UFC boss confirms ties cut with Palms

Palms President Joe Magliarditi showed up in the lobby of UFC headquarters on Monday, apparently on a mission to defuse a conflict with UFC President Dana White.

The meeting took place after it was reported here on Monday that White cut ties with the Palms six months ago, after the humiliation of having his credit line reduced by half, according to sources.

The Palms on Tuesday sent a statement to KVVU-TV, Channel 5, that read: "Palms is disappointed in the article because of its inaccuracies. Palms has been and remains a supporter of the UFC."

White, reached by telephone, confirmed the meeting with Magliarditi and stated, "This is something I really don't want to get into it," White said. But, he added, "everything written about me and the reason why I left is true.

"Since the story came out, we (he and Magliarditi) had a face to face, a sit-down, and we had a good conversation."

Asked for a response to White's comments, Palms spokesman Alex Acuna said in an email: "As a matter of company policy, we do not comment on guests or customers of Palms Casino Resort."

The Palms was asked to comment Sunday on the initial report but did not respond. When the Review-Journal asked for a copy of the statement sent to Channel 5, the request was denied.

What triggered the fireworks?

Sources said White was on a huge run, then lost more than a third of it. When he asked for more credit, he was abruptly informed of the downgrade.

Several veteran gaming executives who spoke on the condition of anonymity said most gamblers would consider that beyond bad form.

White, one of the biggest players in town and a exorbitant-tipping Palms regular for a decade, was livid.

He left a fiery letter for Magliarditi, according to sources, informing the new president that all UFC events were being pulled out of the Palms' 2,000-seat concert hall, which was popular for its intimacy.

White is known as a highly disciplined blackjack player who, when he won early, would walk away. That practice is known to drive casino operators crazy, especially in these budget-slashing days.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

A downtown Halloween spectacular called "Zombie Apocalypse" will run from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. tonight in the Haunted Alley behind the Downtown Cocktail Room, The Griffin and Beauty Bar. Military-dressed escorts on armored vehicles will take groups of 15 through an "evacuation zone" under a zombie attack. For more information, go to: http://www.filmsilverstate.com.

SIGHTINGS

Actress Salma Hayek, with her family at Yellowtail (Bellagio) on Monday night. ... Michael Douglas, back at Julian Serrano Restaurant (Aria at CityCenter) for tapas. He's shooting "Last Vegas" with Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline. Former Sheriff Ralph Lamb, with a group Monday at the Golden Steer, an old Vegas institution. Earlier he joined Carrie-Ann Moss of CBS' hit drama "Vegas" on the red carpet at the Vegas magazine party at The Venetian. ... UNLV grad Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," dined at Wolfgang Puck's CUT at Palazzo on Monday with a group of nine. ... Speedway Motorsports Chairman Bruton Smith, whose tracks include Las Vegas Motor Speedway, at Piero's on Monday with longtime Las Vegas gaming executive and car racing enthusiast Mel Larson and LVMS President Chris Powell.

THE PUNCH LINE

"The Giants swept the Tigers four straight to win the World Series. The last time a Tiger took a beating this bad, he had a nine-iron through the back window of his Escalade." - Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.