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- Jun 23, 2013
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The press conference was entertaining since I like watching two guys hype a good fight with smack talk. The only thing that really stood out from the presser that bothered me wasn't Conor drinking which is fine, but the fact that Dana accepted Conor's offer to drink.
On the surface you might think Dana is "Being festive." On a subtextual level, it represents a break with regards to major, unsaid rules of what it is to be a neutral organization. Its fine to have favorite fighters or teams, but you must fight every urge to not give in to bias sentiments. By choosing to drink Conor's whiskey you're basically sending a signal to the opposing fighter that you're more with Conor's camp than with Khabib's. It psychologically puts Khabib in a corner where he not only is fighting Conor but he's also fighting against the tides of UFC - Which is completely and totally unfair. Boxing matches have serious rules and negotiations regarding which fighter enters the ring first, whose name is billed first, which gloves are going to be used and although the bigger name usually wins, it's usually a battle between fighters and their managers, NOT THE ACTUAL SANCTIONING BODY OR ORGANIZATION.
Dana's whiskey drink shattered any pretense that this fight is right and just. This is no exaggeration or millennial pussy rant, it's reality. It's like the Woodley thing, the guy fights hard, tries his best, doesn't take crap and Dana openly chastises him, your own organization works against you. Conor has this additional advantage going into the octagon and it is an advantage that has nothing to do with training or psychological warfare (which is fair game), Conor's got the benefit of the favoritism.
On the surface you might think Dana is "Being festive." On a subtextual level, it represents a break with regards to major, unsaid rules of what it is to be a neutral organization. Its fine to have favorite fighters or teams, but you must fight every urge to not give in to bias sentiments. By choosing to drink Conor's whiskey you're basically sending a signal to the opposing fighter that you're more with Conor's camp than with Khabib's. It psychologically puts Khabib in a corner where he not only is fighting Conor but he's also fighting against the tides of UFC - Which is completely and totally unfair. Boxing matches have serious rules and negotiations regarding which fighter enters the ring first, whose name is billed first, which gloves are going to be used and although the bigger name usually wins, it's usually a battle between fighters and their managers, NOT THE ACTUAL SANCTIONING BODY OR ORGANIZATION.
Dana's whiskey drink shattered any pretense that this fight is right and just. This is no exaggeration or millennial pussy rant, it's reality. It's like the Woodley thing, the guy fights hard, tries his best, doesn't take crap and Dana openly chastises him, your own organization works against you. Conor has this additional advantage going into the octagon and it is an advantage that has nothing to do with training or psychological warfare (which is fair game), Conor's got the benefit of the favoritism.