Official PR regarding UFC Media Denial

Gygax · 10-03-2005, 08:42 AM

I get all the official boxing press releases and found this one in my inbox this morning.
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Mixed Martial Arts News Sites and Publications Denied Credentials to UFC 55

LOS ANGELES, October 3 — The Ultimate Fighting Championship, a mixed martial arts promotion under the direction of Zuffa, LLC and owned and operated since January 2001 by Las Vegas Station Casino magnates Lorenzo and Frank J. Fertitta III, has denied media credentials to several MMA-exclusive Web sites and publications for UFC 55 on Oct. 7, impeding these media entities from performing their full responsibilities to report the event to the public.

Full Contact Fighter, a print publication and Web site that has covered the UFC and MMA worldwide since 1997, was denied a credential alongside Sherdog.com, which has reported since 1999 and is the world’s top-rated English-language MMA news Web site, as ranked by Alexa.com; MMAWeekly.com, home to the most-listened-to daily MMA Internet radio show; and MMARingReport.com, Canada’s top MMA news source.

Brener Zwikel & Associates (BZA), a public relations firm hired to administer credentials for the event, began e-mailing credential denial notifications on September 12 that stated, "I must inform you that it has been determined [applicant] does not meet the qualifications for a media credential. Thank you for your application, and for your interest in the UFC®.”

No “qualifications” or criterion for approval were provided with these notifications, which, contrary to previous BZA credential notifications, were released prior to the application deadline. Zuffa has denied subsequent requests for photos, graphics and other media-related materials that they previously provided.

Upon receipt of credential denial, MMA media members called and emailed BZA for clarification. BZA indicated that it acted solely upon Zuffa’s directive and that further inquiries should be forwarded to Zuffa’s Director of Public Relations, Jennifer Wenk. When contacted, Wenk said any qualifications BZA implemented per Zuffa during the credentialing process were internal and would not be made available to the media directly affected by this new policy. Wenk then recommended UFC President and Zuffa minority co-owner Dana White be contacted.

On Sept. 20, White received a certified letter from a unified group of top MMA media that were denied credentials. The letter requested a phone call or meeting with White to address Zuffa’s denial of longstanding MMA media. White did not respond. A subsequent phone call to UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta has also remained unreturned.

On Sept. 30, one week before UFC 55, White spoke with a designated representative of the MMA media group and said that Zuffa had not implemented new qualifications for media credentials. White said it was his company’s prerogative to accept or deny credentials and that he was presently denying all MMA-exclusive media Web sites.

However, Full Contact Fighter, a print publication and Web site, was among those denied media credentials. Zuffa’s decision to deny credentials has impeded Sherdog.com, Full Contact Fighter (and fcfighter.com), MMAWeekly.com, MMARingReport.com and other Web sites from providing the quality and quantity of unbiased, even-handed UFC coverage that fans and fighters have become accustomed to — and, in many cases, dependent upon. It is with great regret and concern that these media entities cannot provide the usual pre-fight, live-fight, and post-fight coverage of UFC 55 in the form of articles, video, and audio that feature the noble athletes of this sport.

# # #

CONTACT:
Josh Gross
Mixed Martial Arts Media Representative

Crashsti · 10-03-2005, 08:51 AM

the UFC must think very highly of itself to alienate everyone who has supported them over the years.

diablerie27 · 10-03-2005, 09:46 AM

why do i get feeling i will be telling people things like "yeah i dont watch the UFC anymore, but i used to watch it when it was good back in the day"
i dont really understand a lot of the moves the UFC has been making. the coverage all of the web-sites and fcf provide only add to the experience of an event. the coverage the UFC provides on its web-site sucks. there is almost never any info on their site, and if there is it is always well after most people already know about whatever they are reporting. oh well, maybe dana wants to write and cover all the events himself so his face can get out there even more.

JoeRoganismyhero · 10-03-2005, 09:53 AM

Yeah to alienate the very people that help promote your company by providing news updates, results, and generally getting people to want to watch the UFC is just plain Bad Business!!

UFC should worry about putting together a great PPV card(which 55 is not IMO) instead of denying credentials to media outlets that have supported them in the "Dark Days"

I also see myself getting away from UFC and giving other MMA's a try(especially Pride and KOTC)

DrumzCT · 10-03-2005, 02:20 PM

I take back everything I've said in defense of Dana White. I hope he burns in a hell where Tito and BJ beat him mercilessly and without end.

JoeRoganismyhero · 10-03-2005, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrumzCT

I take back everything I've said in defense of Dana White. I hope he burns in a hell where Tito and BJ beat him mercilessly and without end.

Tell us how you really feel!

DrumzCT · 10-03-2005, 02:27 PM

haha

oh yeah, and I forgot about Ivan Salaverry, Frank Trigg and Matt Lindland

CyrusD · 10-03-2005, 02:41 PM

You know, I think it may be some HUGE secret Dana doesn't want to get out in the open, they(Dana and the rest of the UFC) is planning some HUGE suprise and if they let the fighters get interviewed and gave out the press passes and stuff it may leak the suprise.... maybe they are buying us all puppies or something!!!! hehehehehe

DrumzCT · 10-04-2005, 12:03 AM

UFC.tv

Looks like UFC got some video on thier site all of a sudden...

