MMA News Thread
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
the fuck just happened. These announcers are terrible. I'm watching the OKC game and switching over when it sounds like something's happening, the guy's talking about basedgod knows what and all the sudden it's over
edit- hahahaha REMEMBER MEEEEEE
double edit- this announcer looks like miguel torres and dominick cruz had a kid
edit- hahahaha REMEMBER MEEEEEE
double edit- this announcer looks like miguel torres and dominick cruz had a kid
lol. so far xfo>tachi by far. & its shittin on that gsp/shields fight. lol @ no replays & jens saying he wishes he could see the internet chatroom from where he's doing commentary, like laptops dont exist. Grade A production value over there.
this is surprisingly amusing.
edit: i hope autotune faggot loses
this is surprisingly amusing.
edit: i hope autotune faggot loses
this kid is insane if you haven't seen him fight, he's like old school Wand with wrestling. Great addition for SF
Strikeforce Signs Maximo Blanco
Strikeforce has signed lightweight notable and former King of Pancrase Maximo Blanco (8-2-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) to a multi-fight deal.
Multiple sources today confirmed with the signing with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). Sherdog.com first reported it.
No debut date is set for the 27-year-old Venezuelan's promotional debut.
Blanco, who's perhaps best known for a seven-fight stint in World Victory Road's Japan-based Sengoku event series, is riding a six-fight win streak, which included a unanimous-decision victory over Won Sik Park in December. The previous five victories, including wins over Rodrigo Damm and Katsuya Inoue, all came via knockout.
In fact, seven of his eight career wins have come via stoppage, four in the first round.
The three-year pro and 2007 Pan-American Games bronze-medal wrestler brings depth to Strikeforce's lightweight division, which currently is ruled by titleholder Gilbert Melendez.
Blanco, who fights out of Yoshida Dojo in Japan, has never fought in the U.S.
Strikeforce Signs Maximo Blanco
Strikeforce has signed lightweight notable and former King of Pancrase Maximo Blanco (8-2-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) to a multi-fight deal.
Multiple sources today confirmed with the signing with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). Sherdog.com first reported it.
No debut date is set for the 27-year-old Venezuelan's promotional debut.
Blanco, who's perhaps best known for a seven-fight stint in World Victory Road's Japan-based Sengoku event series, is riding a six-fight win streak, which included a unanimous-decision victory over Won Sik Park in December. The previous five victories, including wins over Rodrigo Damm and Katsuya Inoue, all came via knockout.
In fact, seven of his eight career wins have come via stoppage, four in the first round.
The three-year pro and 2007 Pan-American Games bronze-medal wrestler brings depth to Strikeforce's lightweight division, which currently is ruled by titleholder Gilbert Melendez.
Blanco, who fights out of Yoshida Dojo in Japan, has never fought in the U.S.
Aldo vs. Hioki has to happen
Hioki Free from SRC Contract
Coming out of Japan today, SRC and Shooto standout Hatsu Hioki has formally been released from his contract with World Victory Road/SRC. The standout fighter, who still leaves in question his Shooto contract, could now be eligible to fight in the United States. Sources out of Japan are reporting that the fighter has been courted by the UFC and could be signing with the organization int he near future.
We are working to confirm the details of his Shooto contract. Pending that, we expect Hioki to be in the United States for a fall showing this year.
Hioki Free from SRC Contract
Coming out of Japan today, SRC and Shooto standout Hatsu Hioki has formally been released from his contract with World Victory Road/SRC. The standout fighter, who still leaves in question his Shooto contract, could now be eligible to fight in the United States. Sources out of Japan are reporting that the fighter has been courted by the UFC and could be signing with the organization int he near future.
We are working to confirm the details of his Shooto contract. Pending that, we expect Hioki to be in the United States for a fall showing this year.
Torres Says Reclaiming Title Isn't Top Priority
Ask any former champion what his No. 1 priority is, and it's almost always the same answer: getting the title back.
Just a few more wins and a few more highlight reels, and opportunity is right around the corner, they say.
But if you don't care whether you get back to the mountain top, as former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), then what's the point of moving forward?
Getting better, he said. And getting better is enough of a virtue to keep fighting.
"The title shot is not even a big goal for me," said Torres, who also was the first guest on "MMAjunkie.com Radio Live," a simulcast version of our radio show that airs live on Fight Now TV. "The biggest goal for me is to be the best fighter I can be and to be the most dangerous fighter I can be. They can offer me a title shot after this fight, or it could be two or three more fights."
