This time, UFC President Dana White has thrown a lifetime ban to fighter Nikolay Veretennikov for post-fight misbehavior. The ban sounds the decree that has struck a similar chord to those imposed on Paul Daley in 2010, effectively ruining Veretennikov's career with the UFC.
Numerous ways exist to wreck a career in the UFC, but very few are as fleeting and irreversible as this. The emotional outlet came after a tough second-round TKO loss to Austin Vanderford at UFC Seattle; Veretennikov, in a peak of frustration, pushed his opponent well after the bout had ended.
It brought gasps from the crowd as officials and security rushed to separate the fighters. The shove was minor, but it still prompted Dana White to react quickly.
No Second Chances: Dana White's Stance
For long, Dana White has been clear about unsportsmanlike behavior. "You don't take cheap shots after the bell. You don't let frustration turn into something that crosses the line. And if you do? You're done," White has repeatedly emphasized.
This is not the first instance White has made such a decision. During the course of 2010, Paul Daley suffered a similar fate after sucker-punching Josh Koscheck following their fight. White's response was unequivocal:
“I don't give a s— if he's the best 170-pounder in the world. He'll never come back here again. These guys are professional athletes... I don't care if he fights in every show all over the world and becomes the best pound-for-pound in the world, he will never fight in the UFC ever again.”
True to his word, Daley never returned to the UFC
As the result of such a ban, his road to UFC has come to a bitter end for Veretennikov. While some fighters can generally opt for retirement dates, for others like Veretennikov, the above has been scripted. The lifetime ban is an indication of how far not crossing the line in professional sports can go.
Paul Daley's Path After the Ban
Despite this ban from the UFC, Paul Daley enjoyed a fairly fruitful career with the later promotions, including Strikeforce and Bellator. He then finally retired in 2022, resisting the all-too-easy and tempting crossover fights that have begun to proliferate, inspired by figures like Floyd Mayweather.
On Daley's final reflections about his career, he told talkSPORT before his very last fight:
"In my head, I'm finished with all combat sports, actually. There will always be intrusive offers that come out of the woodwork, but for me, I'm thinking everything fight stuff is done. I'm a guy without ego, so if things don't work out and worst comes to worst, I get a weekend job at [UK supermarket] Tesco and stack some shelves for a little bit of change."
A Message Clearly Stated for Fighters
This is exactly what Dana White's decision to ban Veretennikov does for every fighter in the UFC: unsportsmanlike conduct will not be excused. Be it a shove, a sucker punch, or any other display of post-bell aggression, the punishment is severe and final.
For Veretennikov, this penalty is a defining career moment-an instant where the importance of keeping one's cool and professionalism even in defeat can be highlighted. As the business grows, so does White's assurance that credibility in this sport will go hand in hand with successful continuation.
The world of the UFC will undoubtedly keep one eye on Veretennikov's story, which has all the hallmarks of a fable against which fighters everywhere will be warned: When Dana White says you're done, it means you're done, period, with no exceptions.