Dana White & Ariel Helwani talked about UFC on Fox 2 following Saturday's event.
MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani caught up with UFC President Dana White after UFC On Fox 2, getting some comments on what he thought about Rashad Evans' performance. whether Phil Davis got a big opportunity too soon and more.
Some of the points White hit upon:
White said he didn't know if there was something wrong with Evans' right hand, but hadn't talked with him at the time of the interview.
On Davis: "He was undefeated in the UFC and he's here fighting in the main event on Fox for a reason. He's a tough guy."
White said he had Michael Bisping winning two rounds to one and wasn't surprised his wrestling was as good as it was.
He gave Chris Weidman a lot of credit for his performance.
He said that he was happy with how everything went, joking that people that complained about Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos going so short in November had three full fights go the distance Saturday.
Actually he wasn’t the one complaining. A good number of people (including media) talked about how there was way too much talking and not enough fighting and there being only one fight. Dana White has has always been overly defensive (and threw a mini tantrum at the press conference) about how that was the perfect fight and that he said beforehand it could end in 30 seconds.
Everyone was whining about that. Now they’re saying three full matches of give-and-take covering all phases of combat were too boring.
They cannot be made happy, they refuse. The only enjoyment some people get out of things is complaining about them and telling themselves they know better.
Maia-Weidman was BAD by any standards, Evans-Davis was completely one-sided, and Sonnen-Bisping, while hard-fought and competitive, was certainly not as good as hyped. The prelims were mostly fun, but the main card was very forgettable.
VenusBlue made valid points.
You just sound like a childish fool.
You’re not making any type of valid point, you’re just killing your credibility again.
He said two words an item in reply to me talking about something else, and I wasn’t trying to make any valid points, just point out (as you so duly noted) the uselessness and universality of hating every fight ever.
as much as the fights were a little boring for us UFC regulars im sure Dana is glad that no freak injuries (corey hill), brutal cuts, savage limb snapping submissions and brutal knockouts happened on the Main card so he doesnt have to answer about the “savage barbarity” of mma from the people who want the UFC off the air.
Freak injuries and exciting endings to fights are different things. No one ever ones to see a freak accident like corey hill but the general public would definately like to see some sick action, back and forth brutul wars and a good knockout and submission. The UFC hasnt hit the mark with their FOX shows at all yet and imo they arent going to get many more opportunitties before people just lose interest. They need a Forrest Bonnar type fight on FOX now.
Other than that, it was kind of a meh card, especially since it’s the second on Fox and I’d imagine those are catering to a higher standard than the regular free cards are.
I wonder how many people were turned off by how long the fights were and how they were innately technical and that can be confusing/boring for people who arent paying attention to the small details or dont understand them.
Dana didn’t like the 1.5 min JDS Blitzkrieg but thats what people expect from heavyweights, people love the Mike Tyson style of fight.
I really was hoping for a 135 or 145 fight on a Fox card because those are some of the most popular weights in boxing traditionally, and if the UFC wants to get serious about attracting a more diverse audience world wide, they should focus on the lower weight classes which are more popular globally.
Both Fox shows were kinda lame. Only one short fight on the first was baffling. And the 2nd one had one boring fight in Davis-Evans, one pretty good fight in Sonnen-Count and the worst fight of the year.
Sonnen/Bisping was actually very entertaining. Evans/Davis wasn’t bad, but not very good either. And Weidman/Maia, yeah, whatever. It’s the last time Maia is ever on an UFC poster, let’s just put it that way.
I love your nickname, one of my fav games of all time probably beaten that game at least 15 times, still have the cart + plastic cover on it.
But if UFC whatever on Feb 4th wasn’t such a terrible card, Condit vs Diaz would have probably been on here instead of Evans vs Davis. But looking at the card on the 4th, I can see why they could not do that, that card is just atrocious on many levels.
-Nick Diaz (26-7; #3 Welterweight) vs. Carlos Condit (27-5; #4 Welterweight)
-Roy Nelson (16-6) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1; #7 Heavyweight)
-Josh Koscheck (16-5; #6 Welterweight) vs. Mike Pierce (13-4)
-Renan Barao (17-1) vs. Scott Jorgensen (13-4)
-Ed Herman (19-8) vs. Clifford Starks (8-0)
With the exception of the main event this is the world superbowl card in the last 5+ years. We all know Barao is gonna stop Jorgensen, Nelson will probably use his “not a battlestation, that’s a moon” offence and try to crucifix Werdum, ed herman is fighting some clifford starks im sure that will be amazing and Koscheck is going to get into an ugly striking/grappling against the fence battle with another wrestler and will probably drop a decision.
That’s all that I need to see. Plus I think Barao vs Jorgensen is gonna be great. Big Country attempting to get Werdum is a crucifix is also something I would like to see, not that its going to happen.
