Mike Swick: Scab?
(Woody Guthrie would be so disappointed in you, Mike.)
As the UFC's scorched earth policy toward AKA and its fighters unfolds, it's looking like not everyone in the stable is getting cut. In an interview with USA Today, Dana White claims that Mike Swick was the only AKA fighter to call and say, essentially, he'll do anything Dana wants:
The only fighter that called me from AKA was Mike Swick. Mike Swick called me from AKA, that was it. And Mike Swick said, "Listen, I don't know what's going on. I don't care what's going on. I'm with you, I'm in business with you guys. You guys are my partners." And I said, "I appreciate that, Mike. We look at you the same way."
[...]
But if Fitch called me today, if Fitch called me right now and said, "Dana, listen, I don't know what happened with my managers ... but I want to work this out with you," I'd work it out with Fitch in two seconds.
It has nothing to do with Jon Fitch or any other specific fighters. It has to do with the management team, the guys who own AKA. I don't want to be in business with them anymore. End of story.
[...]
Yeah. And to be honest with you — I'm 100% honest on my three children — I don't even know if Swick signed the video game deal or the merchandise deal. I have no clue if Swick signed anything. I don't even know how many fights I have left with Swick. I don't (care). ... I don't even know what he's signed or hasn't signed. I could care less. That's not what this is all about.
So basically, abandon your management team and you can keep your job. It's hard to blame Swick for acquiescing so quickly, because honestly, where else is Swick going to go? But damn if that's not a tough situation to put people in. The UFC has basically decided to blackball the AKA management team of DeWayne Zinkin and Crazy Bob Cook (whose nickname really isn't helping him here). If they manage to accomplish that, imagine the leverage it gives them in future negotiations with other managers. The UFC can basically tell them: play nice, or we'll put you out of business.
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Mountain Frost (lol) Says:
AKA is like a family over there, the way Dave C. describes it. I find it hard to believe that Mike Swick (knowing ALL the details) would scab for this.
T-Vo Says:
I don't see how Swick can stay with AKA after the words that Dana has said about them. Who knows whats going on between AKA management and Dana, but we all know Dana's ego. I think the AKA fighters should show soldarity to their brother and leave the UFC and they should all join Strikeforce. Strikeforce is based in San Jose and is making money, unlike Affliction. Imagine Fitch, Koschek, Cain Velasquez and joing Strikeforce? That would be sick.
UFCinCALGARY Says:
ITS not like Swick is doing anything real good at that camp anyway... Your last two fights we sad.
I know.....Why dont you pack up and move to Vegas Extreme Couture.
Your camp is going down faster then the ho's in the pictures on Combat Lifestyle.
Chris Says:
I think you are missing the point CP. The video game contract language is standard procedure. NFL athletes, NBA athletes, Etc all sign a contract with similar language in them. Fighters do not seem to understand that the most valuable thing that they have is their names. Each has their own personal "brand name", if you will. When the UFC puts together a deal with a video game company the there are concessions made by both parties. The UFC allowed language that other sporting organizations use because it needed to be there for the game to be equitable. The UFC is not trying to make a fortune with rights to a video game. The purpose of having a UFC game, for the UFC, is to further their brand. Fighters so not always see this. And having business managers that are not all that business savvy complicates the issue greatly. The managers at AKA and guy like them are standing directly in the way of furthering our sport; And they are doing it because of their own ignorance.
The Biz Says:
I know Zinkin manages Liddell as well. Haven't heard Chuck bitch and moan about signing any deals with the UFC. We'll see what happens.
Farthammer Says:
I think bloodyelbow should replace its comments section with a picture of Dana White's nuts, and all comments should be regarding how good it tastes. Dana could shoot a puppy and they would still defend his actions as either "good business" or "we don't know all the details yet."
Babcock Says:
I honestly could go without Swick and Kos, but as i said earlier Fitch is the motherfuckin man. Plus if the rest of the world saw his personality like on that talk show with the goofy red haired comedian they would fall in love with this guy. He is by far one of the most marketable fighters around and no doubt the UFC could make oodles of noodles (lots of money) from him. And Cain Valasquez, for the love of God do not lose this billy badass. I garauntee if he gets cut he will make like 5x that in AFflictions already stacked HWT division. But then after Affliction goes belly up where is he gonna fight for that kind of bread? God damn, i am torn with this now. I love MMA and i really love the UFC. But just cuz Dana is PMSing should not give him the right to take it out on a fighter becuz of his manager. There needs to be some type of checks and balances man...this is getting out of hand.
