Dana White - "Do you want be a fighter?!" speech or Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar fight - Which was more important for the UFC?

[Takes Two To Tango]

I think both were highly impactful to the growth of the UFC.

But which was more important if you had to pick one?

 

[AmonTobin]

My guess is
Griffin-Bonner fight was better for the UFC.
DW’s speech was better for mma gym owners.

 

[philcrow]

The fight itself. Viewership skyrocketed during the fight and pulled the UFC out of a hole.

 

[Randy Fandy Fo Fanders]

that fight came when the UFC needed it the most. Probably one of the most important UFC fights to ever happen. Top five for sure.

 

[EndlessCritic]

"I can't explain to you what a unique opportunity this is."

If Dana didn't make it in MMA, he might have had a career selling timeshares.

 

[bng]

Never understood Forrest Griffin - dude aint forrest nor part of Family Guy tv show

 

[MigitAs]

The speech was just a cool moment.

Dana will tell you himself the fight literally saved the company.

 

[sonhow]

What about "you beat them off?"

 

[haj02]

I'd have liked to see him throw any of them out so fast their heads would spin. Easy to talk big when you sign the cheques.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I don't see how this is even a question. Only the launch of the hot dog brander was more important than Forrest Vs Bonnar.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

The Forrest vs Bonnar fight for sure, that was huge for UFC. I didn't know who Bonnar was, never heard of him, but funnily enough Forrest I actually knew who he was because he got wrestled to death and beaten up by Dan Severn who I used to watch every fight of, so I kinda thought Forrest might do well in UFC because he won't face a wrestling skill level like that again

The speech was cool by Dana though, at the time it was replayed over and over everywhere and it got you pumped up and the message was clear!. TUF 1 was so much fun

 

[gosuasus]

Griffin-Bonnar saved the UFC, probably the most important fight in UFC history, even though the UFC was better before that, it just hadn't captured a wider audience and was seen as some kind of underground pit fighting.

 

[Dana's Moonface]

I mad.....Dana made the UFC.hes pretty much God in the mma world.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

The Forrest vs Bonnar fight is the only fight I recall calling non mma fans during to get em to tune in. It was yuge and did ok 4 ufc

 

[Shaolin Alan]

 

[jeff7b9]

we don't vote guys off. We BEAT guys off!!

 

[AmonTobin]

I did NOT want to be a fuckin fighter. But bangin broads and signing autographs sounded pretty great.

 

[theincognito]

Both are kind of overblown in importance.

It was simply getting on TV that actually saved the UFC. They were just a PPV product before that.

Having the WWE as the lead in was also massive.

That whole cast of personalities - Leben, Koscheck, Diego, etc. - kept the viewer hooked and made the show a hit.

From then on it was just natural growth from the public having access to the sport for the first time.

 

[10000yearsold]

Ask the ufc, no?

 

[Tweak896]

People put tons of importance on trash talk or speeches, but really fights are what matters end of the day. Conor blew up because his talk matched his fights. Strickland probably would be a superstar if he was KOing everyone 1st round. Especially when you're luring in new viewers, you better hope there was a show on for their first time watching or they aren't coming back.