Matt Roth and other media members speak with UFC President Dana White. Photo by Esther Lin.
Following the UFC 143 pre-fight press conference, Dana White held a scrum with the media in attendance. Bloody Elbow's Matthew Roth was in attendance and shot video of the entire scrum. Dana White was hit with a ton of topics from all angles from the surrounding media.
In part one of a four part series, Dana White talks the UFC on Fox 2 event in Chicago and if he thought it was a good event. The UFC president had words for the naysayers, saying "ratings were awesome. I'm happy with the ratings. It was good."
He added, "the funny thing about that is. The chatter that you get about fights. First of all there was so much hype about that fight. Sonnen vs Bisping. The Maia fight. Even after the change people were like it's even more exciting now. And then after, everyone was like 'they set themselves up for these boring fights'. Shut up. People who come out after, you're a liar. You're a liar. You're an idiot. You sound like an idiot when you say that. These fights all looked exciting. You just never know what's gonna happen. Anything can happen on any given night. You can have three fights go to decision or you can put on a fight that you think's gonna go longer and it lasts 60 seconds. It's fighting. The hardest part of this whole thing is figuring out production. How many fights can you schedule? The commercial load that we've got and all the other things that you have to do. We did a pretty good job at getting this thing dialed in after the first fight going 60 seconds. As this thing evolves it's gonna be more about fighting. Fox has a system that they use for sports and you come into a big desk. What people are used to with the UFC are Goldie and Rogan on camera for two seconds and we get right into fights."
He also addressed the current slide the pay per view business without Georges St. Pierre, stating "GSP is a monster. I say it all the time that he's the pay per view king of this sport. It hurts without him but this is what we do. We put on guys like Condit and Diaz. No one knew GSP at one time either. You have to build guys."
0 recs | 45 comments
Oh come on Dana
If your so intent on building fighters, then for your first fight on Fox network television in the heavyweight division you would have had just as much or equal coverage on Junior Dos Santos, instead of every two seconds you mentioning how Cain is the “first Mexican UFC heavyweight champ”
I don’t think I’m completely wrong in saying your lack of equal coverage on Dos Santos before the fight, is because you and the rest of the Zuffa brass assumed that Cain was going to run thru Junior.
And when he didn’t, and lost the title, your tasked with promoting a champ afterwards. A fighter that you didn’t think had a chance to win to begin with.
jack knight starman - February 2, 2012 via mobile
And instead he ends up burying both on the post fight show.
KJ Gould - February 3, 2012
Apparently I missed that...
What’d he say that was so damning?
DSAhawker - February 3, 2012
Basically Velasquez fought like an idiot, and JDS has bad cardio
KJ Gould - February 3, 2012
Oh
sweet… seems like a smart time to be saying such things, eh?
thanks
DSAhawker - February 3, 2012
True
The part about people saying ‘they set themselves up for boring decisions’ is true. I was so pumped to see Chael murder Bisping, a ground battle between Weidmen and Maia, and Rashad 2.0 to land fists on Davis’ chin. Most people thought the fights would be great.
Well Read Idiot - February 2, 2012 via mobile
Too bad Rashad's last finish against relevant competition was three years ago
And Maia has been in some boring ass fights lately.
Sonnen vs. Bisping was the only fight with a high chance of entertainment and it was the best of a bad bunch.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
Wow, that seems like harsh criticism for rashad. I agree he was conservative against rampage and thiago, but these guys have big power. It’s a smart fight. His highlight reel of knockouts is pure brutality. He’s been murdering people throughout his career.
He had a mounted crucifix 3 times against a decorated collegiate wrestler. It’s fighting at an elite level, Phil Davis wasn’t looking for a way to lose
crinow - February 3, 2012
Just based playground picks
a lot of people, myself included, expected the two fights at the top of the card to go to decision. I actually made a comment about being worried that Rashad-Davis would be a snoozefest (though, in the interest of full disclosure, I was expecting a wall-and-stall clinic by Rashad, rather than a one-sided thumping).
Stann aside, Sonnen is not an MMA finisher, and Bisping is pretty good at avoiding being finished by guys not named Dan Henderson.