Torres (39-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets Demetrious Johnson (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who's stock has seen a huge surge since his win over Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto at UFC 126, at Saturday's UFC 130 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view, but Torres vs. Johnson is slated for a spot on Spike TV's "UFC Prelims" special.
It's just the kind of fight that leads to talk of contendership, especially in an age in which the bantamweight division is reshaping itself as one of the new divisions in the UFC. You would expect to hear both fighters talking about the title and maybe even taking a few snipes at champion Dominick Cruz for future promo reels.
Torres, however, is talking up the skills he's picking up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the Tristar Gym, where renowned trainer Firas Zahabi provides not only instruction and a bevy of young up-and-comers for sparring, but a roof over his head. Torres uproots his life in Chicago at regular intervals for such an opportunity.
The Miguel Torres who wanted nothing more to get a belt is a younger, less-mature fighter who doesn't understand that the world doesn't have to arrive at your doorstep all at once.
"The biggest rush before when I was getting into the game was to get a world title shot right away, and that was in the WEC," Torres said. "I got there really fast, and I was there for a little bit, but I fell pretty hard. Now, I'm taking my time, and I'm going to build my foundation."
And foundations are slow to set. In his most recent fight, Torres soundly outclassed Antonio Banuelos at UFC 126. But he didn't finish the fight; unlike other affairs in which he stormed the gates to prove his toughness, he had a gameplan and stuck to it. He didn't put himself in needless danger, and he won the fight. It wasn't the most pleasing affair, but it further reinforced the idea that he didn't always have to swing for the fences when he fights.
That idea is still with him when he trains.
"Before, I was at a level where I thought I had to be tougher than the other guy," Torres said. "That was what was important to me. Now when I come into the gym, I'm learning these new things.
"My game was already strong. I had a big hole in my wrestling, but I knew enough jiu jitsu to get by with anybody. Striking – I thought my striking was good. I got to this gym, and pretty much my style was an aggressive, brawling style. I had no style. I had no finesse. I had no swag.
"I was doing those things before, and I didn't know why I was doing them. Now, I know why I'm doing them, and it's making me a lot more dangerous."
And maybe just as dangerous because he's not white-knuckling every fight as the be-all-end-all of his career.
"I know a title shot is coming," Torres said. "All I have to do is keep winning my fights, and the time is going to come.
"When I get there, I'm not going to go. I'm going to stay."
Ask any former champion what his No. 1 priority is, and it's almost always the same answer: getting the title back.
Just a few more wins and a few more highlight reels, and opportunity is right around the corner, they say.
But if you don't care whether you get back to the mountain top, as former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), then what's the point of moving forward?
Getting better, he said. And getting better is enough of a virtue to keep fighting.
"The title shot is not even a big goal for me," said Torres, who also was the first guest on "MMAjunkie.com Radio Live," a simulcast version of our radio show that airs live on Fight Now TV. "The biggest goal for me is to be the best fighter I can be and to be the most dangerous fighter I can be. They can offer me a title shot after this fight, or it could be two or three more fights."
Torres (39-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets Demetrious Johnson (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who's stock has seen a huge surge since his win over Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto at UFC 126, at Saturday's UFC 130 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view, but Torres vs. Johnson is slated for a spot on Spike TV's "UFC Prelims" special.
It's just the kind of fight that leads to talk of contendership, especially in an age in which the bantamweight division is reshaping itself as one of the new divisions in the UFC. You would expect to hear both fighters talking about the title and maybe even taking a few snipes at champion Dominick Cruz for future promo reels.
Torres, however, is talking up the skills he's picking up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the Tristar Gym, where renowned trainer Firas Zahabi provides not only instruction and a bevy of young up-and-comers for sparring, but a roof over his head. Torres uproots his life in Chicago at regular intervals for such an opportunity.
The Miguel Torres who wanted nothing more to get a belt is a younger, less-mature fighter who doesn't understand that the world doesn't have to arrive at your doorstep all at once.
"The biggest rush before when I was getting into the game was to get a world title shot right away, and that was in the WEC," Torres said. "I got there really fast, and I was there for a little bit, but I fell pretty hard. Now, I'm taking my time, and I'm going to build my foundation."
And foundations are slow to set. In his most recent fight, Torres soundly outclassed Antonio Banuelos at UFC 126. But he didn't finish the fight; unlike other affairs in which he stormed the gates to prove his toughness, he had a gameplan and stuck to it. He didn't put himself in needless danger, and he won the fight. It wasn't the most pleasing affair, but it further reinforced the idea that he didn't always have to swing for the fences when he fights.
