D. White On Injury Plague: 'These Guys Need To Tone It Down'

by **CanadaMMAFan** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:03 am

http://www.fightline.com/fl/news/2012/0 ... ana-white/

"I think what's happening too -- and me and Joe Silva were talking about this tonight -- you have so many talented guys out there now all in the same camp, going at it like they're fighting for the title. These guys need to tone it down in training a bit and stop hurting each other," said White.

What do you guys think of Dana's comment here? Does he have grounds on saying that the UFC fighters are training incorrectly?

I understand that everyone is entitled to an opinion, but how far removed is Dana from the actual fight game of nutrition, training, and competing?

Obviously Dana tends to say the first thing on his mind without thinking too hard about it, and I disagree with his comment about training partners (or friends) fighting each other - he can't really say he'd want to punch his friend in the face, even if it is for 'sport'.

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by **Castrated Rhino** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:07 am

I can't disagree with this. I understand that fighting experience is the best way to improve as a fighter, and hard sparring is much more like a real fight than anything outside of a real fight, but still if guys are getting inured this much just training, they really do need to take it lighter especially in the 2-3 weeks before their fights.

No matter how hard you train, it's not worth that much if you get injured and can't actually fight.

by **beachboysob** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:12 am

meh, shit happens. These guys have been training for years and years, it seems unavoidable.

by **CanadaMMAFan** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:18 am

Castrated Rhino wrote:I can't disagree with this. I understand that fighting experience is the best way to improve as a fighter, and hard sparring is much more like a real fight than anything outside of a real fight, but still if guys are getting inured this much just training, they really do need to take it lighter especially in the 2-3 weeks before their fights.

No matter how hard you train, it's not worth that much if you get injured and can't actually fight.

I hear where you're coming from, but the latest string of injuries are all fighters that are top tier (if not highly experienced) fighters, wouldn't most of these guys know how to train to avoid injury? So, I'm sure a lot these occurrences are unfortunate, bad timing, and bad luck.

I just think DW's overstepping his boundaries here and offering advice.

by **Soo__Fuego** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:19 am

They have insurance now right? Perhaps they are simply using this now to fix old injuries that plagued them before but could not afford to heal.

by **beachboysob** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:21 am

Soo__Fuego wrote:They have insurance now right? Perhaps they are simply using this now to fix old injuries that plagued them before but could not afford to heal.

Your on to somthing. This has crossed my mind many times. The UFC could cut you anytime, may as well use the insurance while you can.

by **Oldtoby420** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:23 am

He's got a point that no doubt some of these fighters are over training or going at it to hard during training that can & has caused injuries no doubt. The key is these fighters need to train smarter not harder & yes sometimes that means toning it down some. Since like was said taking it easy when needed to avoid possible risk of injury to be able to fight is better then not doing so then getting injuried then not being able to fight at all or collect a pay check for the fight.

On another note I rly think some of this plague of injuries is a bit of bs & just minor stuff but some fighters don't want to chance something minor that they could fight with no problem. They'd rather sit the fight out then chance losing cuz of it & do so cuz they want to be as close to 100% as possible otherwise they claim an injury is more serious then it rly is that way they're always fighting healthy as they want to be to safe gaurd their career. In a way same similar concept as fighters who just coast to a decision in the last rounds when they know they got it on the score cards to avoid encaging in a fight & risk losing.

by **BestWayKilla** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:27 am

As a guy who deosn't train, Dana shouldn't be telling guys how to train. Especially when, according to Chuck Liddell's biography, when Chuck dropped Tito in sparring and Tito wanted to stop, Dana was yelling at him to, and I quote, "Get the fuck up." Pot. Kettle. You see where I'm going with this.

by **CanadaMMAFan** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:29 am

beachboysob wrote:
Soo__Fuego wrote:They have insurance now right? Perhaps they are simply using this now to fix old injuries that plagued them before but could not afford to heal.

Your on to somthing. This has crossed my mind many times. The UFC could cut you anytime, may as well use the insurance while you can.

The recent string of fighters that have been injured don't seem to be anywhere near the chopping block though:
Belfort, Stann, Bisping, T. Silva (maybe, but doubt it), Aldo, Kampmann, Cruz.

Not sure if the health insurance is the main reason for dropping out of fights.

by **Castrated Rhino** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:36 am

CanadaMMAFan wrote:
Castrated Rhino wrote:I can't disagree with this. I understand that fighting experience is the best way to improve as a fighter, and hard sparring is much more like a real fight than anything outside of a real fight, but still if guys are getting inured this much just training, they really do need to take it lighter especially in the 2-3 weeks before their fights.

No matter how hard you train, it's not worth that much if you get injured and can't actually fight.

I hear where you're coming from, but the latest string of injuries are all fighters that are top tier (if not highly experienced) fighters, wouldn't most of these guys know how to train to avoid injury? So, I'm sure a lot these occurrences are unfortunate, bad timing, and bad luck.

I just think DW's overstepping his boundaries here and offering advice.

I'm not going to say they don't know what they're doing, but just because they're good fighters doesn't necessarily mean they're putting the right priorities in order. Being top tier also means they probably worry about their fights more because of all the pressure on them to win, so they may take their training a little too far a little too close to fight time at times.

I'm not gonna pretend to be an expert on the subject because I personally have never trained MMA or seen an MMA fighter's full training regimen, but again, it just seems like too many injuries recently from simply training, especially like a month or less away from the fight.

by **DPino51** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:38 am

normally when it comes to stuff like this my opinion is not to have an opinion; the fighters are the professionals and who is anybody to tell them how to do their job. BUT in this case maybe dana is right. i mean literally every card recently has had to undergo changes due to injuries. and its weird because you hardly ever see any big time boxing matches derailed because of training injuries and i believe MMA fighters train their striking with boxing style gloves, so is it the grappling where the injuries take place or what? the amount of injuries has just been mind blowing.

by **WandyCroCop** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:08 am

It'd be interesting to see who has hurt who in training, lol

by **Burritoking1000** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:32 am

Thanks Doctor Dana White. Fighters not getting injured will definitely put a stop to these injuries :lol:

by **Jetli** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:59 am

Its either;

A) Health insurance cover now.

or

B) Fighters are off steroids now but still training the same and get injured because of it.

by **Soo__Fuego** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:24 am

CanadaMMAFan wrote:
beachboysob wrote:
Soo__Fuego wrote:They have insurance now right? Perhaps they are simply using this now to fix old injuries that plagued them before but could not afford to heal.

Your on to somthing. This has crossed my mind many times. The UFC could cut you anytime, may as well use the insurance while you can.

The recent string of fighters that have been injured don't seem to be anywhere near the chopping block though:
Belfort, Stann, Bisping, T. Silva (maybe, but doubt it), Aldo, Kampmann, Cruz.

Not sure if the health insurance is the main reason for dropping out of fights.

Perhaps the higher profile fighters are aware of how hard it can be to get a title shot or stay relevant, so they are choosing to fight to their fullest potential.