Dana White: ‘I think Cesar Gracie is a dick’

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UFC President Dana White has had his hands full lately with the Diaz brothers. From missing video shoots and interviews to missing the UFC 158 open workouts, Nick’s volatile attitude, marijuana use and everything else, the guys are a handful for the 43-year-old promoter.

During a media scrum following Thursday’s UFC 158 pre-fight press conference in Montreal, White said he thinks a large part of the problem in dealing with the Diaz brothers is their manager/trainer, Cesar Gracie. White then referenced some comments Gracie made in regards to Nate missing a UFC video shoot.

“I think Cesar Gracie is a huge part of the problem to be honest with you,” White volunteered. “Cesar comes out, first of all the tweet that he tweeted, second of all comes out and says well the guy who is producing it lives up here in Northern California so how much could this really be costing them? I mean this f–ng guy has no clue about production. And to come out and say something that asinine is unbelievable. Yeah when we send a crew up to shoot these things, what do you think, we’re sending up, like a guy with a f–ng camcorder? We’re sending the guy who shoots those features has been working in the sports world for 30 years. And the crew he’s got around him is good too.”

White was then asked if he preferred the Diaz brothers weren’t with Gracie?

“I don’t make those decisions, that’s up to them,” White stated. “Obviously as far as a trainer goes, Cesar Gracie must be a damn good trainer cause look at the camp he’s created, you know. But Cesar Gracie likes to play bulls–t games that drive me crazy. But as far as a trainer, he’s their trainer, that’s their guy and obviously he’s a good one or they wouldn’t be where they are today.”

It’s true. Gracie has produced one of the best homegrown teams in the game today. Pun intended. They’ve got Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields, as well as up-and-comers like Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith and others.

But should a trainer also be managing his fighters’ careers? Does he have adequate time to give their careers the proper attention they need, especially a high profile fighter, and let’s face it — a high maintenance fighter, like Nick Diaz? To hear Nick tell it sometimes you’d think he had the worst management team in the world. It should be noted, however, Gracie does not manage all the fighters on his team.

White was asked if he thought Cesar Gracie was putting on some kind of an act or enjoyed playing the role of a “puppet master” (whatever that means).

“Do I think it’s an act? No. I think Cesar’s a dick,” White said. “That’s what I think. I think Cesar does some stuff that’s just bulls–t, you know what I mean? I don’t think it’s an act or a shtick or anything else.”

Stay close to ProMMAnow.com as the final act of UFC 158 comes to a close Saturday night with Nick Diaz facing Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight championship.
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