Mayweather offers Pacquiao $40 million to fight
January 27, 2012
BoxingScene.com reports that Floyd Mayweather offered Manny Pacquiao a $40 million flat fee to fight on May 5th. The offer would mean that Mayweather would keep any PPV, gate and any other fight revenue from the long-awaited matchup.
The proposal was offered in a phone call Mayweather made to Pacquiao last week. Its unlikely that Pacquiao would take this offer although the $40 million would be the most he would make for one fight in his career.
With this proposal, its assumed that Mayweather’s take from this proposed fight would greatly exceed $40 million. For example, Mayweather’s business model from his last fight includes multiple revenue streams including foreign sales for the fight broadcast, closed-circuit revenues, site revenue and sponsorships. It was estimated that Mayweather made $40 million from the Ortiz fight. Mayweather did front $10 million in marketing costs to promote the Ortiz fight under the Mayweather Promotions banner. Its not clear, but unlikely, that Mayweather asked Pacquiao to put up money for promotional costs.
Payout Perspective:
And the saga continues in the struggle to make this fight. While the $40 million is the most Pacquiao will ever make in one fight, not receiving a portion of the PPV revenue, or any other streams of revenue, would greatly reduce, and shortchange Pacquiao’s earning potential. Its likely that the revenue for the PPV alone would be astounding considering the long wait for this fight. While Mayweather may carry the promotion of this fight domestically, its Pacquiao that would help international sales. This would include the many Filipino fight fans that would come to Vegas (the likely spot) for the fight.
Its hard to imagine Pacquiao fighting under a Mayweather Promotions only banner. Mayweather has said that he will not take a 50-50 split so we will have to wait and see if this fight will ever happen.
Video: UFC on FOX Vlog Day 2
January 27, 2012
Bisping continues to question Sonnen’s manhood over low testosterone
January 27, 2012
CHICAGO -- Maybe it's a good thing Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen didn't have months to promote their fight tomorrow night on the UFC on Fox 2 at the United Center. One can only imagine the depths the trash talk would've sunk to.
Sonnen's testosterone replacement therapy is the popular subject this week for the Brit, who suggests that the American is less than a complete male. Early in the week on HDNet, Bisping alleged that Sonnen has a physical abnormality.
"[...] He's been submitted more times than I care to mention. Not to mention, the last time he lost a fight by submission, there were some issues involving performance enhancing drugs," Bisping said. "I don't know what the deal is. Apparently, he has one testicle. One testicle! This is why he uses performance enhancing drugs. He's gonna need more than one little ball to fight me next weekend!"
Sonnen served a one-year suspension for not properly disclosing that he was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy before his UFC 117 fight in California. Bisping is not a fan of fighter using TRT.
"If Sonnen needs TRT, then he's is the wrong sport. If you need TRT, then perhaps you should be carrying a purse and a handbag, and wearing a dress," Bisping told The Telegraph's Gareth A. Davies. "This is a fight sport, and Alpha males shouldn't need testosterone from anywhere else."
Strangely enough, that quote emerged from a conversation where Bisping discussed using a sports psychologist. That topic could certainly open the door for some counter-fire from Sonnen. Stay tuned, there's still 30-plus hours until the fight.
UFC on FOX 2 – Predictions and Analysis
January 27, 2012
A confident Dana White defends policy of confidentiality on fighter pay and welcomes government scrutiny
January 27, 2012
CHICAGO -- Dana White has his mind made up. You're never going to know what UFC fighters truly make and that's just the way it has to be.
"So just because you don't know everything, you don't have to know anything, and to be honest with you? It's none of your [expletive] business how much these guys are making. They're making a lot of money. [...] How much money is none of your business. I'm not asking how much money you're making," said White (3:10 mark).
White believes that the salary information, so readily available in the other pro sports has ruined things for the athletes. He pointed to the recent $214 million megadeal inked by Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder.
"His whole life is going to change. He thought it was bad before with the (expletive) he had going on in his life? Everybody and their mother is coming after that 214," White said (2:10 mark). "Believe me when I tell you. Mark my words, Prince Fielder talk to me in five years and tell me what it was like when the news put out there that you were making $214 million dollars. I'm not going to do that to my guys."
