Company Man: Loyalty does not breed longevity in the UFC
Please forgive the trite introduction, but it must be done. Webster’s dictionary defines Company Man as “a worker who acquiesces in company policy without complaint.” To further derail this paragraph with cliches, behold the dictionary.com definition: “an employee whose allegiance to his employer comes before personal beliefs or loyalty to fellow workers.”
Over the years, many a UFC fighter has self-identified as a “company man” in an effort to solidify themselves as more worthy. But more worthy to whom, and more worthy than who? A quick glance above will illuminate us all.
When a fighter declares their status as a company man, their new badge alerts UFC president Dana White that said fighter is willing to show up and bang, anytime, anywhere, against anyone. Classic acquiescing to company policy without complaint.
Yes, the “anytime-anywhere” jargon riles up fans and stirs up ticket sales, but what it truly identifies is a failure of the UFC fighter to establish self-worth, not personally, but professionally. Because pre-loading a “yes” on the lips before a question has been asked smacks more party-girl-on-the-pill than pro-athlete-on-the-rise.
It also inadvertently classifies “fellow workers” that sing out of key as essentially noncompliant. Dana White only praises the fighters who walk the talk. He offers little room in his heart for fighters that expect fair compensation for services rendered.
Two weeks ago Brian Ortega might have eagerly self-identified as a company man. In fact, during his post no-fight interview with Brendan Schaub on Showtime’s “Below the Belt,” Ortega asserts that he has played the role well.
For UFC 226, this meant, among other things, delivering on media interviews in both English and Spanish. For past bouts this meant fighting short-notice opponents on multiple occasions without complaint.
And yet, when faced with another opportunity to play the role of company man, Ortega chose instead to put his personal beliefs before his allegiance to the UFC. His prize? Zero compensation, zero corporate support, zero hecks given.
According to Ortega’s last interaction with White, Dana literally refused to provide any level of remittance for services rendered up to and including that moment while they spoke. These services include the aforementioned media duties, and would also include a FULL training camp, for which many professionals on Ortega’s team must be paid.
The remainder of this opinion could be filled with more of Webster’s succinct definitions for words like outrageous, cruel, immoral, illegal. But alas, only one more message needs to be conveyed: In the UFC, the company man is dead, the company man should be dead.
For if the most decent human being on the UFC roster in Brian Ortega, receives a cold shoulder for standing his ground and demanding professional treatment for professional work, than any fighter who forthwith issues a battle cry of anytime-anywhere, any fighter who arrives on time for the company picnic, any fighter who calls Dana White “boss,” should be ready to eat dirt the moment they feel the tingle of empowerment dancing on their tongue. Give allegiance to the man in the mirror, not the man in the tower.