White on Lesnar, Frank Shamrock, Tito, TV & More
Aug 7, 2009
Dana White took questions for an hour Friday from UFC Fight Club
members. Quick quotes and notes from Philadelphia by Greg Savage
and Joe Hall:
• On Josh Barnett or Frank Shamrock returning to the UFC: “Josh Barnett’s going to be a tough one. … I made up with Tito; maybe I can make up with Frank.”
• On Pride fights airing on Spike: Best of Pride show will air in
January. “We have to make a lot of money to make up for what we
paid for that f--ker.”
• On Brock Lesnar’s post-fight behavior: “Brock is a different kind of guy. … I don’t tell anybody how to act unless they go over the line. … He’s a little rough around the edges.” Also said MMA is full of sportsmanship, but you can’t fit all fighters into one mold.
• On female fighters in UFC/WEC: Not enough good women to create a division, but there are talented women fighters. Named Gina Carano as one of them.
• On where the UFC will do shows: everywhere. Pittsburgh, Toronto, New York, Abu Dhabi, Puerto Rico. White said Thursday he’s looking at doing a show at a cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi.
• On WEC/UFC merger: They’re talking about it.
• On a fan echoing White’s “Strikefarce” comment from Friday: “Wow, that got out already?”
• On going head-to-head with the Mayweather pay-per-view on Sept. 19: “They went head to head with us. … Boxing keeps trying to fight with us.” Likes boxing, not sure what they’re doing.
• On UFC in Brazil: “We just started really cultivating Brazil.” Hired a PR firm there, has a TV deal and ratings are “awesome.”
• On UFC in Japan: “They want to kill me over there. … We have to figure out how to navigate around these guys. … Bad dudes over there.”
• On Wanderlei Silva’s next fight: Likely for England in October.
• On Rashad Evans vs. Quinton Jackson and TUF 10: “This is the best season we’ve ever done.” Quinton and Rashad turning out to be the biggest grudge match in UFC history -- can’t get close to each other without trying to fight.
• On signing with more major sponsors: Bad economy makes it tough, but there are talks.
• On having a weekly show right now: “There’s definitely not enough talent for the ‘Tuesday Night Fights’ type show.”
• On a show in Toronto: Toronto will be the biggest gate ever in North America.
• On Anderson Silva vs. Roy Jones Jr.: “I liked Roy Jones, but Roy Jones isn’t relevant anymore.”
• On GSP-Penn III: “I’d never say never, but I’m not thinking about it now.”
• On Tito Ortiz’s first fight since returning: Tito vs. Mark Coleman is set.
• On Josh Barnett or Frank Shamrock returning to the UFC: “Josh Barnett’s going to be a tough one. … I made up with Tito; maybe I can make up with Frank.”
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• On Brock Lesnar’s post-fight behavior: “Brock is a different kind of guy. … I don’t tell anybody how to act unless they go over the line. … He’s a little rough around the edges.” Also said MMA is full of sportsmanship, but you can’t fit all fighters into one mold.
• On network TV deals: “I had a deal with HBO. I probably could
have two or three other network deals, but it didn’t make sense. …
When the right deal comes, we’ll take it. … Could be months.”
• On female fighters in UFC/WEC: Not enough good women to create a division, but there are talented women fighters. Named Gina Carano as one of them.
• On where the UFC will do shows: everywhere. Pittsburgh, Toronto, New York, Abu Dhabi, Puerto Rico. White said Thursday he’s looking at doing a show at a cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi.
• On WEC/UFC merger: They’re talking about it.
• On a fan echoing White’s “Strikefarce” comment from Friday: “Wow, that got out already?”
• On going head-to-head with the Mayweather pay-per-view on Sept. 19: “They went head to head with us. … Boxing keeps trying to fight with us.” Likes boxing, not sure what they’re doing.
• On UFC in Brazil: “We just started really cultivating Brazil.” Hired a PR firm there, has a TV deal and ratings are “awesome.”
• On UFC in Japan: “They want to kill me over there. … We have to figure out how to navigate around these guys. … Bad dudes over there.”
• On Wanderlei Silva’s next fight: Likely for England in October.
• On Rashad Evans vs. Quinton Jackson and TUF 10: “This is the best season we’ve ever done.” Quinton and Rashad turning out to be the biggest grudge match in UFC history -- can’t get close to each other without trying to fight.
• On signing with more major sponsors: Bad economy makes it tough, but there are talks.
• On having a weekly show right now: “There’s definitely not enough talent for the ‘Tuesday Night Fights’ type show.”
• On a show in Toronto: Toronto will be the biggest gate ever in North America.
• On Anderson Silva vs. Roy Jones Jr.: “I liked Roy Jones, but Roy Jones isn’t relevant anymore.”
• On GSP-Penn III: “I’d never say never, but I’m not thinking about it now.”
• On Tito Ortiz’s first fight since returning: Tito vs. Mark Coleman is set.
