Dan Hardy Says the UFC is ‘Rotting From the Inside’ and Likens it to Vladimir Putin’s Russia

Dan Hardy criticized Dana White's Power Slap league and suggested that multiple fighters within the organization can't stand the so-called sport.

Dan Hardy
Courtesy of @MMAJunkie on Twitter

Dan Hardy believes Dana White has overstayed his welcome with the UFC.

The one-time UFC title challenger was Octagon-side at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night as his wife, Veronica Hardy, made her first appearance for the promotion in more than three years. Despite being one of the biggest underdogs on the card, Hardy delivered a dominant performance against TUF 30 winner Juliana Miller and secured a unanimous decision victory. 

Days removed from his wife’s big win at UFC 286, Dan Hardy spoke to Petesy Carroll on The Ariel Helwani Show and shared his thoughts about the morale among fighters backstage. ‘The Outlaw’ revealed that many fighters were less than enthusiastic regarding the recent actions of their employer, specifically the inception of Dana White’s pet project, the Power Slap League. 

“The majority of the people within the organization can’t stand it either, they just don’t feel like they have a choice,” Hardy said. “You know, it’s very much Putin’s Russia in the UFC right now. It’s depressing to see all these people that are usually really enthusiastic about mixed martial arts that are carrying this ridiculous circus of Power Slap on their side.”

Dan Hardy Believes Dana White Will Do More Damage Than Good in the UFC

Dan Hardy believes it is time for the UFC to cut dies with their frequently controversial president, suggesting that Dana White brings more negative attention than positive to the promotion and its competitors. 

“The company’s been rotting from the inside for a long while, and now the rot’s starting to show on the outside… He’s [Dana White] gonna do more damage than anything else these days. He’s overstayed his welcome, absolutely.”

During the interview, Hardy specifically referenced an incident on New Year’s Eve where White was filmed striking his wife at a Cabo San Lucas nightclub during an altercation. Despite the emergence of movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, White faced zero repercussions for the incident, and multiple outlets, including the UFC’s broadcasting partner ESPN, was heavily criticized for seemingly sweeping the incident under the rug. 

That type of look-the-other-way approach could very well result in a much bigger situation down the line for the promotion currently in the midst of celebrating its 3oth year. 

Published on March 23, 2023 at 6:51 pm
Stay up-to-date with the latest MMA news, rumors, and updates by following the RED Monster on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, don't forget to add MiddleEasy to your Google News feed Follow us on Google News for even more coverage.

Related

Leave a Comment