They put guys and matches on the main card that weren’t likely to induce a finish…at least against the level of opponent they were facing, not only that but with multiple wrestlers you knew some matches would just be grinding lol. I think whether they are happy or not with the outcome they should have expected what happened (maybe not maia looking soo horrible) it was their match making that caused it.
The Bisping that showed up against Chael would have steamrolled Maia and made that fight much more entertaining. Chael vs Munoz could have gone either roughly the same, or more exciting, but I don’t see it being any worse.
Evans vs Davis should have been fireworks, but both seems gunshy in different ways. Once Rashad caught that kick and grounded Davis, Davis’ striking regressed to and awkward simplicity. And rashad seemed hesitant to really let loose and strike against an opponent who had an obvious lesser striking repertoire. How the hell does that make anyone think he can take on one of the most dynamic strikers in Jones? The grappling was decent overall, with some moment of greatness, but in general, they canceled each other out.
I really think Evans was preserving his body… he didn’t want to break anything, like his recently healed right hand, to put in jeopardy another scheduled fight with Jones… He played it safe and smart.
People didnt complain about Cain vs JDS going by so quickly
you did
Full Mount - January 30, 2012
rec'd for truth
Dave Strummer - January 30, 2012
rec'd for truthiness
Cory Braiterman - January 30, 2012
Actually he wasn’t the one complaining. A good number of people (including media) talked about how there was way too much talking and not enough fighting and there being only one fight. Dana White has has always been overly defensive (and threw a mini tantrum at the press conference) about how that was the perfect fight and that he said beforehand it could end in 30 seconds.
Gracchus - January 30, 2012
Spazzing on Cain and calling out JDS' cardio
He was complaining in his own way.
discoandherpes - January 30, 2012
Nah
He was unhappy his Mexican Champion got crushed. The bout-duration: not too much.
KGNLuc - January 30, 2012 via mobile
You're kidding, right?
Everyone was whining about that. Now they’re saying three full matches of give-and-take covering all phases of combat were too boring.
They cannot be made happy, they refuse. The only enjoyment some people get out of things is complaining about them and telling themselves they know better.
WheelieMonkey - January 30, 2012
People have every right to criticise that card.
Maia-Weidman was BAD by any standards, Evans-Davis was completely one-sided, and Sonnen-Bisping, while hard-fought and competitive, was certainly not as good as hyped. The prelims were mostly fun, but the main card was very forgettable.
VenusBlue - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Name three fights
Any three fights, and I can dismiss all of them with less than a sentence just like you.
WheelieMonkey - January 30, 2012
Dan Henderson v Shogun Rua
Clay Guida v Benson Henderson
Nate Diaz v Josh Neer
RobtWeaver - January 30, 2012
They both gassed and had sloppy technique
Guida’s overrated and only lays and prays, Ben couldn’t put away a guy who had been finished by a featherweight
Boring, all man hugging and sloppy submission attempts
That’s even easier than you guys make it look, give me three more!
WheelieMonkey - January 30, 2012
No more donkey time for you...
VenusBlue made valid points.
You just sound like a childish fool.
You’re not making any type of valid point, you’re just killing your credibility again.
YODA YODA - January 30, 2012
Valid points?
He said two words an item in reply to me talking about something else, and I wasn’t trying to make any valid points, just point out (as you so duly noted) the uselessness and universality of hating every fight ever.
WheelieMonkey - January 30, 2012
Nobody is hating every fight ever.
But some of those were bad fights. Simple as.
VenusBlue - January 31, 2012
as much as the fights were a little boring for us UFC regulars im sure Dana is glad that no freak injuries (corey hill), brutal cuts, savage limb snapping submissions and brutal knockouts happened on the Main card so he doesnt have to answer about the “savage barbarity” of mma from the people who want the UFC off the air.
The_Devil_You_Know - January 30, 2012
Freak injuries and exciting endings to fights are different things. No one ever ones to see a freak accident like corey hill but the general public would definately like to see some sick action, back and forth brutul wars and a good knockout and submission. The UFC hasnt hit the mark with their FOX shows at all yet and imo they arent going to get many more opportunitties before people just lose interest. They need a Forrest Bonnar type fight on FOX now.
nsiegel - January 30, 2012
"They need a Forrest Bonnar type fight on FOX now."
No, all they needed was the undercard from the weekend’s card televised.
Couple of KO’s, some submissions on a consistant basis on Fox. That’s all they need.
UncleMax - January 30, 2012
They needed to put Guida and Bendo on FOX
Greatest fail ever to let this fight go to facebook.
KGNLuc - January 30, 2012 via mobile
they're too afraid of this
they keep scrubbing the cage down when people bleed
it’s too slippery
davis was looking like a kitten with tape on his feet out there
Cunny - January 30, 2012
San Paulo is probably supposed to be São Paulo.
Other than that, it was kind of a meh card, especially since it’s the second on Fox and I’d imagine those are catering to a higher standard than the regular free cards are.
I wonder how many people were turned off by how long the fights were and how they were innately technical and that can be confusing/boring for people who arent paying attention to the small details or dont understand them.