That idea is still with him when he trains.
"Before, I was at a level where I thought I had to be tougher than the other guy," Torres said. "That was what was important to me. Now when I come into the gym, I'm learning these new things.
"My game was already strong. I had a big hole in my wrestling, but I knew enough jiu jitsu to get by with anybody. Striking – I thought my striking was good. I got to this gym, and pretty much my style was an aggressive, brawling style. I had no style. I had no finesse. I had no swag.
"I was doing those things before, and I didn't know why I was doing them. Now, I know why I'm doing them, and it's making me a lot more dangerous."
And maybe just as dangerous because he's not white-knuckling every fight as the be-all-end-all of his career.
"I know a title shot is coming," Torres said. "All I have to do is keep winning my fights, and the time is going to come.
"When I get there, I'm not going to go. I'm going to stay."
White: Jones Next Opponent Picked Soon, Won't Be Evans
LAS VEGAS – Former friends and training partners Jon Jones and Rashad Evans have been at the center of an increasingly bitter feud, but that difference won't be settled in the cage anytime soon, according to UFC president Dana White.
While an Evans win in a UFC 133 matchup with Phil Davis would unquestionably keep him at the top of the light heavyweight division, the champion will need to book an event before then.
"We'll have to make a decision (on Jones' next fight) before [Evans] fights," White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "We probably will make a decision after this weekend."
This past weekend, Jones gave several interviews where he alluded to a potential meeting with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, should he earn a win over Matt Hamill at this weekend's UFC 130 event, or perhaps Lyota Machida. White confirmed those are the two most likely scenarios.
"I think that if 'Rampage wins,' you've got to be more interested in the 'Rampage' fight because 'Rampage' deserves it," White said. "He's at the top. Machida is coming off of a win over Couture, but I think Machida needs another fight. But with the way my luck's gone lately, who knows? We'll see what happens."
When pressed as to why the organization wouldn't wait until the UFC 133 fight in order to allow the possibility of a Jones-Evans grudge match, White said it was all a matter of timing.
"Let's say, hypothetically speaking, Rashad Evans fights and he wins the fight against Phil Davis," White said. "Let's say he wins that fight in 30 seconds and comes out without a scratch, feels like a million bucks and is ready to go and wants to fight Jon Jones in December. We will have already shot the commercials. That stuff is three months out. It would be impossible to do."
White said promotion officials considered pulling Davis from the bout with Evans in order to book the fight with Jones, but with the status of the champion's injured right hand still in doubt, there was simply too much risk in tearing apart a sure thing.
"We talked about it," White said. "Could we have made that fight? Maybe. But with what's going on with us lately, we're not into maybes.
"They don't know the exact timeframe (for Jones' recovery), and maybe he would be ready to go. But maybe he wouldn't. We don't want to go on maybes. We knew Phil Davis could take the fight, so we made that fight.
"The other thing you don't want to do is have [Jones] start training again prematurely without knowing 100 percent (that the hand is healthy)."
Despite the confusion and uncertainties, White did want to dispel any notion that Jones was somehow "ducking" Evans or trying to avoid a fight with the former champion, as some fans and pundits (not to mention Evans) have suggested.
"There was never any ducking or dodging or anything," White said. "Never once did Jon Jones come to us and say, 'I don't want this Rashad fight right now.' Not even remotely close."
Jones and his camp have suggested the champ will be fine to fight come fall. White said he can't commit to a particular card for the light heavyweight phenom's next fight, but he believes fans will be impressed with what the UFC is planning next.
"Maybe September; maybe October," White said. "We've got a lot of things going on right now, and we're going to shake some [expletive] here pretty soon. We've got some fun stuff coming."
LAS VEGAS – Former friends and training partners Jon Jones and Rashad Evans have been at the center of an increasingly bitter feud, but that difference won't be settled in the cage anytime soon, according to UFC president Dana White.
While an Evans win in a UFC 133 matchup with Phil Davis would unquestionably keep him at the top of the light heavyweight division, the champion will need to book an event before then.
"We'll have to make a decision (on Jones' next fight) before [Evans] fights," White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "We probably will make a decision after this weekend."
This past weekend, Jones gave several interviews where he alluded to a potential meeting with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, should he earn a win over Matt Hamill at this weekend's UFC 130 event, or perhaps Lyota Machida. White confirmed those are the two most likely scenarios.
