Many MMA fans have noticed the removal of Dan Hardy’s stomach tattoo on promotional posters for UFC 111.  Dana White has made it clear that he doesn’t want any kind of anti-Chinese government stuff.

“I’m trying to get into China,” he told fans at a question-and-answer session Tuesday. “I don’t need anti-Chinese government stuff on my fighters.”

Hardy, on the other hand says of his tattoo, a Tibetan Buddhist prayer written in Sanskirt. “It’s basically just like a prayer for focus,” Hardy said. “It keeps me walking the path that I should be walking without veering off and distracting myself.”

The tattoo is a well known Buddhist mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” which has no political significance in relation to China. There is not anything shocking about a Buddhist mantra just as there is nothing shocking about Jon Jones’ “Phillipians 4:13″ tattoo.  In fact, given that Buddhism is more philosophical system than straight-up religion it should be considered even less controversial.  The situation has even led to a Facebook group “Boycott the UFC – Dan Hardy’s “Tibetan tattoo’ wiped out to please China” springing up.

If the promotion needs to photoshop harmless Buddhist mantras from it’s fighters skin just to “get into China” is it really an area that needs to be expanded into?