The UFC often gets a bad rap for fighter pay because the only numbers revealed are those given to state commissions. The promotion beefs up the pay with behind-the-scenes discretionary and pay-per-view bonuses. White is often asked if all the complaints about pay would go away if Zuffa simply revealed all the details.
"Even when we sat down and had that first FOX meeting, the guys at FOX were like, holy [expletive]! They're like, 'Why don't you plaster this everywhere? This is the thing that will put you guys over the top. This is the thing that people love to see and talk about. Look at Mike Tyson.' And I said, 'Yeah, look at Mike Tyson,'" White said. "I've had these conversations with Mike. Mike said that when his money was reported, his [expletive] life was miserable. I'm not doing it."
Some believe the UFC's reluctance to be more transparent prompted the Federal Trade Commission to open an anti-trust violation investigation to look into Zuffa's practices.
CBSSports.com's Gregg Doyel said this is a sign of awful things to come for the UFC.
The FTC vs. the UFC? That's a heavyweight fight. That's Dana White's worst nightmare. The FTC looks for antitrust violations, picking apart monopolies as the unfair bullies they are -- and as far as I'm concerned, the UFC is guilty as charged.
The story set off White.
"There was guy yesterday, he wrote this story and you could tell this thing was like 'I want some attention. I want some attention. Maybe he'll get mad and say some [expletive].' [...] When we get stories written about us like that, I know it seems like I get crazy and come off too personal ... well, [expletive] yeah it's personal! What you're saying is untrue," said White (0:51 mark).
White said everything about the promotion is on the up and up.
"If the government wants to come in and look inside and take a peak and look around, they're more than welcome," White said. "Many of you have heard stories and all kinds of things ... mark my [expletive] words right here, right now, today ... we're not going anywhere. And everything we say is true."
As far as we know the FTC is still looking at Zuffa. White certainly came off sounding very confident nothing will come from the investigation.
White pointed out that there is no sports that has been more heavily scrutinized by governments all levels. The promotion has survived and thrived to become what White called the best sports story of the last 50 years.
Dana White vs. The Internet
January 27, 2012
If Round 1 is the war of words, Phil Davis leads 10-8 over Rashad Evans
January 27, 2012
CHICAGO -- In most interviews Phil Davis comes off as a reserved young man. He's not out to ruffle any feathers, but those of us who've had a chance to speak to him repeatedly always knew there was a potential media darling behind that conservative facade.
In the lead-up to Saturday's UFC on Fox 2 card, Rashad Evans has brought out the beast in Davis and the former UFC light heavyweight hasn't reacted too well.
It started last week when Evans flipped out on Davis calling him a "boy." Yesterday during the UFC on Fox 2 prefight press conference, Evans shook his head, appeared annoyed and even looked flustered on several occasions.
As the banter began, Evans tried to play it cool.
"For the most part, I've got nothing against Phil, but you we've got a fight so I've got a lot against him right now. It's personal, but not really PERSONAL personal," said Evans, who had heated prefight words with previous opponents like Tito Ortiz and Quinton Jackson.
Evans got irked when the issue of college wrestling came up. Phil Davis, a more accomplished NCAA star at Penn State than Evans was at Michigan State, laughed when someone asked if his opponent could beat him in a straight wrestling match. Evans kept saying "your technique is trash."
Then Davis was asked about missing the opportunity to face Evans back in August in Philadelphia. Davis quickly pointed out that he didn't get to fight in front of his friends and family from nearby Harrisburg, Pa. Evans took issue with the fact that Davis didn't say he was sad to lose out on the opportunity to fight him. Davis fired back, "Nobody heard me say that!"
Evans snapped again when Davis explained his understanding of what the result of a win could be, a possible title shot against Jon Jones.
"The winner of this fight will fight for the title, but in the event that I hit him too hard and break my hand ... it might lead to somebody else getting the title shot first," said Davis.
"You don't punch nobody hard. Phil can't hit. Phil punches with his hands open and everything," Evans said. "He couldn't bust a grape. You look like Arsenio Hall."
Davis laughed.