In hindsight, the fight where most people predicted a finish (myself included) was Maia-Weidman, but I think a lot of us were surprised by just how far Maia has departed from his submission grappling game.
Dana put some great names on this card, but he didn’t exactly stack it with fights guaranteed to produce fireworks. I already think that the two fights announced for UFC on Fox 3 show more promise in that regard.
Dave Strummer - February 3, 2012
Holy fuck...
I feel like I’m watching Cloverfield.
Crazynutts - February 3, 2012
I could do what everyone else does and just pull audio and then use quotes
I wanted to let you guys see the full scrum. Which means that tomorrow look for the other 3 parts.
Matthew Roth - February 3, 2012
It's all good.
I finished it and was wondering where part 2 was.
Crazynutts - February 3, 2012
It should have been posted earlier but the site was down
So it’ll be up tomorrow.
Matthew Roth - February 3, 2012
Video is greatly appreciated.
I recommend investing in a monopod for the camera.
KJ Gould - February 3, 2012
or a helmet cam
merryprankster - February 3, 2012
Nick Can Be a Star if he keeps winning
He has the three crucial ingredients
1. He is polarizing, you either love him or hate him.
2. He is authentic. Chael is just playing the role and it’s already getting old. Bones is still finding himself as a personality. Nothing Nick does involves him trying to advance his “brand”, he is just being himself and his growth in popularity is completely organic and cool. In some ways it makes it more appealing that Nick doesn’t actually want to be a star.
3. The Motherfucker can flat out fight.
Pillowhands - February 3, 2012
Nick's hype train derails the moment he steps in the cage with Ellenberger, Hendricks, Story or Rory Mac.
All 4 of those guys destroy Nick. Hell, I’d even give Kampmann a good shot. The funny think about Nick Diaz in the WW division is that the two best stylistic match ups for him are at the top of the division right now in Condit and GSP IMO. Yes GSP has the same kind of takedown power as the guys I mentioned, but those other guys are fearless whereas GSP needs a safe route to victory it seems, and with Nick’s style, none of GSP’s “safe fighting” strategies that we’ve seen so far will be easy.
-GSP doesn’t have a reach advantage, so he can’t jab his way to victory as he’ll be subject to the Stockton Slap™ which will make him very uncomfortable
-If said Slap™ makes GSP uncomfortable enough to shoot for a takedown which he can most likely get, he is then in Nick’s guard. GSP is sometimes content to sit in a guy’s half guard and work just enough for the fight not to be stood up, but Nick will be threatening with submissions all the time and he could pull one off. GSP is aware of the submission threat.
-GSP is not safe on the feet or on the ground with Nick, and he’ll be out of his comfort zone that he usually relishes in. How that uneasiness will manifest in a Diaz/GSP fight is anyone’s guess, but at this stage in GSP’s career I’ll go out on a limb and say that it won’t be good for him.
This being said, I think Diaz gets brutally KO’d by Ellenberger and Hendricks should he get past Conduit and GSP which is very possible. It would be a shame for Diaz to win this fight only to face Ellenberger or Hendricks for an interim title defense.
Rob Young - February 3, 2012
Ellenberger is a scary dude & Rory looks like a future champ, but Story & Hendricks? Really? Even in Nicks first run in the UFC Nick didn’t get dominated by top control wrestlers he was just too content to stay on his back and work. Nick has really evolved since then and he is really good at using his sweeps to get positional advantage and get to his feet. Plus a Diaz in a 5 round fight will always be a tough out.
Nick’s reliance on his chin will eventually be his undoing, but right now he is at the top of his game and can beat any WW on any given night.
Pillowhands - February 3, 2012 via iPhone app
I definitely think Story probably wouldn't beat Diaz
I can see MacDonald, Ellenberger and Hendricks all posing huge problems, but Nick Diaz in a five round fight with his incredible cardio is a dangerous matchup for anybody.
I agree, he should probably really try to get hit as little as possible here on out…I mean, he has a great chin, and it doesn’t seem to be faltering so far…but really…you want to extend your chin’s lifespan as much as possible.
Chris Groves - February 3, 2012
I agree. Story is too content to stand and trade.
crinow - February 3, 2012
This being said, I think Diaz gets brutally
KO’dlaid on by Ellenberger and Hendricks should he get back Condit and GSP.Fixed.
