Way back when Vince McMahon called up Dana White and suggested that the two men fight one another. No, we're not joking. Vince was adamant that the idea would be a rousing success and was willing to do it either in the squared circle or the octagon, with the latter likely being his preference.
So basically, if you want to sum up Vinnie Mac in one short story this would probably be it.
Dana hasn't been one to shy away from a fight in the past and was even preparing to take on Tito Ortiz in a boxing match at one stage around a decade ago. However, Vince is an entirely different animal and you really wouldn't know what to expect from the guy. This doesn't mean we wouldn't want to see it, because obviously we would - but we think Dana made the right move.
If you disagree with us then that's fine, but you're likely someone who eats up wrestling rumours for breakfast and treats them as fact. In this instance, however, the two were never really that close to getting the deal done with the idea stemming from Vince originally wanting The Undertaker to face then-UFC Champion Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. But that's another story for another day.
So without further ado, here are five reasons Dana White was right not to fight Vince McMahon.
#1 Lose-lose situation
Let's be honest with ourselves, what did Dana White really have to gain here?
At the time of WrestleMania 27, the UFC were coming off the back of their best year in company history, and in no way shape or form did Dana need to do this financially. Plus, when it comes to the fight itself, it would've been the biggest lose-lose situation of his entire life.
If he went in there and beat the hell out of Vince McMahon, all he has accomplished is battering an old man who was in his mid-60s. However, if he lost, then he would pretty much be humiliated for all of eternity and everyone would use it against him for many, many years to come.
So really - there was absolutely no upside and Dana was smart to turn it down. Onto a factor that Dana is happy to admit.
#2 Age
White has mentioned on many occasions that Vince is too old to fight, and the same could be true of himself. At the time of the proposed bout, Dana was in his early to mid-40s, and it's no secret that he's never exactly been in tremendous shape. The guy has had a number of issues in the past and his age would've been a big one when it comes to how he would've trained for this fight.
We aren't saying that people of that age can't make great things happen - just look at Randy Couture, after all. However, what we are saying is that there's a reason Dana is behind the desk as opposed to being inside the Octagon, and there's no shame in that whatsoever.
Hell, we can imagine that his mouth has gotten him into trouble during his youth anyway. Did someone say Monster deal?
#3 Sponsors
The parade of sponsors that are involved with the Ultimate Fighting Championship are likely a part of the deal because they know it's the baddest place on earth. No matter what, the world's greatest fighters come from every corner of the planet to battle it out and see who is the toughest man or woman in the world - and it really is one of the greatest spectacles in sport.
However, what they did not come to see is one middle aged guy slowly following an elderly gentleman around the Octagon. It would likely make the UFC's credibility look a great deal worse than it did prior and as a result, quite a few of the sponsors would probably consider pulling out of their contracts. That's just the painful truth.
From fighting to good old wrasslin'.
#4 Alternative
Professional wrestling is incredibly hard, but in comparison to an actual MMA fight between these two men, it may well seem like the easiest thing in the world. With a match between the two on a big stage like WrestleMania, you could throw all the smoke and mirrors you can find into the mix in order to make it as entertaining as possible.
It would probably be a success too, and if you want examples then we'll choose to look towards Vince's clashes with the likes of Shane & Hogan as opposed to his battle with Bret. With many interferences, this could be a great deal of fun, and it preserves the safety of everyone involved that little bit more because who knows what would happen between these guys inside of a cage.
We conclude with a vital piece of this bizarre jigsaw.
#5 Fighters' anger
Professional fighters train for months on end in order to be in a featured position on a big mixed martial arts pay per view. They want to prove to the world that they're one of the best athletes on the planet, and the fact that they've been preparing themselves for such an opportunity for so long makes it all the more important that they're handled with care and respect.
So with that in mind, they aren't likely to take too kindly to the news that the boss Dana White is stepping inside the Octagon with a guy who looks like his head has been photoshopped onto his body.
Fighters will moan about the smallest of things so when it comes to something like this, they may see good old Dana as a little bit of a hypocrite.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