"I think that if 'Rampage wins,' you've got to be more interested in the 'Rampage' fight because 'Rampage' deserves it," White said. "He's at the top. Machida is coming off of a win over Couture, but I think Machida needs another fight. But with the way my luck's gone lately, who knows? We'll see what happens."
When pressed as to why the organization wouldn't wait until the UFC 133 fight in order to allow the possibility of a Jones-Evans grudge match, White said it was all a matter of timing.
"Let's say, hypothetically speaking, Rashad Evans fights and he wins the fight against Phil Davis," White said. "Let's say he wins that fight in 30 seconds and comes out without a scratch, feels like a million bucks and is ready to go and wants to fight Jon Jones in December. We will have already shot the commercials. That stuff is three months out. It would be impossible to do."
White said promotion officials considered pulling Davis from the bout with Evans in order to book the fight with Jones, but with the status of the champion's injured right hand still in doubt, there was simply too much risk in tearing apart a sure thing.
"We talked about it," White said. "Could we have made that fight? Maybe. But with what's going on with us lately, we're not into maybes.
"They don't know the exact timeframe (for Jones' recovery), and maybe he would be ready to go. But maybe he wouldn't. We don't want to go on maybes. We knew Phil Davis could take the fight, so we made that fight.
"The other thing you don't want to do is have [Jones] start training again prematurely without knowing 100 percent (that the hand is healthy)."
Despite the confusion and uncertainties, White did want to dispel any notion that Jones was somehow "ducking" Evans or trying to avoid a fight with the former champion, as some fans and pundits (not to mention Evans) have suggested.
"There was never any ducking or dodging or anything," White said. "Never once did Jon Jones come to us and say, 'I don't want this Rashad fight right now.' Not even remotely close."
Jones and his camp have suggested the champ will be fine to fight come fall. White said he can't commit to a particular card for the light heavyweight phenom's next fight, but he believes fans will be impressed with what the UFC is planning next.
"Maybe September; maybe October," White said. "We've got a lot of things going on right now, and we're going to shake some [expletive] here pretty soon. We've got some fun stuff coming."
White on TUF, Pettis, Aldo, Lesnar, Maynard-Edgar III & More
LAS VEGAS – Following Wednesday's UFC 130 presser, UFC president Dana White spent an additional half-hour speaking with a small group of reporters, and the fiery exec opened up regarding numerous topics.
While MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has already covered several key issues, including the latest on potential matchups such as Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz and Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans, White addressed numerous additional pertinent points.
Among the most interesting were the futures of Brock Lesnar and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, the plan for the 14th season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and the continued shuffling of the UFC's lightweight division.
"TUF" coaches still a work in progress
With "The Ultimate Fighter 14" set to begin filming in less than two weeks, the promotion has yet to announce which two fighters will serve as opposing coaches. There's a good reason for that, White said: They don't know yet.
"Not yet," White said when asked if he had yet selected the coaches. "When I was driving here, I was on the phone working on that. There's things that I want to do, and I'm trying to do them. We'll see how it all plays out."
UFC brass had originally hoped to pair Chael Sonnen against Michael Bisping in what surely would have provided TV gold. But with Sonnen's recent suspension, the UFC was forced to scramble.
With a myriad of rumors floating around, White did rule out the possibility of St-Pierre and Diaz serving in the role.
As for who might serve as coaches, White said it doesn't necessarily have to be anyone hoping for a title shot or tat the company owes airtime. Instead, it's more about finding the proper fit for the show.
"It's not a reward," White clarified. "What we do is we look for guys that could go in and actually teach younger guys some stuff. They come in, and they bring in a team, and they mentor these younger guys."
White optimistic for Lesnar's return, says champ "in a good place"
June's UFC 131 event took a massive hit when former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was forced to withdraw from a planned No. 1 bout with Junior Dos Santos.
Stricken with a second case of diverticulitis, the same life-threatening illness that he battled in 2009, Lesnar's fighting future isn't yet known.
However, White said he recently spoke with the former professional wrestling superstar, and he appears to be in a good place, mentally.
"I talked to him a few days ago," White said. "His head's in a good place."
White said a Thursday visit to the doctor will reveal more on Lesnar's exact condition and recovery prognosis. But just as Lesnar has insisted retirement is not even an option, White remains optimistic that the heavyweight will return in early 2012.
"He has an appointment tomorrow at the Mayo Clinic," White said. "He's going to make some decisions as to what he's going to do, but he's in a good place right now.
