Tony Ferguson used UFC 274 media day to air some grievances, prompting a smart-ass response from Conor McGregor. But what did you expect?
Speaking publicly for the first time in a little more than a year, Ferguson, who’s been with the UFC since 2011, spent 25 minutes on Wednesday griping about fighter pay and fighter treatment. His diatribe got serious when he called out Dana White, labeling the UFC boss “a drug dealer.”
“A lot of fighters have been keeping their mouths shut for a long time,” Ferguson said. “You should ask some of the other fighters who have been f*cking treated like sh*t for a long time, too. I’m not the only one thinking it or f*cking saying it or seeing it. So maybe you should ask them, too?”
He continued, “I think we’re underpaid, personally, to be real. I asked Dana to box. He said, ‘F*ck no.’ I’m like, ‘Why? I want to go play baseball. I want to go do other pro sports. I’m an athlete. I grew up playing different sports at a high level. … I want to go do all these couple things but then I have this guy right here acting like a f*cking drug dealer telling me I can’t go and do this sh*t. I want to go make more money for my family.”
Nothing wrong with an independent contractor wanting to seek more means to provide for his family, is there?
It was just last year that Ferguson, 38, coined the term “Dana White privilege” to describe Saturday’s opponent, Michael Chandler. At the time it was said, the former Bellator champion had been given a lightweight title shot after just one UFC victory, which didn’t sit well with Ferguson.
The term originally was met with laughter, including from White, and has been part of the MMA lexicon ever since. On Wednesday, it was nothing to joke about when a reporter mentioned “Dana White privilege” to Ferguson and described the term as “enjoyable.”
"Dana White privilege" is no laughing matter to Tony Ferguson. 😤#UFC274 | Full video: https://t.co/Tsc7c9gZZ8 pic.twitter.com/BbIDp1k5W8
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 4, 2022
“I don’t think that sh*t’s very funny,” Ferguson said. “You do, maybe. I don’t think it’s very funny. So I mean, everybody is looking at it. They’re smiling and laughing at it, but nobody is saying sh*t. I’m the kid that’s up here with Dana Brown privilege, I guess, or whatever the f*ck you want to call it. I don’t think it’s very funny anymore. I don’t think you guys should think that’s very funny.”
Before you go thinking Ferguson needs to chill out, understand something: This is a guy jaded by the fact that he won 12 consecutive fights in the UFC’s premier division and never competed for the undisputed title. Jaded by the fact that he was stripped of his interim belt after suffering a career-altering knee injury in a freak accident while doing promotional work for the company.
Can you blame Ferguson for being bitter about his situation this late in his career?
Enter Conor McGregor – or Dana White’s “unicorn,” if you will. McGregor had this to say Thursday in a since-deleted tweet:
“Tony Ferguson, who changes representation around 4 times a year, is saying it’s someone else [sic] fault he is in the position he is in. How many bridges do you burn before you look yourself in the mirror and say ‘maybe it’s me that’s the issue’
“God bless you pal, I’ll say a prayer.” [sic]
That’s rich coming from the guy who epitomizes “Dana White privilege,” isn’t it?
McGregor hadn’t fought anybody in the top five when he was given a featherweight title shot on the strength of beating Dennis Siver in 2015. McGregor, who became 145-pound champion, then was handed a lightweight title shot despite never competing in the division. When that fell through and McGregor was choked out by Nate Diaz at welterweight, the UFC ran it back in the same division because that’s what McGregor wanted. That lightweight title shot? McGregor still got it, rather than defend his own title, and beat Eddie Alvarez in November 2016 to become the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion.
Yes, McGregor took care of business. The point isn’t that he won his two title fights. The point is that, on his way to making history, he cut two lines and held up a division. Why? Because of “Dana White privilege.”
After that, McGregor’s popularity and bank account reached new levels when the UFC allowed him to face Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match that made no sense from a competitive standpoint. “The Money Fight” also prevented Ferguson from getting a title-unification bout with McGregor.
If you think McGregor’s “Dana White privilege” might be wearing thin, even now – despite going 1-3 in his past four fights with back-to-back losses – it’s not out of the question that McGregor could return to a title shot at either lightweight or welterweight.
To have McGregor mention burning bridges and suggest that Ferguson look himself in the mirror and ask if “maybe it’s me,” is he serious? After a multitude of arrests and more than one accusation of sexual assault since 2018, McGregor should look himself in the mirror. Then again, when you don’t face any real consequences from the justice system or the UFC, there’s no reason for introspection.
That’s peak “Dana White privilege” for you right there. The story of Conor McGregor’s career, really.
