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From http://www.mmaweekly.com/
UFC President Dana White was the guest on Mojo Radio's Live Audio Wrestling Sunday with Jeff Marek. We give you a recap of what was talked about.
Marek and crew first talked about UFC 42 main event between Matt Hughes vs Sean Sherk. The hosts asked if this was a tough main event to sell. The UFC President said that MMA is hard to sell right now in America, so we don't sweat a Hughes vs Sherk main event on PPV. White said they only have six shows a year and six are main events, so Sherk hasn't had a chance to be a main event guy until now.
White then talked about a national cable television convention that was going on recently and they had Ken Shamrock and Chuck Liddell attending the event with the cable big wigs. The whole TV thing is taking alot longer than he anticipated. He said they are still fighting perceptions of what UFC is. White said he bangs his head against the wall when he sees what's on T.V. The radio hosts talked about how stupid Slam ball is and for some reason that is on t.v., but UFC can't get on t.v. Dana said people watch Fear Factor and aren't revolted eating bugs but we have a tough time getting on t.v.
Dana was asked who is competition is? The UFC President said the sport of boxing has died because it's off television. USA had Tuesday Night Fights and they built up their stars. Then they went to HBO and Showtime and not everyone has it. If we can get a TUesday night fight show the sport will explode.
What about selling a percetage to a t.v.network? All t.v. networks are afraid and scared of us in the sport. We are hear to promote it anyway we can. We would do anything to make it happen including working with a tv network.
Then of course the big Tito Ortiz question was asked about 150,000 to show and 150,000 to win would have locked the deal according to Tito, but this is what Dana said. "If Tito thinks Liddell vs Ortiz will be bigger than SHamrock vs TIto then he is crazy....150 and 150 was NOT what they (Tito's lawyers) were asking for. I don't want to get into what he asked for. He needs to tell his attorney's then because his attorney's did not ask for that (150 and 150). If he thinks him and CHuck are bigger than Shamrock vs Tito he's out of his mind. It's a harder fight, but not a bigger fight."
The question was asked, Will you strip Tito of the title? Dana said "Yes". He owes Chuck the fight. The time is right now. Chuck stepped aside for the Shamrock fight and it was huge for the sport. Now is Chuck's time. It's 100% not fair to give Chuck his due."
Dana talked about how Chuck has always had a dangerous fight. No one understands how much I didn't want him to fight Babalu. I wanted to set up Chuck vs TIto. Chuck is the man. He doesn't duck anyone. He wants to fight. Tito signed a contract and he doesnt have to honor if he wants to retire.
Then Marek asked if there was an ultimatum? No because Tito is injured and that's what we have. His hand was busted up in the Ken fight. His knee is banged up. Then four weeks later he had eye surgery. The hosts said Tito told them it was all about money, not injuries and Dana said he agreed, but you can't strip a guy for an injury.
Then they talked about Randy vs Chuck and asked if it was true or not true? He said it's true be once again he can't strip the champ because he's injured and can't fight. Chuck has been on the bench, not fighting for the title. Him and Vitor was for the #1 contenders spot.
The winner got a title shot. We asked CHuck to step aside for Ken and TIto. CHuck did it for the sport. After UFC 40 we had momentum, Tito is killing the momentum. Chuck's contract reads it is for the title no matter what. His contract specifies he has to fight every few months, so if we do Randy and CHuck it's for interim title. WHen Tito is healthy it will be interim champion vs the champion. Is that thin? It sucks. I hate it, it sucks but we can't strip a guy for an injury which is what Tito is saying.
They concluded the show with some emails and phone calls. One person asked about Heath Herring's status- Dan said we talked to him and Bas Rutten his manager about a year ago. We haven't talked since. I don't know what his status is. Our heavyweight division is thin. Sylvia is the real deal, but we have to build up the rest of the division.
Next email was will we Royce Gracie fight in UFC against Matt Lindland for the title. Dana said, No he won't. Lindland has another opponent. Is it Baroni? No Phil has torn pec muscle and he will be out for awhile. Dana made a funny statement about Baroni. He said "Baroni is a full time job and is a head case, but I love him because he is a real fighter. He comes out and gives 100%. I have a lot respect for Phil Baroni."
Ken Shamrock vs Ian Freeman will happen. What about Tank vs Ken? WHite said "Because we tried to make Kimo vs Tank forever, we have to push that fight back. He said they worked out the deal and that's what we wanted first anyway. We would like to do Ken and Tank after that but Tank is begging for a shot and says he wants Frank Mir in a rematch badly."
White said Jeremy Horn is coming back top the UFC and finished the interview by saying he would love to come to Canada, but too many things prevent it from happening. He said Boston is off now and that he plans on going to Las Vegas, Mohegan and New Jersey, the next three shows...
