Dana White UFC 143 by Esther Lin
Following the UFC 143 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, February 2nd, Dana White held a scrum for the attending MMA media. In what can only be described as a mosh pit styled interview, Dana will answer any questions that he is asked. One of the big topics of conversation was the UFC's return to Japan and the status of Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
On February 24th, Fankie Edgar will defend his lightweight title against Ben Henderson in Tokyo, Japan. While fans and media have been outspoke that this is merely a vanity project for the UFC, White was adamant that this was important for Zuffa's Asian expansion. He stated, "As far as I know everything is going well over there. You don't know how successful it's going to be until you go. When we pull that event off and we do it and we see how it goes. It's very important. It's a very important show for our intro into Asia. Not just Japan but China and all the other markets we want to go to over there."
The UFC President was also asked about the rumors that B.J. Penn would be making his way over to Strikeforce to challenge Gilbert Melendez. It turns out that there was no truth to the rumor. In his own words. "That's not true. That's absolutely not true. But I have been talking to B.J. Penn. I talked to B.J. Penn last week and it was the first time that B.J. and I talked since his fight. He's just chilling right now. He wants to relax and figure out what he wants to do with his career. I'm working on Melendez. Melendez is all over my ass." He added, "I think he's a great fighter and I've said this a million times and I want to say it again. I want to get my hands on Strikeforce. I want to dive into this thing and I want to do it the way that it should be done. And the way that I think it should be done. We'll see what happens."
He later addressed his goals to improve the Strikeforce brand saying, "why not the UFC's level? If you talk to anybody they will tell you that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best fighters in the world. There's a ton of guys. Now you got Rockhold over there. Yes, these guys are great. I just want to do things that I want to do things over there. We'll see what happens. You guys know how I am. If I take this Strikeforce thing then I will dive into this thing 100% because I have so much free time. I'm looking for a side project. Honestly, I will dive into this thing and I will make it right and I will make it good. I will make the fighters who fight over there not worry about what's going on in the UFC."
Two more videos after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
0 recs | 41 comments
MicahtheCynic - February 3, 2012
Pffffffffffffffffffffffft.
Unabomberman - February 3, 2012
GSP is trying to emulate BJ by running his mouth. Or it could be the other way around. I forget.
daftshadow - February 4, 2012
'Tis a shame
Melendez would TKO Penn.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
plz
C.A.M. - February 3, 2012
Evidenced by his massive TKO of Jorge Masvi….oh, right. He won a boring decision where he didn’t look good against sub-par competition.
MicahtheCynic - February 3, 2012
What about the time he beat the shit out of Kawajiri?
Who at the time was a top 10 LW, might I add.
Melendez is a well-rounded fighter with sick power. He would pose tons of problems for this version of BJ Penn.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
Kawajiri's top 10 ranking was unwarranted
His only win of note prior to that fight was Josh Thompson, who has faded in recent years. That same year, he was submitted by Aoki with little trouble. Not sure who made him top 10, but they were smoking the Diaz brand ganj.
MicahtheCynic - February 3, 2012
Agreed. It has been very popular with the last year or two to completely over value Japanese mma fighters. Have any of them had any success fighting American competition? I
crinow - February 4, 2012
Also
I believe Kawajiri took that fight on a few weeks notice.
Ricardo Arguello - February 3, 2012
LMAO
We all know Gilbert would get where BJ left off on Diego
Elitex10x - February 3, 2012
Old Penn kills Melendez
But I think he’s mentally done. His performances in the 2nd Edgar fight, the entire GSP fight, and rounds 2-3 of the Diaz fight were listless and he looked out on his feet on several occasions.
I don’t think a weight class drop back to his better division is the problem with him.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
Penn is in better shape at LW
discoandherpes - February 3, 2012
Of course he is.
But as long as it’s going to be “Is the old BJ going to show up?” argument I don’t think Penn has much more to give.
And for what it’s worth I think the way to beat Penn is to basically discourage him. He’s never really needed to come-from-behind to beat an opponent. Edgar got 50-45 in the rematch, GSP made him quit, and Diaz battered him in rounds 2 and 3.
