With a massive stable of fighters to preside over, UFC president Dana White naturally tolerates foolish behavior from his employees on a regular basis.
From failed drug screens to arrests for violent crimes, White has had to both temporarily and permanently dismiss plenty of title contenders in his day.
But White still evidently believes that a post-fight sucker punch that Paul Daley landed on Josh Koscheck at UFC 113 proved one of the most unforgivable offenses to date in the Octagon.
During the pre-fight media scrum for UFC Fight Night 41 on Friday, White talked about the Daley incident and why he’s had such a difficult time sympathizing with the British slugger.
Paul Daley had his management write me a letter a few days ago, basically saying that he has grown up a lot since that incident, he’s been on a win streak, and it’s one of the biggest regrets of his life, and things like that. I showed it to [UFC CEO] Lorenzo [Fertitta], and Lorenzo’s like, ‘It’s up to you brother, what do you want to do?’ And it’s such a hard one for me. It’s a hard one for me. … It’s just one of those things that’s hard to forgive.
White briefly flashed back to the night in May 2010 when Daley cracked Koscheck after the bell, offering the following sentiments to reporters on hand: “I always liked Paul Daley. I liked him as a fighter and the way that he fought and everything else. But I’m telling you, I walked up into the Octagon that night, when that was going on, and he just didn’t give a s–t. He didn’t give a s–t.”
Koscheck easily handled Daley en route to a unanimous decision in what was a title eliminator bout at UFC 113.
Since falling to Koscheck, Daley has gone 11-4 with seven wins coming via TKO or KO. Daley has won five of his last six fights, each win coming by TKO or KO.
Regardless of Daley’s potential to excite and draw fans, White made it obvious that he’s not yet ready to forgive him.
“He’s the only guy in UFC history that’s ever sucker-punched somebody after the fight. One guy…and there’s a lot of things that I have forgave in the past, [but] that’s a tough one.”
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