UFC President Dana White was the guest on Mojo Radio's Live Audio Wrestling Sunday with Jeff Marek. We give you a recap of what was talked about.
Marek and crew first talked about UFC 42 main event between Matt Hughes vs Sean Sherk. The hosts asked if this was a tough main event to sell. The UFC President said that MMA is hard to sell right now in America, so we don't sweat a Hughes vs Sherk main event on PPV. White said they only have six shows a year and six are main events, so Sherk hasn't had a chance to be a main event guy until now.
White then talked about a national cable television convention that was going on recently and they had Ken Shamrock and Chuck Liddell attending the event with the cable big wigs. The whole TV thing is taking alot longer than he anticipated. He said they are still fighting perceptions of what UFC is. White said he bangs his head against the wall when he sees what's on T.V. The radio hosts talked about how stupid Slam ball is and for some reason that is on t.v., but UFC can't get on t.v. Dana said people watch Fear Factor and aren't revolted eating bugs but we have a tough time getting on t.v.
Dana was asked who is competition is? The UFC President said the sport of boxing has died because it's off television. USA had Tuesday Night Fights and they built up their stars. Then they went to HBO and Showtime and not everyone has it. If we can get a TUesday night fight show the sport will explode.
What about selling a percetage to a t.v.network? All t.v. networks are afraid and scared of us in the sport. We are hear to promote it anyway we can. We would do anything to make it happen including working with a tv network.
Then of course the big Tito Ortiz question was asked about 150,000 to show and 150,000 to win would have locked the deal according to Tito, but this is what Dana said. "If Tito thinks Liddell vs Ortiz will be bigger than SHamrock vs TIto then he is crazy....150 and 150 was NOT what they (Tito's lawyers) were asking for. I don't want to get into what he asked for. He needs to tell his attorney's then because his attorney's did not ask for that (150 and 150). If he thinks him and CHuck are bigger than Shamrock vs Tito he's out of his mind. It's a harder fight, but not a bigger fight."
The question was asked, Will you strip Tito of the title? Dana said "Yes". He owes Chuck the fight. The time is right now. Chuck stepped aside for the Shamrock fight and it was huge for the sport. Now is Chuck's time. It's 100% not fair to give Chuck his due."
Dana talked about how Chuck has always had a dangerous fight. No one understands how much I didn't want him to fight Babalu. I wanted to set up Chuck vs TIto. Chuck is the man. He doesn't duck anyone. He wants to fight. Tito signed a contract and he doesnt have to honor if he wants to retire.
Then Marek asked if there was an ultimatum? No because Tito is injured and that's what we have. His hand was busted up in the Ken fight. His knee is banged up. Then four weeks later he had eye surgery. The hosts said Tito told them it was all about money, not injuries and Dana said he agreed, but you can't strip a guy for an injury.
Then they talked about Randy vs Chuck and asked if it was true or not true? He said it's true be once again he can't strip the champ because he's injured and can't fight. Chuck has been on the bench, not fighting for the title. Him and Vitor was for the #1 contenders spot.
The winner got a title shot. We asked CHuck to step aside for Ken and TIto. CHuck did it for the sport. After UFC 40 we had momentum, Tito is killing the momentum. Chuck's contract reads it is for the title no matter what. His contract specifies he has to fight every few months, so if we do Randy and CHuck it's for interim title. WHen Tito is healthy it will be interim champion vs the champion. Is that thin? It sucks. I hate it, it sucks but we can't strip a guy for an injury which is what Tito is saying.
They concluded the show with some emails and phone calls. One person asked about Heath Herring's status- Dan said we talked to him and Bas Rutten his manager about a year ago. We haven't talked since. I don't know what his status is. Our heavyweight division is thin. Sylvia is the real deal, but we have to build up the rest of the division.
Next email was will we Royce Gracie fight in UFC against Matt Lindland for the title. Dana said, No he won't. Lindland has another opponent. Is it Baroni? No Phil has torn pec muscle and he will be out for awhile. Dana made a funny statement about Baroni. He said "Baroni is a full time job and is a head case, but I love him because he is a real fighter. He comes out and gives 100%. I have a lot respect for Phil Baroni."
Ken Shamrock vs Ian Freeman will happen. What about Tank vs Ken? WHite said "Because we tried to make Kimo vs Tank forever, we have to push that fight back. He said they worked out the deal and that's what we wanted first anyway. We would like to do Ken and Tank after that but Tank is begging for a shot and says he wants Frank Mir in a rematch badly."
White said Jeremy Horn is coming back top the UFC and finished the interview by saying he would love to come to Canada, but too many things prevent it from happening. He said Boston is off now and that he plans on going to Las Vegas, Mohegan and New Jersey, the next three shows...
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