Seriously though, I don’t see how you predict Nick Diaz to get brutally KO’ed by anyone at WW. He’s stood in the pocket against literally the scariest strikers in the division, and he’s been the one doing the KTFOing. If Ellenberger and/or Hendricks were smart, and they got handed that fight, they’d shoot for takedowns and try to stay busy for five rounds, because neither of them is a match for Diaz standing.
Also, I think your prediction about his hype train being derailed is more wishful thinking than anything. Nick’s hype train is not based on an aura of invincibility (like say JBJs hype train) but rather on his crazy personality and amazing fighting style (like, say, BJ Penn). I don’t think his popularity would take much of a hit if he lost a “bullshit decision” to a wrestler.
Dave Strummer - February 3, 2012
Spot on
jhf884 - February 3, 2012
say what?
if you’re saying Diaz’s toughest challenges will be from wrestlers then it’s not logically consistant to say GSP is one of the best stylistic match ups for him.
wamarsh - February 3, 2012
Agree with you completely
GSP has demonstrated some of the best technical wrestling in the sport over the past few years. Hes also arguably the greatest WW of all time, so assuming his knee heals properly, he’d most likely beat Diaz, imo
Ryjo - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Arguably?
He is the greatest WW of all time.
At the same time, Diaz has never really been laid on, so lets hold off on saying that wrestling is his huge weakness.
discoandherpes - February 3, 2012
Yes, arguably. It all comes down to ones opinion. I personally give GSP the nod over Hughes, but we cannot "prove"him the best ever.
Having said that, Diaz’ s biggest weakness is his wrestling, imo. And in most of his losses I can think of off the top of my head, his opponents’ ability to control him, or even just get the takedown when needed, was the deciding factor.
I believe a healthy GSP can take him down at will and maintain control amd do some damage while avoiding subs.
Ryjo - February 3, 2012 via mobile
You obviously put a lot of thought into this, but
I respectfully disagree. I personally think for one reason or another, the guys you listed would lose to Diaz (at this point in time, at any rate). I think Hendricks and Rory have the tools to beat him, but need a bit more time before they are ready. I like Ellenberger, but I think Diaz could pick him apart on the feet (love Ellenberger s power, but dont think a one-shot attack is the best strategy against Diaz). I also don’t know that he’d be able to avoid getting subbed. And I don’t think Story even belongs in the conversation.
I think a younger or Marinovechian BJ wouldve beaten Diaz(he won the first and has the chin and jits, but just got tired from the volume and pressure, unfortunately). I also think that Kos, Fitch, and GSP all beat Diaz more often than not, since they can all take him, hold him down, and avoid the subs.
Ryjo - February 3, 2012 via mobile
You raise some good points here, but in my opinion, you are underselling GSP. While Diaz is great on the ground, it is at this point the safer option for GSP to take the fight to the ground (in a hypothetical fight against Diaz) as Diaz has been beating most of his recent competition on the feet. At the highest/elite level, it is very difficult to see a fighter (Sonnen is the only example I can think of) get submitted from their opponent who is on his back, and I just can’t see GSP getting submitted if he is on top.
chrisbboy82 - February 3, 2012
Im so sick of Dana talking shit about fan opinion.
We should all boycott a event n when the backlash come Twitter bomb him with a slew of shut up comments. I’m really starting to hate this guy for his arrogance. I am a long time supporter of him but his ego is getting out of control.
fightersvizion - February 3, 2012 via mobile
There are some pretty dumb opinions out there.
The fact that it comes from ‘mma fans’ doesn’t mean he shouldn’t call it for what it is.
Yan117 - February 3, 2012
I see his point here and was going to mention it myself
Before the card, everyone talked about the name value, Bisping-Sonnen being a much bigger matchup etc etc
Then AFTER…it’s like EVERYONE knew it was going to be 3 less than amazing decisions.
The f’cking hindsight bias runs rampant in MMA fandom. People get pessimistic about one thing or another heading into an event…then every now and then they get exciting, and when things don’t go perfectly, or even when they go very well, they are quick to point out every little thing that went wrong in a ‘sky is falling’ type fashion.