Farthammer Says:
Chris, those leagues you mention have unions and give the employees a choice. Athletes like Barry Bonds and Michael Jordan and Shaq have in the past chosen to not have their likeness used in video games, and they weren't fired like Fitch.
Jugger Says:
From the previous post I know that mostly everybody here hates Dana and now wants to boycott the UFC and establish a fighters union.
However, I'm going to say that if the rest of the UFC fighters signed the video game contract without issue, it's more likely that Dana is being honest and that AKA management is made up of insufferable gas-bags. The fact that Swick made that call gives credence to my suspicions.
babcock Says:
WTF did my psot not go up....shit. What i said in a lot more words than neccessary is that I could do without Swick and Kos cuz they make me zzzzzzzzzz.....Jon FItch is the fucking man. Not only is he a top 3 welterweight he seems like the coolest motherfucker in the world. I dont understand why the UFC did not ttry and market him more He is witty and funny and just all around cool. Cain Valasquez is a mutha fuckin monster. He could get cut from the UFC and instead of making peanuts from them from his first contract sign a huge deal with AFfliction and join their already stacked HWT division. But thats the thing is who knows how long those T-shirt guys will be around. I called the demise of EliteXC a few months before it happened and im thinking by the end of the year AFfliciton will be belly up....I'm really torn becuz i love MMA but I absolutely love the UFC and everythign about how they put on their shows.
babcock Says:
WTF.....now i got 2 comments up and i look like a tard.......fuck me.
This website is Starting to Suck Says:
As much as the owner of this website bashes Dana and the UFC constantly is it no wonder that the UFC does not acknowledge or cooperate with this website? I mean it is ridiculous. Obviously you are not any sort of real jounalist since you are never neutral about anything so I guess Dana and the UFC are right is not aknowledging you as actual "press".
I mean come on there are reporters in all the sports magazines and shows like ESPN that don't like MMA and they bash the whole sport but you seem to be on some sort of UFC vendetta.
Is Affliction paying you?
Are you a member of Fedors entourage?
One is beginning to wonder.
Erick Says:
F*ck Dana and "This website is Starting to Suck"
Dana always rants he an zuffa brought this sport back. So because of his sacrifice we can just steam roll great fighters like John Fitch. Remember that Zuffa and Dana are far from perfect. They want to establish an monopoly. Anyone remember the whole Xyience deal, not to mention the epic fail at signing Fedor.
Zuffa and Dana need to get over themselves. They may have made a sacrifice but they are also the ones who have profitted the most. Treating your fighters like slaves waiting for them to say "yes massa I'll sign over all rights massa" is just re-cock-ulous.
Remember you can't sell fights if no one wants to fight for you.
MMA Wannabe Says:
"As much as the owner of this website bashes Dana and the UFC constantly is it no wonder that the UFC does not acknowledge or cooperate with this website?"
That's pretty funny. Wasn't it Jared Shaw who refered to one of the main writers for this site as Ben "UFC" Fowlkes? He doesn't bash the UFC or Dana White unless they deserve it, which in this case, they do.
Fighters need a union and considerably better pay for the lower rungs.
Justme Says:
I hope the is the end for Koscheck in the UFC. Douche bag looks like a used Q-tip
Dana White is a HOMO Says:
This website ROCKS! I think Dana wrote the abot comment! Shouldn't you be out kicking puppies or bro-ing out with Chuck Liddell or something... Kepp it up CP You are awesome!
Bump Says:
Goddamn Babcock is a double posting moron. hahaha
mayhem420 Says:
Hahahaha...
I love these things.... go look at some of the signatures....
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/FireDanaWhite
TUF Guy Says:
Just got back from the gym, everyone there supports Dana White. If I was a fighter with the UFC I wouldn't care how many toys they made of me or how many videogames they put me in, it could only make me more popular.
More popular=More fights=More $$$
Fitch being mad that he can't get money for his barbie dolls is pathetic. Nobody would buy them anyways and here is another heartbreaker, the UFC Game is gonna suck!
Are these guys in this sport to fight or to sell toys?
