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[MYboyBISPING]

Which President Will Prevail in 2008? Dana White (UFC) or Gary Shaw (Elite XC)

White fires back at rival
By Kevin Iole

Saturday, Jan 12, 2008 1:52 pm EST

Ever since he became a mixed martial arts promoter some 13 months ago, Gary Shaw of Elite XC has been exchanging harsh words with UFC president Dana White.

Shaw suggested in an Internet column written by Steve Cofield that the UFC's dominance of the industry is about to end.

"It was easy for UFC before there was competition," Shaw told Cofield, a Las Vegas sports radio host. "There was no other choice in the past. Once you have choices, there's a problem. You can't stuff a pay-per view down the throat of the fan every month if there are other choices out there. I don't know what their real pay-per-view numbers are, but I guarantee you they're not doing the 700,000-800,000 pay-per-view numbers now. And you don't hear them bragging about it."

Shaw also said the UFC has to pay its fighters more because Elite XC was competing for them. He specifically mentioned Wanderlei Silva, Shogun Rua and Dan Henderson.

But White fired back at Shaw Friday in a conversation with Yahoo! Sports, portraying Shaw as a money grubber who only began promoting MMA when he was failing at boxing.

White said the UFC did better in 2007 than it did in 2006, contrary to Shaw's assertions, and said Elite XC is no threat to the UFC.

"Gary Shaw is (an expletive) loser," White said. "We beat our pay-per-view numbers from last year. Do you hear that? We beat our pay-per-view numbers from last year. We just don't brag about it because we don't talk about our business in the public.

"And if we were getting competition, it's not coming from Elite XC and both of the people who are watching their shows. This guy is a low-level bottom feeder. He didn't like MMA a few years ago, but when he finally couldn't make money at boxing any more, he came over to this sport to try to leech money out of it."

Share your thoughts on the pros and cons of Elite XC and the UFC and let us know if you side with Shaw or if you think White is right. Also, tell us if you think Elite XC will close the gap on the UFC in 2008 or, if you think any promoter will be able to do so.

Obviously Dana and the UFC has all the talent but Gary Shaw of EliteXC has been running his mouth to what his promotion can do and he thinks they can compete. With Pride gone is EliteXC even on UFC's level I don't think so. Or is there any other promotion that will get some notoriety maybe K-1 Hero's (I think their Dream now).

[valheruking]

I don't think his chances of taking on the UFC in some kinda contest are too good with a Rampage/Griffin TUF and all the new and established fighters the UFC has. Be nice to see some other orgs gain popularity though.

[Diegonightmare]

Interesting article and topic.

EXC on UFC's level? No, not yet. There was PRIDE and UFC and everyone else. Now there's only UFC and everyone else.

EXC a real threat for the future? Yes. EXC puts on by far the best non-Zuffa shows this side of Japan; they already have a decent and growing stable of good fighters; and their cards are always interesting and entertaining. The average skill level of their fighters cannot yet compete with the UFC's but I won't say it's impossible for the future.

EXC is considered the only other North American * edit - non-Zuffa "major org" by most MMA fans. That alone is impressive given their short history, to be mentioned in the same breath.

HERO'S / DREAMS will not be big among casual/mainstream fans in the US for a long while. Japanese MMA and culture is so different; they have to get a good PPV deal and then I simply don't see it happening. Of course, hardcore fans already know HERO'S has several great fighters and was one of the biggest winners in the PRIDE debacle.

This competition that EXC will bring to bear on the UFC will be good, for the most part, for MMA fans. It will only help the sport grow, which means more incredible fighters for us to watch in the coming years.

I don't see EXC putting any real pressure on the UFC any time in 2008, but again, I won't say it will never happen.

Also, any time that you as the #2 player in any market can force the #1 player to acknowledge you and react to you, that is a good thing.

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

I dont think Shaw has any right to comment on UFC being beaten,especially by his comapny,thats ludacris. Show me on statistic where Elite XC outsold,out drew,or made as big an impact as UFC has.

UFC is on national Tv about 3 times a week with spike,holds PPVS that draw millions just in live gate,and millions more in PPV buys,and almost all of their dvds usually make it to most 'Top 10 Selling Sports' DVDs in most online and retail stores.No matter how you look at it,UFC beats out Elite XC in every way.

Shaw is talking out of his ass.

Its alwayas good to see other promotions grow,gain fans,and make their product better,but you dont grow and out draw your competitors by taking cheap shots at them on radio shows.Instead of talking down on what UFC has done or is doing now,why not Stfu about Dana and plug your next show??

[Kimuras"R"Us]

Since Zuffa owns WEC is Dana White considered the President of that too? I ask because even with the lack of househould names at this point the WEC puts on really entertaining cards top to bottom which IMO are better than what EliteXC could do.

Regardless of the answer to that question i'm picking white.

[2mcgrath]

good read,im going with dana on this

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by Kimuras"R"Us

Since Zuffa owns WEC is Dana White considered the President of that too?

I think Scott Adams is WEC President / GM.

Agreed, I still prefer WEC's events over EXC. I would consider EXC the only non-Zuffa North American major org.

[Dork8503]

Yeah Elite is going to take over with Main events like Tank vs Kimbo LOL.

Sorry but Elite really does not stand a chance. UFC could slow down an lose ppv buys an still beat Elite. Last i heard Elite lost money last year. UFC gained money.

At worst UFC drops ppvs down to 8 a year and have about 6-9 ufn's. That way if people get burnt out on buying ppvs, they drop the ppvs and it gains better fights, an gets people more interested again. Also it helps the WEC because UFC fighters would be going their to fight while waiting also would force the UFC to show all fights on a ppv because with only 8 a year or so every fight would mean a great deal.

If UFC ends up showing UFC on cbs like planned Elite is fucked 3 ways from sunday.

[pimpslappd]

Hes definately using Dana White and UFCS name in the media to try and garner attention.

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by Dork8503

If UFC ends up showing UFC on cbs like planned Elite is fucked 3 ways from sunday.

Elite has an uphill climb for sure. But all it takes is for the momentum to start to swing. EXC signs a couple big fighters lost from PRIDE, or recruits some WEC or UFC big names, and things start to change.

Again though, it does all depend what "group" of fans we are talking about here. What I am saying is that it's not beyond the realm of imagination that hardcore fans could start to talk about EXC in the same sentences with the UFC.

However, to the mainstream casual Spike-watching fans, yes UFC probably does own that market for the foreseeable future and beyond.