“I’m Not Giving You a Cut” – Dana White Mocks John Oliver

Dana White is a true businessman. He finds what is marketable even when someone is trying to mock him. Just a week ago, popular TV show host John Oliver mocked Dana White’s plan to conduct events on fight islands. Despite not being very happy about it, Dana White and the UFC have secured a trademark that was borne out of Oliver’s mockery.

On his famous show, “Last Week Tonight“, John Oliver did a segment that focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the world of sports. He spoke about how Dana White was possibly hurrying his return after conducting three events within eight days. Moreover, Oliver found it particularly amazing that White had given his latest project a rather cliché name. He was referring to the idea of Fight Island.

For the unacquainted, Fight Island is an attempt by the UFC to allow fighters who don’t live in the USA to compete amidst the pandemic. It is an actual island where the infrastructure is currently being built. White has given an update that he will come up with a major announcement regarding the same.

When John Oliver made fun of the glaringly straightforward name of White’s Project, he also suggested some alternate options. “He could have called it ‘Brawlhamas,’ or ‘Puerto Ruckus,’ or ‘Owie Maui,’ or ‘Slam Miguel,’ but he didn’t do that,” Oliver said. “He didn’t do that, and he didn’t even go with the obvious name for an island where you stage UFC fights which is simply, ‘UF-SEA.’ Look at me, Dana. Why didn’t you just call it ‘UF-SEA? It’s perfect.”

One of Oliver’s suggestions seems to have struck a chord with the UFC supremo.

Dana White and the UFC have acquired four trademarks for “UFSEA”

White’s reaction to Oliver’s criticism was, as expected, not very positive. He accused him of controlling the narrative by using selective facts. Regardless, Dana was probably impressed with the idea of “UFSEA”. So much so, that he even went ahead and filed for a trademark for the same. However, he still won’t give Oliver his cut for the profit he may earn from the use of the term.

“What’s his name?” White said in an interview with ESPN. “The guy that came out. John Oliver came out and did that piece with some selective facts about what we had done in Florida and all that stuff at the UFC. I told my lawyers after that, I said, ‘See if the trademarks are there for UFSEA’. So obviously they did and obviously you guys know about them. Did we get them? Yeah, I think we got them.

“Thanks, John Oliver. I’m not giving you a cut.”

After successfully rolling out three events this month, the UFC plans to return this weekend. The events will now take place at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. Furthermore, the UFC already has its card planned for the near future. If White is believed to be true, big news regarding Fight Island will be out by next week.