The UFC’s Star Problem (ft. DAZN’s Andreas Hale)

“This past weekend, the UFC put on an incredible show as they returned to their home of Las Vegas for UFC 250. While headliner Amanda Nunes is starting to become embraced as the greatest fighter of all time regardless of gender, rising stars like Cody Garbrandt, Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’ Malley put on impressive performances for the suddenly stacked Bantamweight division. Overshadowed by that, however, is the fact that Dana White has a huge star problem in his company. Jon Jones has threatened to relinquish his Light Heavyweight Championship and leave the company, Jorge Masvidal has had pay disputes with Dana White and Conor McGregor retired (for the third time). 

On today’s episode of “Say Less” I talk with the senior editor of Combat Sports for the Sporting News and DAZN, Andreas Hale, about the UFC’s news-making weekend as well as the UFC’s star problem. We speak about the company’s inability to create mainstream stars, how the Reebok deal stifled the company’s growth, and why Dana White has been hesitant to push stars of color. We also speak about what it’s been like to try and cover sports while the world has finally put it’s focus on the value of black lives and whether we have reasons to be hopeful. 
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Theme Song Produced by BlaaqGold
Outro Produced by Krish Records
Produced and Edited by Emilio Sparks” 
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