I don’t think BJ handles adversity very well and a guy like Melendez would pose trouble for him.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
No, BJ Penn has never won a fight that he has lost a round in as far as I remember
At the same time, if anyone could sweep Melendez on the cards, it’s Penn. That said Edgar and his leg kicks are more of a threat to Melendez than Penn at this point.
discoandherpes - February 3, 2012
He's only ever won 3 fights by decision
And 2 of them were outside the UFC. So you’re right, he hasn’t won a single fight in which he lost a round.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
That's brilliant insight.
Hadn’t realized how true that was before. Thanks for that.
pdl - February 4, 2012
To be fair I've heard that said before by different people
It had nothing to do with me.
discoandherpes - February 4, 2012
I agree wholeheartedly.
dedstrk316 - February 4, 2012 via mobile
I don't think so
BJ Penn at lightweight is a pretty bad match up for any wrestler. If Masvidal could mess Melendez up with a jab, BJ Penn could do much worst.
I would say that fight would be pretty even.
discoandherpes - February 3, 2012
IDK
If he’d TKO him but he almost assuredly would win. He would push a pace that BJ couldn’t keep up with and wear him out in the first two rounds. Just don’t get caught early Gil and its yours. And I hate sayin that cuz I love BJ Penn.
dedstrk316 - February 4, 2012 via mobile
Matt- pls fix the sentences... This is full of errors
Arca MMA - February 3, 2012 via mobile
It would be an amazing fight but Penn needs an easier fight than Melendez. And Melendez needs to fight a top contender or the champ.
I say, Hardy vs Penn.
Kenya_MMA - February 3, 2012
Hardy isn't going to get anyone relevant to the WW division for a long time
I saw Hardy vs. Ludwig and if Penn absolutely wants to come out of retirement or whatever, have him drop to lightweight and fight Clay Guida.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
If Penn wants an easy fight at LW
Guida would be pretty perfect.
discoandherpes - February 3, 2012
Yea I think he could even finish clay
Elitex10x - February 3, 2012
It would probably be similar to Clay vs Florian, but faster.
MicahtheCynic - February 3, 2012
I was just about to post the exact same thing!
discoandherpes - February 3, 2012
He'd choke him out
Since it appears KOs are impossible on Guida.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
Dana has free time?
Did he get some form of demotion or something?
jack knight starman - February 3, 2012 via mobile
sarcasm
bigdmmafan - February 3, 2012
The thing BJ might be doing is seeing how this Ben Henderson and Edgar fight will turn out before he comes back. He wouldn’t be too motivated if Ben won to comeback and fight a guy that he is pretty cool with and trained with before. Not too many more motivating fights for him at LW or WW anymore, He coached Gray Maynard on TUF and Nate Diaz was also on the show. He’s pretty much done it all in the sport already anyway, WW champion and LW champion. I wouldn’t blame him if he stayed out and help some new guys come up.
Elitex10x - February 3, 2012
Wouldn’t matter. Hrs not getting another shot at Edgar since he lost twice, and he’d be down the list to fight Benson. Maynard could be a food fight, which Maynard would win. I agree with whoever suggested Guida. Penn could win that one.
Hardcharger - February 3, 2012 via mobile
Anybody ever wonder how the state of the Welterweight division would look..
If BJ threw this punch
Instead of doing this at the beginning of the fight
Elitex10x - February 3, 2012
Penn would get the living shit beaten out of him by GSP
But that is dependent on when they would’ve scheduled that fight after GSP beat Shields.
SSreporters - February 3, 2012
this is why Penn needs a real training camp. not his Yes men that surrounds him.
daftshadow - February 4, 2012
To be fair, didn’t he take fitchs back and seriously threaten a RNC? So, the takedowns were a decent strategy, but I agree that he would have been better off boxing fitch more than emphasizing takedowns in rounds 1-2. A cardio challenged LW forcing grappling action against a WW wrestlefucker. Not a strategy for long term success
crinow - February 4, 2012
Paulo Thiago had an RNC on Fitch, too.
SSreporters - February 4, 2012
And Fitch left his head and neck exposed. If mazzagati wanted it, he could finished Fitch off with a guillotine
crinow - February 4, 2012
Penn can’t do that. Hendricks has some amazing talents of his own. Don’t trivialize them by chalking that draw up to poor game planning or conditioning.
castleeb - February 4, 2012
is this somehow out of his control?
Cunny - February 4, 2012
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