Get'em Dana !
anonymous Says:
woah woah hold up wuts goin on i never heard anything about jon fitch gettin cut and who else is with aka thats gettin cut
knightrida Says:
I second the notion about this website. If you don't like reading it, don't. No one is forcing you to.
I also agree that the AKA camp should back up Fitch, get fired, and head to Strikeforce. They have a pretty card in SJ tomorrow (which will be my first live event!) and a few more good local fighters will really get that promotion going and give confidence to other fighters who disagree with Dana.
Karmaatemycat Says:
Lower rung fighters don't need better pay don't be retarded they know the cost of there career choice they know the sacrifices they must make in order to ascend to the level of greatness. Simply put play Ball or GTFO I like how Dana plays buisness I like how the UFC is being run and I simply think you are all a bit to critical on shit you obviously know nothing about. Objective as I've said many many many times be more objective be less retarded and maybe the words you spew across the net will hold more weight.
Myles Kilometers Says:
Hi Ben(s).
Spanky Says:
Lets all remember these fighters would be NOWHERE and they would be a bunch of NOBODIES without the UFC.
The UFC is their bread and butter. If they are worried about rights to a video game, they need better management. I dont think EA Sports will be releasing a 'Jon Fitch and QTip boy' game anytime soon.
They are over-evaluating their worth in the MMA field..
Anonymous Says:
Damn. I wish Swick would have gotten cut from UFC. He is terrible and boring.
Jon Says:
So basically if you don't suck dana's cock then you are gone.. This sounds like Team America!
rh Says:
^^^Swick is only boring if you're an utter newb who just discovered MMA within the last year.
That being said, I'm sure Dana cuts him if he loses his next fight, because he cares more about casual trendy idiots like the anonymous moron above me than he does about actual fans.
PN Says:
i love the pic. thats probably the face he was making while taking to dana on teh phone
Anonymous Says:
@rh
I've been watching UFC since it started so I'm not an "utter newb" like you said. I watch other events as well. All Swicks fights were pretty much boring. When he first started he got some quick stoppages of some scrubs and was considered to be "good". Now he has shown that he isn't that great and I just don't like the guy.
WarpedAcorn Says:
This blog was ripe for "Quick Swick" puns...what a disappointment.
Crackgibson Says:
LMFAO @ "This website is Starting to Suck"
You're a clueless tea bagger. What-you have the right to express your opinion but CP doesn't because you said so? You don't know shit about real journalism. Weak journalists ride the tide and kiss the ass that's highest on the totem pole. Conversely, someone passionate about the topic they write in will say what they fucking FEEL, regardless of whether an asshat like you approves or not, and whether the subject of their topic likes it or not. Now be a good hypocrite and go start your own website, pucker up and kiss some ass if you can't handle someone voicing their opinion. Run along now.
Steve W. Says:
There's an idea in business, as in life, where you pick your battles.
Fitch and AKA picked the wrong battle and it blew up in their faces. Right now, the UFC is the only real game in town in a very young sport. It's unwise to end up on their bad side especially over something as trivial as video game rights since I doubt will be seeing Grand Theft Auto Five starring Jon Fitch. If anything, they should've leveraged the contract to get concessions in an area where room for negotiation. It also doesn't even sound like this was Fitch's decision per say.
I remember an interview with Bernard Hopkins where he talked about being his own manager. He said you can't always trust a management team because no one can look after you but you. Brandon Vera should have been cautionary tale. Now Fitch is actually turning into another one.
Scott Whitt Says:
You know guys are right, if it wasn't for the UFC they would not be employed. So Fitch, Swick, Kos, GSP and whomever should all demand that their contracts be cut in half and that the UFC should be given parts of their sponsors. No more winning bonuses or fight of the night bonuses, just minimum wage for these guys. So many of keyboard warriors are saying they should just be grateful. However what happens to these buy these guys a e guys when their fighting career is done?
That money they should get could help them setup a business to sustain them after fighting. I guess you would rather them fight in YAMMA and local shows to pay the bills. That way you can make fun of them again.
clevemire99 Says:
jesus,ufc are droppin great fighters left,right and centre.is homer simpson managing the ufc now?? "Rod you're cut,Millhouse-cut,nelson what are you doing here?i cut you!wow,you're all cut,you know what im just gonna put up the names here,all these people are cut"
Lincoln Says:
Mike Swick is a piece of shit.