Mozza
08-07-2009, 08:09 PM
http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/white-on-lesnar-frank-shamrock-tito-tv-amp-more-18980
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 ****e: 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 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.
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 ****e: 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 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.