UFC Press Conference
Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, and UFC CFO John Mulkey
Report by Brandt D. and Johnny P. of MMAOpinion.com
JOHN MULKEY (UFC Chief Financial Officer)
He gives a statement on Couture’s earnings from UFC this year. Here’s the breakdown:
UFC 68:
250k fight and 250k fight bonus
$900k based on 500k+ buys
UFC 74:
250k purse
485k buys
787k extra based on ppv buys
1.072M total
Regarding Couture’s claims of not being paid all the money from UFC 68, Mulkey claims Couture was paid 5 separate checks, and all but 17k has been cashed.
The term off the books was used a lot by Couture, Mulkey says that the money is taxable.
Dana White Statement
Dana said Couture wanted 500k signing bonus
White says Couture called him. Couture wanted back in w/ a signing bonus of half a million dollars. He explains the UFC’s concerns. They decided to give him 250 K up front, and 250 K after as his signing bonus, NOT the fight bonus.
Dana claims Couture was 436 K off on after-fight bonus. His tone showed frustration, though e was trying to be as factual and non-slanderous as possibly. I’d say he was looking to come across as sympathetic.
He explains how they cut fight bonuses after w/o having to do so contractually. Says nothing is “off the books”. Was upset over Randy calling the UFC a monopoly.
Q and A with Dana and Lorenzo Fertitta:
L. Fertitta says the company would operate same way if it was publicly owned or private.
Amazed any athlete would hand a contract to a reporter to be printed. He felt that his conversation with Randy the day before his Press Conference was good, or so he thought.
“Grossly inaccurate” - Lorenzo on Randy’s facts. “I feel like he damaged us” - Lorenzo on Randy’s Press conference statements.
Fertitta says that meeting at time of UFC in Anaheim went well in his opinon. It was actually a breakfast in Vegas. They addressed his (Randy’s) concerns over rumors and his concerns about others being paid more.
Dana White jumps in and says Randy “jumped us” that day when accusing them of issues he’s outlined (his pay, fighting Fedor, non-fighting issues). Felt that Randy never gave them any time to address his situation “We’ve never said no to him”.
Dana doesn’t feel Fedor is the number 1 star (journalist asks about losing Fedor as # 1 and Couture at #2). “Fedor is a farce” said White. “Randy Couture is the number one heavyweight”.
Dana says he doesn’t know what he did wrong. A lot of things Randy was saying at the meeting weren’t about fighting. His concerns were mostly non-fighting.
White wouldn’t have paid Fedor millions and doesn’t think Fedor is top 5 Heavyweight. He only wanted to sign him to give Couture his fight.
Dana never thought he’d be “here” with Couture. Felt the relationship with Couture was good since TUF 1.
Dana says Randy didn’t tell truth at his press conference, but if he and Tito Ortiz can work things out, they can with Randy.
Dana says today is the last day you’ll hear he and/or Lorrenzo Fertitta talk about this. They will pass out info to media at conference with the facts (a check cashed by Randy with the amounts he was paid). L. Fertitta says “Randy said things to hurt us”. Brought up Couture handing Kevin Iole of Yahoo his pay stub saying “add it up”. When you add up the real pay, Fertitta says, it’s just under 3 million.
Dana says they want Couture to live up to the contract.
Dana discusses previous disputes with Couture. The Maxim photo shoot where Couture wanted to be paid for the shoot and Dana felt he should have done it for the good of the company.
Lorenzo Fertitta feels Couture has always been given a shot at the title and promoted. Dana says the same thing.
“I think it’s from his puke Hollywood agent who got in his ear” - Dana on where the dispute started with Couture.
Dana has no idea where this is going or what’s the “end game”, but they feel Couture is in the wrong.
Dana says several times they consider Randy Couture the heavyweight champion. will offer him a fight this week, most likely with Noguiera.
Dana has no idea if Couture has been made offers, and says maybe what you said makes a lot of sense to reporter who presents the idea in a question.
Dana feels if Randy turns down the fight he’s retiring, and they’ll take the next two challengers in line for a Heavyweight championship match.
Dana says fighters don’t want the terms of their contracts out. “I hate talking about money (in public).” Dana feels Randy must be mad at him personally. Quites Randy. Says he called him tons of times, can’t get him on the phone. Finally got him on the phone, thought they had a good conversation, and the next day was the press conference. “I’m not a bad guy”
Dana says they’ll do everything in their power to make sure Couture honors the contract.
A reporter who is identified from TIME MAGAZINE asks how much UFC makes since fighters make less then other major sports. Dana brings up PGA pay. says after Woods and Mikelson it drops far down. Some guys make “only 77 K”. Says most guys make a lot of money outside the Octagon.
Dana says they UFC has 100 employees and has a large infrastructure. They are run as a business, not a singular boxing promotion.
Randy wanted a piece of the back end, “which is smart”. Dana says alot of guys bring in more PPV buys then Randy.
2 fights plus salary means Randy will make 2.9 million in 2007 (this year), paid 10 days after UFC gets money from PPV companies.
More clarification of the money/contract issues. You can’t resign from a contract, you retire. “I can’t believe I’m here right now!” in response to Dave Meltzer asking specifics.
“You will never see Lorenzo Fertitta at a press conference again” Dana when asking for final questions.
Question on stance on sports betting: Lorenzo says they are fine with legal betting. Think it’s good for the sport.They’ve never taken a bet on UFC at a Stations Casino (Fertitta owned).
On talks w/ M-1 to send Randy there, Dana says they haven’t and won’t do that. Lorenzo says starting with the UK, the UFC wants to expand globally, and wants to expand to Canada and then Mexico.
Dana says “Fedor would have never made more then Randy Couture”. Says Randy doesn’t even know what he was getting (referring to his press conference).
Dana says he’s never felt there was a big problem with Randy, and only problems were small business. Says he liked Randy, and feels this was motivated by Randy’s agent. Lorenzo shocked the way this went down.
Dana says we decided not to sign with HBO. The Couture situation has been the worst of HBO, Fedor, and Couture.
Asked if this is part of growing pains of sport: “It’s part of the business”. Tito Ortiz feud is brought up. Lorenzo brings it back to buying UFC in 2001 and how they’ve paid
everyone and propped up the fighters/business. He says they’d know they made it when they could pay a fighter 1 million dollars for one fight.
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