Why Dana White Insulted MMA Reporter Brian D’Souza For Doing His Job Well – Backstory

During the Toronto stop of the UFC 189 World Press Tour UFC President Dana White called reporter Brian J. D’Souza a “dick” for asking Jose Aldo about his UFC pay, and whether it improved after an anti-trust lawsuit was filed against the UFC.

When D’Souza stood again to say his question was respectful but that White’s response was disrespectful, the UFC President shouted, “sit down and shut up!”

Here’s the exchange. It begins at the beginning of the video at the 0.50 mark.

Jose Aldo has gone on the record several times to complain about his UFC pay. This was a completely legitimate question asked at a UFC press conference by a very well respected reporter. Brian J. D’Souza has written for ESPN.com, FoxSports.com, MSN.ca, FIGHT! Magazine, Sportsnet Magazine, CagePotato.com, and others. He is a writer, filmmaker and author of “Pound for Pound: The Modern Gladiators of Mixed Martial Arts”. At the UFC 189 press conference Brian stated he was representing BloodyElbow.com

So why did the UFC president lose his cool and blow his stack at a reporter who was just doing his job? It’s simple. Dana does not want any reporters asking pertinent, tough questions about UFC finances and fighter pay (along with other topics). Dana White revoked Brian J. D’Souza’s UFC press credentials for doing his job well.

Dana White and the UFC have a long ugly history of bullying and suppressing real journalists who ask tough, relevant questions. I’m not referring to White’s scowls and raised eyebrows whenever Ariel Helwani asks an “awkward” question. Ariel’s a likeable guy but he will never make the tough inquiries like Brian D’Souza, Kevin Iole and a few other reporters. Ariel Helwani is actually on the UFC payroll! Hey that’s a good gig but as a MMA reporter, he’s biased and financially dependent on the UFC.

Other MMA scribes are afraid to be real journalists because they don’t want White to take away their press credentials, good seats and all those perks for exciting UFC events.

Dana White has even reacted to your humble correspondent Six Toed Pete for my reporting. Although I’ve been generally positive and always fair when writing about the UFC, I have criticized their coddling and support of Ronda Rousey’s ridiculous efforts to duck Cris Cyborg at 145lbs. Dana didn’t appreciate it so he blocked me on Twitter, lol.

The UFC PR staff reads everything reported about the UFC. As Jeremy Botter’s leaked email revealed:

“Each and every day, the UFC PR team prepares a “morning report” consisting of articles from all major newspapers and MMA websites. This report is compiled and emailed to everyone on the corporate side of things, from top communications execs all the way to Dana and Lorenzo. I’ve seen these reports, and they are very thorough. And yes, they include Bleacher Report stories.”

From Deadspin: Leaked Memo: Bleacher Report’s Top Eight Ways To Not Piss Off The UFC

The man at the forefront of exposing the failures of the MMA/UFC media is Brian J. D’Souza. That is why the UFC bigwig cut him off with insults at the UFC 189 presser.

To fully understand the relationship between Dana White and Brian J. D’Souza you must read D’Souza’s excellent MMA media series published by CagePotato.com:

Shill ‘Em All: Why Ethical MMA Journalism Is So Hard to Come By

and

Shill ‘Em All, Part 2: The MMA Media’s Race to the Bottom

Here’s a small taste:

“Most fans know about the ongoing discord between current ESPN.com writer Josh Gross and Dana White, dating back to the first ban of Sherdog.com from being credentialed in 2005. The fact that just two weeks after banning Sherdog.com (where Gross was employed at the time), Dana White flew Gross into Las Vegas and offered him a $28,000 raise to run the UFC’s website is a lesser known anecdote.

“Gross turned the job offer down, but if other MMA journalists cultivate a friendly relationship with Zuffa, they always have the option of applying for a position at the UFC. Public relations positions are far more numerous, stable, and better-paying than most reporting jobs – facts that aren’t lost on reporters who already have the required skill-set to do PR.”

Corruption, controversy, payoffs and shakedowns. It’s all there. I recommend these articles to anyone who wants to learn the truth about how the UFC and Dana White try to control the MMA media.

As Brian J. D’Souza told David Castillo in BloodyElbow.com, The Best MMA Writing of 2013: Brian D’Souza on the failure of the MMA media:

“The Shill ‘Em All series for CagePotato was the culmination of years of frustration from watching the MMA media repeatedly (intentionally) lob softballs and pander to the promoter’s grandiosity. The MMA media is free to promote the next major card, but asking relevant questions about the direction of the sport is seen as a transgression. Those closest to the sport understand the need for legitimate rankings, more stringent drug testing and financial transparency– but if they are coerced, co-opted or bought, they’ll sing a different tune.”

I lived in Southie when Dana White lived there. I have no relationship with him but I do marvel at his success. He was a very amateur boxer who was beat up in the ring by Boston taxicab drivers and dive bar bouncers only to later help build a struggling MMA company into a very successful billion dollar corporation.

It’s a remarkable achievement but it does not give him the right to bridle and stifle a free press.