To be honest it just gets tiring. The way some people talk, no even is going to draw, the events with star power will be boring, the events that are exciting won’t be watched by anyone. When there is a great night of fights, people complain about commentary or promotion or something.
I’ve kind of grown up loathing complainers…there are things a lot more worth complaining about than the finer details of the sport we love. I mean, I don’t think it’s ever going to disappoint to the point of making most of us stop watching…so the pessimism gets really old.
The way some people complain, you would think they aren’t really fans at all.
Chris Groves - February 3, 2012
I know what you mean. I remember the other day when someone mentioned that UFC on FX 2 won’t get good ratings because it doesn’t appeal to the casuals. That can be said for so many UFC cards, and it just comes off as an old and tired meme. It’s not that it’s not true in a sense, but it just comes off as an MMA fan finding something to complain about.
chrisbboy82 - February 3, 2012
on boring fights..
thats one thing about the fight game, you just don’t know what you’re going to get..fighters are human beings too and they have good days and bad days; I’m sure every fighter would love to get “KO or submission of the night” every time they fight but sometimes they just can’t put it all together for one reason or another. Ditto for KO vs decisions…I’m sure they’d all love to KO or submit right away rather than decision…its frustrating, tiring and often far more painful to go the distance. But thats how fights are, its the nature of the game.
Sirus - February 3, 2012
Expanding on my point Dana can be full of shit sometimes
I don’t know if he truly thinks fans are idiots (sometimes he really comes off like a King Mo) or if its just promoter talk, but here’s a guys that in my opinion literally under rates a lot of his guys in his organization.
Case in point Anderson Silva. As far as I can remember….. Its only been a good three months now that Dana’s been going everywhere calling Anderson the pound for pound king fighter in the world.
However this is something that a lot of us knew (at least) almost two years ago and so would everyone including casuals and new fans to the sport if Dana and company promoted some of these guys right (like Anderson) from the start when they started to show their flashes of brilliance. Some people may blame Anderson for that for not being able to promote themselves but let’s be real for a second. If you own a fight organization where two quarters of your staff doesn’t speak English isn’t it your responsibility (the promoter) to showcase your best guys from day one? Don’t do it in the apex of their careers when they can retire at any time. That’s bad business sense.
Dana citing a GSP example as great Zuffa promotes there guys to me is a bit of joke in itself
jack knight starman - February 3, 2012 via mobile
http://www.fightline.com/fl/news/2010/0403/486750/dana-white/
“I personally [think] it’s 100 percent fact that Anderson Silva is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world … period,” White continued.
The article was published on April 3, 2010.
zorba - February 3, 2012
Im not saying Dana isnt right sometimes but
As a president of a company that exist because of the fans he should nit talk like that. You would never hear the NFL or MLB heads talk to fans like that about a boring game. If he really wants the sport to be embraced he needs to act more like a boss not a knuckle head.
fightersvizion - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Your not wrong
I’ve often thought that Dana should take a step back from being the public face. He tries to relate too much with fans and as much as that works for HIM it also works against him just as much
Let Lorenzo take a greater public role then he has and let’s see what happens
jack knight starman - February 3, 2012 via mobile
The only comparable position is a boxing promoter
And boxing promoters say crazy shit and awful shit a lot.
discoandherpes - February 3, 2012
Lots of people knew GSP in TKO fighting when he was in Quebec. Unless he’s talking about when GSP was in junior high school then yeah, nobody knew him, good point Dana.
Just like nobody knew who Julius Caesar was when he was 8 years old.
DirtyML - February 3, 2012
Haha very true
youfailme91 - February 3, 2012 via mobile
I’m pretty sure Juliu Ceasar was of patrician (upper class) decent. He was probably well known his entire life. I don’t think this adds to the conversation but hey…
castleeb - February 3, 2012
If one reply fails and then catches a spelling a mistake afterwards while being anal, should he end himself?
castleeb - February 3, 2012
yes
merryprankster - February 3, 2012
I'm glad that Dana White recognizes that, like GSP,
Matt Roth will become a household name in his respective field. That’s what this was about, right?
Brent Ducharme - February 3, 2012
Matt Roth...journalist?
Matthew Roth - February 3, 2012
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