The UFC has a problem. They (mostly Dana) belittle and bash the fighters at every opportunity during contract talks in order to keep fighter pay down and UFC profits up. They actively look for ways to turn public opinion against the fighters. AT the same time they need to create PPV stars who will garner more buys from the same fans who has been listening to the UFC tell them the fighters aren't worth it.
Can you imagine the commissioner of NFL talking shit on players? UFC is the only sports organization whose leader openly talks shit on their athletes.
I assume you're talking about the Jon Jones situation, in which case they're not really trying to smear his image, just stronghanding him with the Gustafsson rematch.
LOL Man. They're smearing his image in order to strongarm him. They're trying to make Jones look bad and it appears to be working among the gullible from reading the threads here. But it's not just Jones. Dana recently tried it with Melendez to the point he was ready to leave for Bellator til Lorenzo apparently had to step in. Dana does it to lots of fighters and always has unless they're total company men like Chuck. How many sports have some of their biggest stars of the past totally shit on the way Dana often does? He even questioned GSP's manhood for god's sake.