UFC’s Dana White Removes Judge During Event In Macau; Famed Journalist Criticizes Company Executive’s Move
The UFC's Dana White was the subject of controversy in Macau, China during its 48th Fight Night event after having a judge removed. Famed journalist Kevin Iole then criticized the company's executive's move by pointing out that what was done was wrong.
MMA Fighting reported the controversy behind Dana White's UFC Fight Night 48 decision to take out judge Howard Hughes from the event. It was reportedly the first time the UFC has intervened in taking action against a fight official.
Dana White did shed light on the matter during the event's post-fight press conference.
"Did you ask me sir, if it was true, that a judge was removed? Yes, he was," White confirmed. "He was involved in the first fight and the second fight. I told the guys to go let him grab some beer and some popcorn and go sit down and start watching some fights, not judging them."
Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports then criticized the UFC, Dana White, and all of its officials for the decision to take out Hughes. Iole explained that the company usually self-regulates in places like Macau, wherein no established Athletic Commission exists.
Former Nevada Athletic Commision director Marc Ratner is usually the one tasked to run such shows, and Iole added that such an occurrence would not have happened if he were present during fight night.
"Though we'll never know, I'm certain that if Ratner had been there, Hughes never would have been yanked," Iole said in his article about Dana White's UFC Macau controversy. "White would have been just as angry with Ratner sitting there, but he'd have expressed his anger to Ratner instead of taking matters into his own hands."
Iole further condemned White's actions, which he deemed "wrong" and that it is something that should never be done again.
"Judges and referees need to be accountable and should lose plum assignments if their work isn't up to snuff," Iole wrote. "There is no debate about that. It's just that White, or any promoter, shouldn't be the one making that determination."
"Given that no one had jurisdiction of the Macau show, White will skate," he added. "But he needs to know that what he did was wrong, and shouldn't be done again."
