Dana White has a piece of advice for UFC fighters demanding “big money fights.”
From Tyron Woodley to Demetrious Johnson, Dana White is aware of the “money fight” demands of many on the UFC roster. And according to the outspoken UFC executive, it is all about fighters learning how to promote themselves effectively.
“Build yourself into a star, and you won’t be talking about money fights,” White said in a media scrum after the UFC’s event in St. Louis on Sunday (via MMAjunkie). “It’s getting to a point where Conor McGregor has exploded and become so huge that this whole money fight thing came about. And even if you’re not fighting Conor McGregor, you want to be on Conor McGregor’s card. Become a star.
“Don’t worry about Conor McGregor or fighting on Conor McGregor’s card. Become a star yourself.”
According to White, those who are deserving of fights with lucrative paydays are those who are high up in the rankings, apart from those who are named Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.
“The only reason there are ‘money fights’ is because of the rankings. A guy gets into the top 10, and then a guy breaks into the top five,” White said. “When a guy breaks into the top five, that’s when everybody is interested in him. And when guys talk about money fights, it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“You know what’s a money fight? Any fight with Conor McGregor is a money fight. There are certain people. Ronda Rousey – any fight with Ronda Rousey is a money fight.”
Woodley once again went on record recently to express his dislike about the current matchmaking trends in MMA, which he believes is mostly about bravado and self-marketing as opposed to fighting their way to the top.