Dana didn’t like the 1.5 min JDS Blitzkrieg but thats what people expect from heavyweights, people love the Mike Tyson style of fight.
I really was hoping for a 135 or 145 fight on a Fox card because those are some of the most popular weights in boxing traditionally, and if the UFC wants to get serious about attracting a more diverse audience world wide, they should focus on the lower weight classes which are more popular globally.
DirtyML - January 30, 2012
Both Fox shows were kinda lame. Only one short fight on the first was baffling. And the 2nd one had one boring fight in Davis-Evans, one pretty good fight in Sonnen-Count and the worst fight of the year.
Kefka - January 30, 2012
There's no way Evans-Davis should be boring when held up against Sonnen-Bisping
Kefka I am disappoint.
menckenstein - January 30, 2012
Sonnen/Bisping was actually very entertaining. Evans/Davis wasn’t bad, but not very good either. And Weidman/Maia, yeah, whatever. It’s the last time Maia is ever on an UFC poster, let’s just put it that way.
Shnak - January 30, 2012
I love your nickname, one of my fav games of all time probably beaten that game at least 15 times, still have the cart + plastic cover on it.
But if UFC whatever on Feb 4th wasn’t such a terrible card, Condit vs Diaz would have probably been on here instead of Evans vs Davis. But looking at the card on the 4th, I can see why they could not do that, that card is just atrocious on many levels.
DirtyML - January 30, 2012
seriously?
The Feb4th card is tits. I fully enjoyed Saturday’s fights as well, I think everyone is a bunch of complainers.
lrgfsh - January 30, 2012 via mobile
You think this is a good superbowl card?
-Nick Diaz (26-7; #3 Welterweight) vs. Carlos Condit (27-5; #4 Welterweight)
-Roy Nelson (16-6) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1; #7 Heavyweight)
-Josh Koscheck (16-5; #6 Welterweight) vs. Mike Pierce (13-4)
-Renan Barao (17-1) vs. Scott Jorgensen (13-4)
-Ed Herman (19-8) vs. Clifford Starks (8-0)
With the exception of the main event this is the world superbowl card in the last 5+ years. We all know Barao is gonna stop Jorgensen, Nelson will probably use his “not a battlestation, that’s a moon” offence and try to crucifix Werdum, ed herman is fighting some clifford starks im sure that will be amazing and Koscheck is going to get into an ugly striking/grappling against the fence battle with another wrestler and will probably drop a decision.
Not something worth paying for.
DirtyML - January 30, 2012
world=worst
DirtyML - January 30, 2012
Condit v Diaz
That’s all that I need to see. Plus I think Barao vs Jorgensen is gonna be great. Big Country attempting to get Werdum is a crucifix is also something I would like to see, not that its going to happen.
LenBarson - January 30, 2012
Maybe if Werdum begs him to...
If Roy doesn’t keep this fight standing, then… Maybe if Werdum begs him…
KGNLuc - January 30, 2012 via mobile
I think the main card is promising
apart from the curiousity of seeing Ed Herman on PPV in 2012. The undercard is wafer-thin though.
VenusBlue - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Please, the next televised card should feature just lighter weightclasses.
Not fighters who are cutting down from LHW or are excellent at wrestlesex.
UncleMax - January 30, 2012
They put guys and matches on the main card that weren’t likely to induce a finish…at least against the level of opponent they were facing, not only that but with multiple wrestlers you knew some matches would just be grinding lol. I think whether they are happy or not with the outcome they should have expected what happened (maybe not maia looking soo horrible) it was their match making that caused it.
The_Devil_You_Know - January 30, 2012
If Maia fought Bisping the card would have been better.
Bisping would have kicked his ass, and I dont even like Bisping but it’s true.
DirtyML - January 30, 2012
I concur
The Bisping that showed up against Chael would have steamrolled Maia and made that fight much more entertaining. Chael vs Munoz could have gone either roughly the same, or more exciting, but I don’t see it being any worse.
Evans vs Davis should have been fireworks, but both seems gunshy in different ways. Once Rashad caught that kick and grounded Davis, Davis’ striking regressed to and awkward simplicity. And rashad seemed hesitant to really let loose and strike against an opponent who had an obvious lesser striking repertoire. How the hell does that make anyone think he can take on one of the most dynamic strikers in Jones? The grappling was decent overall, with some moment of greatness, but in general, they canceled each other out.
Cocytus - January 30, 2012
I really think Evans was preserving his body… he didn’t want to break anything, like his recently healed right hand, to put in jeopardy another scheduled fight with Jones… He played it safe and smart.
Shnak - January 30, 2012
Interesting theory
I can see Rashad pacing himself for the future bout, sort of like what Roy nelson did during TUF.
Cocytus - January 30, 2012
Fightmetric has Sonnen winning rounds 1 and 3
In the first they had sonnen out landing Bisping in every category and securing 2 take downs.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 30, 2012
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