"This black cloud hanging over the heavyweight division, I feel optimistic about it. I think it's going to turn out well for [Lesnar], and I'm hoping we can get him back by the first of the year."
Despite recent losses, "Cro Cop" will fight again
Former PRIDE grand prix winner Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic remains a legendary figure in MMA, but a pair of back-to-back knockout losses left many fight fans wondering if the 36-year-old Croatian was ready to hang up the gloves.
Following "Cro Cop's" UFC 128 loss to Brendan Schaub, White even admitted he was among those who felt Filipovic was best served by retirement. Today, however, White said Filipovic will instead fight again.
"This guy wants to fight again, and I owe him another fight," White said.
the UFC boss refused to change his stance on what he felt was best for Filipovic. But White said he doesn't believe the kickboxing specialist is in the same position UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell occupied following a 1-5 stint to end his career.
In that situation, White stepped in and essentially coerced his good friend into walking away from competition. White said he has an opinion on "Cro Cop," but he also has a deal in place that he feels obligated to honor.
"Do I think that he should have retired?" White asked. "Yeah. But I don't think he's in one of these situations where I felt Chuck Liddell needed to retire right then.
"Listen, [Filipovic] is a grown man, and if he wants to continue to fight, that's his right, and he still has a fight with me."
Of course, the UFC always reserves the right to release fighters following a defeat. However, that won't happen here, White insisted.
"We have a deal," White said. "'Cro Cop' and I made a deal, and 'Cro Cop' wants to fight again, so I'm going to honor my deal."
Pettis now two fights from belt, Edgar-Maynard III date not yet determined
Perhaps no one was more frustrated at Edgar and Maynard's UFC 125 draw than the WEC's final champion, Anthony Pettis. "Showtime" was promised a shot at the winner of the Janaury matchup, but when one emerged, he was forced to make a decision – wait on the sidelines or take another fight.
Pettis chose to fight on, and he'll now face Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale. As it turns out, Pettis decision was probably for the best, as injuries to both Edgar and Maynard saw that fight delayed until later this year.
The bad news for Pettis? A win over Guida doesn't assure him an immediate title shot. White admits the situation is unfortunate, but he figured Pettis will probably need to fight once more should he beat Guida while the rest of the division shakes out.
"That kid's in a bad position," White said. "He's supposed to be the next in line. All this craziness happens. [Edgar and Maynard] both get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. The first one is a draw, then they get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. But this is one of those things that happens in a sport like this.
"I respect [Pettis] for stepping up and taking on a tough guy like Guida, and he'll probably have to fight again before he gets a shot at one of those guys. Sucks for him. It's a [expletive] position for him to be in."
As for Edgar-Maynard III, White said he's not sure when that fight will happen. White said he'll check on both fighters' status in the next six-to-eight weeks, and the fight will then take place as quickly as possible.
"As soon as they're ready, we'll figure it out," White said. "It's going to depend on how long it takes these guys to heal – at the latest, eight weeks. They should be able to start training in eight weeks, both of them. Maybe six."
Aldo's return date not guaranteed
The MMA world was shocked to learn this past week that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo had withdrawn from a tentative UFC 133 fight with undefeated challenger Chad Mendes.
Some were even more shocked when Mendes elected to take a fight with Rani Yahya at UFC 133 rather than wait on the champ's return, which Aldo's camp insisted would be in September.
Today, White said there simply is no guarantee the champ would return by that date.
"That's a good question, and I honestly don't know the answer to that one," White said when asked by MMAjunkie.com for an update an Aldo's status. "He is hurt. He's got a problem with his shoulder."
Aldo's camp previously declined to name the nature of the injury but did say the champ was currently beginning six weeks of rehab. Today, White revealed that might not be the end of the line for the Brazilian slugger, which is why Mendes elected to stay busy rather than wait and hope.
"I think that the confusion might be that they don't know if [Aldo] is going to have to have surgery yet or not," White said. "He's going to try and rehab it, and then we'll see if he's going to have to have surgery."
"Dark era" DVDs unlikely to see the light of day
Hardcore UFC fans are among the most avid collectors of DVDs on the planet, with many enthusiasts boasting near-complete libraries of every UFC event ever held.
Unfortunately for U.S.-based fans, a number of events have never been released on DVD.
While in recent years, Lions Gate issued UFC 1 through UFC 12, UFC 13 through UFC 38 have never appeared on disc in the U.S. White said fans clamoring for the titles shouldn't expect them anytime soon, if ever.
