Two top MMA analysts are not convinced by UFC CEO Dana White’s post-fight remarks following UFC 304.
UFC 304 took place in Manchester last month and saw two impressive title wins, including Belal Muhammad’s upset victory over Leon Edwards in the main event. UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall also retained his belt with a wild finish against Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event.
Although the top fights provided plenty of excitement, UFC 304 also featured seven consecutive decisions before Paddy Pimblett’s submission of King Green on the main card. The fights began late at night in Manchester, resulting in some lackluster performances in the Octagon.
After UFC 304, White seemed to downplay the impact of the unfavorable fight times on the event’s quality, despite some fans falling asleep at the venue during the matches.
Dana White Under Scrutiny For Post-UFC 304 Comments
On a recent episode of Weighing In, ‘Big’ John McCarthy criticized White’s negative comments following UFC 304.
“When you’re pointing one finger forward, there are three pointing back at you, Josh, and you have to consider those,” McCarthy said. “We put these fighters in a position where they were fighting at 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 5 o’clock in the morning. No one trains or competes at those times. It’s an unusual situation, and even if you try to prepare for it, it feels strange. Your body doesn’t respond the same, and you don’t feel at your best.”
McCarthy’s co-host, former UFC fighter Josh Thomson, did not hold back in criticizing White’s post-event comments.
“You’re putting both parties in a difficult position by doing this,” Thomson said. “When you go to another country and arrive five days before, some even a week before, this may not be ideal. But now, you’re asking them to stay awake during the night so they can perform at night…
“The UFC staff from the US are trying to adjust to UK time, but they can’t because the show is at 5 in the morning,” Thomson continued regarding White’s decision. “And the fighters there are all mixed up because they have to compete when they should be sleeping. You’ve disrupted both sides of the equation for the staff and some fighters who came over to compete.”
Despite pleas from Aspinall and others to change the event schedule before UFC 304, White has shown no intention of adjusting future UK event start times.
