[Rise]

Originally Posted by rivethead

And how is that any different from the tactics dana and zuffa routinely employ? When zuffa does things like counterprogramming other competitive orgs, it's considered a great business move. When dana gets a personal hard-on for Fedor and does everything he can to fuck his career, it's hilarious...but when the CU does this it's suddenly corrupt and dirty?

You don't see the difference between a union trying to hurt a company because they can't get a foot hold into some of the businesses they own and competing against another company that offers the same product as you ? Really ?

I'm curious as well how exactly did Dana fuck Fedor's career ? I could see the Strikeforce buy out maybe as being an arguement here but I'm pretty sure that would have happened with or without Fedor there.

If Stephens is found to be guilty, it wouldn't be the best for him to have fought on this card. If he's found to be innocent, he can fight on future cards without any concern. If Stephens needs money now for legal defense, and dana is 100% supportive, zuffa can financially assist him until the critical parts of his case are resolved.

Agreed the smart thing to do would be to have Stephens clear this up first.

With Trujillo, his case happened years ago, and it's public record; but there doesn't seem to be anything about resolution and/or anger management classes or other educational outreach. Minimally, if he's done things to turn himself around, that should be public knowledge as well. I'm all in favor of giving people second chances, but none of what the CU has done here is in any way corrupt in my eyes.

If they are not being underhanded an actually showing true concern here why are we not hearing this more from them? How many countless entertainers have been through just Las Vegas alone that have had criminal issues that they've probably never given a thought about if they played in a union establishment.

While it may not be corrupt it's still nothing but blatant PR hypocrisy.

Fundamentally, I want the MMA to get better. I look at things like this as constructive criticism. I want zuffa to address the concerns constructively--I do not feel Stephens should be fighting until his case is resolved, nor any other fighter who is under investigation for violent crimes--and grow as a result.

I agree with everything you said here except the constructive criticism part there is no need for the culinary union to be sticking their nose in here.

I think the kneejerk reaction is to simply hate on the CU because they have an agenda. But their agenda doesn't mean that anything they've stated here is anything less than accurate.

rh

If I thought there was an actual true concern behind what they CU said I'd give them more credence. Realistically though we can all form our own opinions without them coming off like a bunch of tattle tales and trying to make problems.