good or not, mma is not a sport that I feel should have a monopoly. The UFC is frantically stealing talent, and buying away regions, trying to do it, but that is a business plan from them. It has very little to do with what is best for mma.
I am ok with it, provided it is on the up and up with current rules, restraints, and athletic commisioning.
Monty, I think you're turning a blind eye to something that's ridiculously obvious here. Don King came from hell (see above) — then he came from boxing. Boxing is a sport that he helped ruin. How was boxing ruined? There are 17 weight classes with a measly 5 or 6 pounds separating weights. People move up and down so much that there might as well not be any weight classes at all.
Then there are 5 governing bodies, each with their own belt. Ring Magazine has further complicated the problem by creating a belt of their own, but I refuse to count it. This is the kiss of death for many fans. Most can live with 17 weight classes so long as there is a clear champion in each weight. Boxing has 5 champions (going on 6) per weight class. That's 85 champions (going on 102.)
Do we really want to repeat the sins of Boxing?
I agree 100% with the underpayment of Mir — and that's just one example. There are a ton of fighters who are not being paid what they deserve. Competition within the sport isn't very likely to help fighter pay because the UFC's competators keep going belly-up. It's used as an excuse to keep fighter pay lower, not higher. In all likelihood, the only thing that will get fighter pay where it belongs will be unionization of the fighters — and man wouldn't that piss off Dana White!!
I also agree that the UFC is not making good decisions for the sport. One of the obvious no-brainer choices would have been to leave the WEC fully intact and used the WEC in the same way that baseball uses their own minor leagues. Instead, the UFC has canibalized the WEC down to the point that it's just a promo for the smallest weight classes. Having the “major leagues” and “minor leagues” under the same roof — so to speak — would have been a very nice touch.
ahahaha this was funny! i got a feelin don king will be around for another 100 years strong!
dude the guys like 80 and hes living like hes in his 30's. i think thats what makes you live so long. working your asss off. the second you retire you croak. retirement number one cause of death in elderly people, wasnt that a famous line from a movie?
Not sure if it's from a movie or not, but I've always believed that to be true as well. My retirement plan is to go to Med school
seriously. The more the brain works and the more you have to live for….ya know. 