PORTLAND, Ore. -- Much ink has been spilled over the likelihood of World Extreme Cagefighting being absorbed by its parent company, but UFC President Dana White attempted to put to rest any speculation of the WEC’s eventual demise at a Thursday press conference for
UFC 102.
While conceding that folding the WEC into the UFC “makes some sense,” White maintained that he has a good contract with the Versus Network and its parent company, Comcast, and has no interest in dissolving that relationship.
“The WEC is not going away,” White said.
Earlier in the press conference, White characterized the chances of adding lighter weight classes to UFC as “pretty good” and the time frame as “pretty soon,” which led to speculation about the WEC and its future.
The difference in viewership and growing concerns of top level fighters in the WEC over a perceived compensation disparity have created a situation that may not be tenable for the UFC in the long run.
“Even with all the things that we know how to do and the deal that we have with Versus -- which is a great deal -- it’s still hard to make money and to pay the guys what they deserve to be paid, or what they think they deserve to be paid, and to run the business and make it a profitable business,” said White. “There is always going to be huge discrepancy in the pay between WEC and UFC.”
Lower weight classes making their way to the big show could be a way of alleviating some of the concerns. The pay and bonuses paid to UFC fighters are much higher than in the WEC. The fighters will also benefit from the marketing machine the promotion has built. The added attention those three letters -- UFC -- attract cannot be discounted.
“We’re going to be doing like three fights a month next year,” said White, explaining the possible need for more fighters, including main event level talent.
With the busy schedule and the planned further expansion, headline fighters will be in high demand for the promotion. WEC fighters like former champions
Urijah Faber and
Miguel Torres have proven to be solid draws, and the men who have since supplanted them as WEC titleholders,
Mike Thomas Brown and
Brian Bowles, have shown themselves to be worthy of their world-class status.
The UFC will look at more than just featherweight or bantamweight divisions. White made it clear that, as the sport continues to grow and expand into other markets, there will be sufficient talent to accommodate more weight classes.
“I think we could go as low as boxing has. Now that we have gone into Mexico -- and Mexico ratings are kicking ass -- I think you’re going to see a lot of Mexican fighters, and those guys are small,” said White.
With contractual obligations and the future of the WEC with which to contend, it will not be an easy fix. Keeping Versus happy and figuring out a way to keep the WEC viable as a developmental organization will be keys to making it work.
“There’s obviously some things that need to be worked out, but we can figure this thing out,” White said. “We’ve had bigger problems.”
In other news from the pre-fight press conference for
UFC 102 …
• White commented on former light heavyweight champion
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson being up for the roll of B.A. Baracus in the remake of the 1980s television show “
The A-Team.” He is none too thrilled about the possibility and hopes Jackson does not get the part. White made it clear that he thinks fighters should fight and actors should act. He said as much to Jackson when the former champion came to him and told him of his plans, stating he had a sentimental reason for wanting to play Mr. T’s old role. Apparently, he had grown up watching the show with his father and told White how great it would be to get the role.
White’s response to Jackson?
“Guess what
Rashad Evans is thinking about right now? He’s thinking about beating your f--king ass. OK? He’s not sitting around thinking about how him and his mom used to watch ‘The Love Boat’ together and he wants to get the role of Isaac the Bartender. Get a f--king grip dude.
“[Evans] hates Rampage more than anyone on the planet, and all he is thinking about is killing him. And [Jackson] wants to play B.A. Baracus on The A-Team,” White added. “This s--t drives me f--king nuts, so, no, I am not a big fan of fighters doing movies. When your career is over and you turn into a movie star, that’s awesome.”
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