IYAOYAS · 10-04-2005, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrumzCT

UFC.tv

Looks like UFC got some video on thier site all of a sudden...

That's fine. Thay can post their "exclusive" video if they want to. More power to them. Thay, as an organization, should have the right to first interview post fight. That's still no reason at all for them to refuse credentials to other reporting organizations. What would happen if the NFL all of a sudden decided to deny credentials to Sports Illustrated or The Sporting News?

Crashsti · 10-04-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IYAOYAS

That's fine. Thay can post their "exclusive" video if they want to. More power to them. Thay, as an organization, should have the right to first interview post fight. That's still no reason at all for them to refuse credentials to other reporting organizations. What would happen if the NFL all of a sudden decided to deny credentials to Sports Illustrated or The Sporting News?

can you imagine the public outcry if they could'nt get their precious mainstream sportsnews? riots would take place and they'd burn down buildings. I WANT MY FOOTBALL SCORES!!!!!!!

Master Jones · 10-04-2005, 01:32 PM

Money, Money, Money, it should be listed in the dictinonary as a dirty word.

SeikanJudanski · 10-04-2005, 03:33 PM

Consequence of this will be, Sherdog and MMAWeekly, will pump more coverage of Pride and other MMA Promotions. They have been kicked in the butt, for helping and supporting the UFC since ages. Is this the thanks they get?

UFC will never ever get a dime from me again.. Watch Pride swallow you little ......

AikaImmortal · 10-04-2005, 03:48 PM

just recently on sherdog ive seen TONS of coverage of TKO, and King of the Cage.. prefight postfight and all.. its gonna help the smaller promotions out for sure.

sandman1996 · 10-04-2005, 04:37 PM

You people slay me with your bitching. How do you think the UFC makes money? They charge for it on PPV. The bitchers and moaners crying about lack of media coverage are the ones who DON'T BUY the PPV. And then these same people cry about how they have SUPPORTED the UFC all these years.

Pay up or shut up!

ps - Don't listen to the losers Dana. Keep running the UFC like a business!

subgenius · 10-04-2005, 05:15 PM

I hate to say it, but the UFC is a business. It is about marketing. Money makes the world go around, and it is the root of all evil. In a perfect world, we don't have to pay for events. That world does not exist... It is all about the money.

angryjonny · 10-04-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman1996

You people slay me with your bitching. How do you think the UFC makes money? They charge for it on PPV. The bitchers and moaners crying about lack of media coverage are the ones who DON'T BUY the PPV. And then these same people cry about how they have SUPPORTED the UFC all these years.

Pay up or shut up!

ps - Don't listen to the losers Dana. Keep running the UFC like a business!

Funny you say that because I for one can say I bought PPV's and now I will not be getting this one on Friday. Do you know any of us? Do you check everyone's cable bills? It sounds like the people who are like you and agree with you are not true fans. You don't realize the impact that this stupid decision has made. I hope Pride comes over here and destroys UFC. I have never said anything like that but you made me realize that I really would like to see that happen. Zuffa and their puppet Dana are douche bags. I hope they enjoy the fame while the trend is lasting.

AikaImmortal · 10-04-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

Funny you say that because I for one can say I bought PPV's and now I will not be getting this one on Friday. Do you know any of us? Do you check everyone's cable bills? It sounds like the people who are like you and agree with you are not true fans. You don't realize the impact that this stupid decision has made. I hope Pride comes over here and destroys UFC. I have never said anything like that but you made me realize that I really would like to see that happen. Zuffa and their puppet Dana are douche bags. I hope they enjoy the fame while the trend is lasting.

I agree, and I used to be a HUGE defender of Dana. Its not just about 'making money' its about all of the quality fighters he has cut, while giving the TUF guys an easy ride, banking on the fickle tastes of the american reality show consumer rather than the fans of a sport, a sport that has been supported via the underground, the internet, full contact fighter magazine.. way before TUF.

angryjonny · 10-04-2005, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

I agree, and I used to be a HUGE defender of Dana. Its not just about 'making money' its about all of the quality fighters he has cut, while giving the TUF guys an easy ride, banking on the fickle tastes of the american reality show consumer rather than the fans of a sport, a sport that has been supported via the underground, the internet, full contact fighter magazine.. way before TUF.

Exactly man. Everytime I saw FCF anywhere I would immediately think of UFC. Now they got screwed royally. They and the other media have backed them since the beginning and they are just saying screw you to everyone so they can bank on the popularity of a fad, that is reality tv. F you Zuffa and anyone who agrees with their decision. I don't care one bit anymore. It sucks that they have some decent talent still but I'm sorry I can't support a corporation like that. Bring on the fighter promoters. Watch for Don King, people!

[Danny] · 10-04-2005, 08:42 PM

I love how people think it's just Dana. It's all of Zuffa you guys and yes, it is bull**** but they actually had their pics up from teh weighins like on the days notice. I'll still order UFC pay per views ocnsidering that it's the number two promotion in the world, but I wont like Zuffa as much as I did.

I look at it this way: MMA Fights > MMA Websites

No boycott from me...