Sports giant ESPN seems to be sending a message to the UFC with its latest exposè that the gloves are coming off, and UFC president Dana White has responded in kind.
“Can’t stand the lying 2 faced media [expletive]!! So glad we did this one right cause ESPN can NOT be trusted,” White tweeted earlier today in response to ESPN’s recent actions.
What actions could be so heinous as to elicit such a response?
First, ESPN released a video in which it was suggested that the UFC had a monopoly over the MMA business.
The video wasn’t egregiously offensive as it was more or less unbiased.
However, what recently earned White’s ire was an editorial (that hits harder than an Anderson Silva front kick to the face) by ESPN reporter and longtime Dana White/Zuffa nemesis Josh Gross.
The article—which won’t be summarized at length—harshly criticized what the UFC pays its fighters and suggested that Zuffa brass sleep on mattresses made of money whilst low to mid level UFC fighters struggle to make ends meet.
Does this mean that the gloves are coming off between ESPN and the UFC?
After all, the UFC and ESPN aren’t strangers in terms of controversy. Back in August 2011, ESPN canceled an interview with Dana White after the UFC’s deal with FOX was announced.
White blasted them with a tweet then, too.
These recent developments show that the UFC and ESPN will likely never be friends. So don’t expect to see more UFC footage on Sports Center or any other ESPN show in 2012.
A full-blown confrontation between the two may not come to pass but as long as Josh Gross writes for ESPN and as long as ESPN is owned by FOX rival ABC (which is owned by Disney), the UFC will always be treated as minor in terms of coverage on ESPN.
You’ll see more of the world series of poker and championship bowling than you’ll see UFC highlights.
Does this constitute “open war” between the UFC and ESPN?
Only Dana White and the Fertita brothers can answer that.
ESPN may keep the UFC from entering the top echelon of sports organizations or, on the flip side, the UFC may rise up and ESPN may look inept for not covering the next big thing.
All that is known for sure is that relations between the two jilted parties are not on the mend and may never be.
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