UFC Looking for KO of Its Own in 'Standgate'
October 15, 2008
‘Standgate’ as the Kimbo Slice-Seth Petruzelli controversy has been dubbed by our friends at Fightlinker.com, shows no signs of relenting. Last week it appeared that the issue might grudgingly go away, until the Florida Boxing Commission announced a formal investigation in a bow to public outrage. UFC President Dana White has been front and center, pushing for an investigation of the controversy, including in comments made this week to the Los Angeles Times:
White proceeded to say Petruzelli’s comments, which were later amended to say he was only referring to a knockout bonus he earned, deserve a criminal investigation, and a formal inquiry in all states where Elite XC has staged fights. White said if Florida requires a formal complaint to amplify its current probe, he will “look into” making one himself.
“This is illegal, these guys should go to jail for that,” White said. “You could bet on this fight in Vegas. It’s no secret Kimbo stinks on the ground. It’s no secret Petruzelli should take him to the ground. But what you didn’t know is that the scumbag promoter had told him not to.
“If this happened in Nevada, or if it happened with me, the FBI would be investigating it. If this thing does not get investigated properly, it’s the biggest slap in the face to sports.”
White’s decision to fan the flames of the controversy is a calculated risk. Depending on the outcome, it is either a shrewd move that could cement the UFC’s stranglehold on the sport while insulating it from EliteXC’s critics or a calculated risk that could ultimately blow back on the UFC. While the incident could be the nail in EliteXC’s coffin if any improprieties are substantiated and its brand, along with its top star, has suffered some irreparable damage as a result of the negative publicity regardless of the outcome, the potential fallout for the entire MMA industry as a result of any wrongdoing is very real.
The UFC’s calculus appears to be that by highlighting the scandal and welcoming investigations it is able to distance itself from any impropriety, while at the same time burying its competition. The stance allows the company to present itself as the guardian of MMA and its only major league with White as the sport’s ultimate regulator, policing it from itself. This is a familiar page in the company’s playbook as evidenced by its previous embrace of regulation and John McCain in the quest to legitimize MMA.
However, the strategy is not without its risk. Were the allegations of Standgate proven true through an investigation, the ramifications may not be easily confined to EliteXC. The reverbirations would likely be felt through out the industry, including by the UFC at least to some extent. While the company has largely succeeded in differiating between the UFC and MMA, any scandal of this nature, calling into question the legitimacy of the fledgling sport, would inflict collateral damage across the MMA landscape making television deals and other mainstream opportunities less likely across the board.
At the end of the day that’s probably a risk worth taking for White. The UFC can take the hit, while EliteXC would be down for the count as it is hard to imagine CBS rescuing the company from a fight fixing scandal. The UFC’s place as a niche entertainment brand is fairly secure, while the broader sport’s place is much more uncertain. Any backlash against the sport as a whole might curtail the UFC’s mainstream expansion for the moment, but likely could not derail the company in the long run.
