“Why Doesn’t the Ali Act Apply to the UFC?”- Bob Arum Hits Back at UFC President Dana White

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has given a brief response to being disparaged by UFC President Dana White. White came out at the press conference for ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’ and went ballistic over some comments that Arum had made.

The 88-year-old promoter said that boxing star Terence Crawford was costing him money and he could build a Beverly Hills home with the money he lost.

“He’s got to promote like [Teofimo] Lopez does. He’s got to promote like Shakur [Stevenson] does. Like [Floyd] Mayweather did. Like [Manny] Pacquiao did. If he doesn’t, then who the f**k needs him? He may be the greatest fighter in the world, but, hey, I ain’t going bankrupt promoting him.”

“The question is, ‘Do we want to keep him?’ I could build a house in Beverly Hills on the money I’ve lost on him in the last three fights, a beautiful home. Nobody questions Crawford’s innate, tremendous ability. By beating a naturally bigger guy [in Kell Brook], decisively, that’s a big statement that’s he’s making. The question is, ‘Does he pay the bills?’ Look, you can have the greatest opera singer in the world. If the fans don’t support it, you’re out of business.”

Bob Arum responds to Dana White

The aging promoter didn’t have quite the fiery retort to Dana as some would have hoped for. Bob Arum was content with simply turning things on White and asking him about the pay he dishes out to his fighters. Moreover, this point stands as several UFC athletes have come out and had bones to pick with White over this very issue.

“Dana White can talk,” Bob Arum said to NY Fights when asked about White’s rude rant on Tuesday. “Why doesn’t he tell his fighters how much UFC takes in and how little his fighters get? Why doesn’t the Ali Act apply to the UFC fighters like it does in boxing to protect the boxers?”

A certain section of the combat sports community felt like Dana White’s comments were over the top. The UFC President is known for his brash no-holds-barred style of communication and some feel his stance on fighter pay could be construed as hypocritical.

Tell us what you think about this Promoter vs Promoter feud in the comments section below.