"Give him a hand y'all. Give him a hand," said Davis.
That opened the door for a female fan to ask Davis whether he looked more like Hall or NBA star Dwight Howard? Davis handled it gracefully as he done throughout the lead-up to Saturday's tilt. We'll see if his poise remains intact in the fight. Either way, this week showed he'll be a valuable asset on main cards for years to come in the UFC.
Jon-Olav Einemo’s harrowing trip to UFC on Fox 2
January 27, 2012
CHICAGO -- While his opponent, Mike Russow, is fighting in his hometown, Jon-Olav Einemo had to travel from his camp in Holland to get to Chicago for Saturday's bout. The trip was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
"I came from the UK, and we were about three or four hours into the flight. We were over the Atlantic Ocean, and it started to smell burnt on the plane," Einemo said. "The stewardess was running around, telling us there was nothing to be worried about. We had to turn back and make an emergency landing in Ireland, then wait there for four hours. It was a long break."
Einemo didn't see any flames shooting from the plane, but said the experience spooked him and the other passengers a bit.
"I was watching a movie, I had my headset on, and I started to smell something. I looked around, looked at the eyes of four other people, but it was OK."
Fighting against Russow, a Chicago police officer, Einemo knows he won't have the crowd on his side. He wore a shirt that read, "Chicago Rum Runners," to Thursday's press conference. Since law enforcement won't be on his side, he joked that he needs to appeal to other fans.
"Not everybody likes the police, so I have to try to get the other ones on my side!"
UFC left off of Businessweek’s Top 100 in Sports
January 27, 2012
The UFC was shutout for the 2nd straight year in Bloomberg Businessweek’s Top Power 100 Sports Ranking. Notably, boxers Manny Pacquiao (28) and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (49) were on the list.
Drew Brees edged out Aaron Rodgers for the top spot this year. Brock Lesnar and Fedor made it on the list in 2010. The list is based on an athlete’s performance, popularity and marketability.
Last year’s top spot, Peyton Manning, fell to 51st on the list. Lance Armstrong, No. 8 on the list last year, fell off the list completely as he announced his retirement last February. Despite retiring, Shaquille O’Neal remained No. 7 on the list.
Payout Perspective:
Will there be a UFC fighter on this list next year? Certainly, Jon Jones and Georges St. Pierre would be the two names that would come to mind when it comes to the criteria. Jones would be more likely to make the mainstream jump this year consdering GSP’s injury. A combination of Jones’ personality, his athletic ability and the UFC’s visibility through the Fox deal should help land Jones on this list.
Dana White calls out Internet hackers, they respond by releasing his personal info
January 27, 2012
CHICAGO -- The war is on between the UFC and Internet hackers.
On Sunday, UFC.com was re-routed several times to the website UGnazi. The site's organizers, who White called terrorists several times during the "UFC on Fox 2" press conference, said the hacking of UFC.com is a result of the company's support of SOPA and PIPA. The wide-ranging bills are aimed at stopping online piracy.
White lashed out at the hackers.
"Keep hacking our site, do it again. Do it tonight," said White. "These guys look like terrorists now and a bill that was about to die, is about to come back."
The hacker taking credit for the UFC hit, @joshthgod, went a different route after the challenge, posting White's personal info, including a Social Security number, a list of residential addresses, a vehicle identification number and a personal phone number.
That followed a tweet that said White is now the target.
"@danawhite We don't want your site anymore. We are going after YOU! Follow me for tonights exciting events! #ufc #sopa #acta #pipa,"
[Related: Why SOPA, PIPA aren't answer to MMA's piracy problem]
White said the hackers are only hurting their own cause by alerting politicians that there's a serious issue. He's willing to risk his own safety to stop the online pilfering.
"Is SOPA the perfect bill? No, it's not. The only thing that we're focused on is piracy. Piracy is stealing. If you walk into a store and you steal a gold watch, it's the same as stealing a pay-per-view. I don't care what your twisted, demented idea of stealing is," White said. "These kids who grew up on the Internet never had to pay for anything, so they don't think that you should have to."
White closed by saying he's not afraid of the Internet, it's where cowards live.
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