However, the UFC boss did make an offer that he may soon regret. Send him an email, White said, and he'll just burn the damn things for you.
"I get asked that question all the time," White told MMAjunkie.com. "We do (own the footage). What happened was, when we bought the company and we started making the DVDs, there were some that we went back that we thought were good enough titles.
"You're talking about a group of people this big that collect the whole series. I'd like to know how big that number really is, and I'd rather just burn some [expletive] DVDs for them and give them to them. You go out, and you try and product these DVDs in that era of time, there's no shelf space (in stores). It's impossible to get out there and sell them.
"Email me, and I'll burn you a set."
LAS VEGAS – Following Wednesday's UFC 130 presser, UFC president Dana White spent an additional half-hour speaking with a small group of reporters, and the fiery exec opened up regarding numerous topics.
While MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has already covered several key issues, including the latest on potential matchups such as Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz and Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans, White addressed numerous additional pertinent points.
Among the most interesting were the futures of Brock Lesnar and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, the plan for the 14th season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and the continued shuffling of the UFC's lightweight division.
"TUF" coaches still a work in progress
With "The Ultimate Fighter 14" set to begin filming in less than two weeks, the promotion has yet to announce which two fighters will serve as opposing coaches. There's a good reason for that, White said: They don't know yet.
"Not yet," White said when asked if he had yet selected the coaches. "When I was driving here, I was on the phone working on that. There's things that I want to do, and I'm trying to do them. We'll see how it all plays out."
UFC brass had originally hoped to pair Chael Sonnen against Michael Bisping in what surely would have provided TV gold. But with Sonnen's recent suspension, the UFC was forced to scramble.
With a myriad of rumors floating around, White did rule out the possibility of St-Pierre and Diaz serving in the role.
As for who might serve as coaches, White said it doesn't necessarily have to be anyone hoping for a title shot or tat the company owes airtime. Instead, it's more about finding the proper fit for the show.
"It's not a reward," White clarified. "What we do is we look for guys that could go in and actually teach younger guys some stuff. They come in, and they bring in a team, and they mentor these younger guys."
White optimistic for Lesnar's return, says champ "in a good place"
June's UFC 131 event took a massive hit when former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was forced to withdraw from a planned No. 1 bout with Junior Dos Santos.
Stricken with a second case of diverticulitis, the same life-threatening illness that he battled in 2009, Lesnar's fighting future isn't yet known.
However, White said he recently spoke with the former professional wrestling superstar, and he appears to be in a good place, mentally.
"I talked to him a few days ago," White said. "His head's in a good place."
White said a Thursday visit to the doctor will reveal more on Lesnar's exact condition and recovery prognosis. But just as Lesnar has insisted retirement is not even an option, White remains optimistic that the heavyweight will return in early 2012.
"He has an appointment tomorrow at the Mayo Clinic," White said. "He's going to make some decisions as to what he's going to do, but he's in a good place right now.
"This black cloud hanging over the heavyweight division, I feel optimistic about it. I think it's going to turn out well for [Lesnar], and I'm hoping we can get him back by the first of the year."
Despite recent losses, "Cro Cop" will fight again
Former PRIDE grand prix winner Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic remains a legendary figure in MMA, but a pair of back-to-back knockout losses left many fight fans wondering if the 36-year-old Croatian was ready to hang up the gloves.
Following "Cro Cop's" UFC 128 loss to Brendan Schaub, White even admitted he was among those who felt Filipovic was best served by retirement. Today, however, White said Filipovic will instead fight again.
"This guy wants to fight again, and I owe him another fight," White said.
the UFC boss refused to change his stance on what he felt was best for Filipovic. But White said he doesn't believe the kickboxing specialist is in the same position UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell occupied following a 1-5 stint to end his career.
In that situation, White stepped in and essentially coerced his good friend into walking away from competition. White said he has an opinion on "Cro Cop," but he also has a deal in place that he feels obligated to honor.
"Do I think that he should have retired?" White asked. "Yeah. But I don't think he's in one of these situations where I felt Chuck Liddell needed to retire right then.
"Listen, [Filipovic] is a grown man, and if he wants to continue to fight, that's his right, and he still has a fight with me."
Of course, the UFC always reserves the right to release fighters following a defeat. However, that won't happen here, White insisted.
"We have a deal," White said. "'Cro Cop' and I made a deal, and 'Cro Cop' wants to fight again, so I'm going to honor my deal."
Pettis now two fights from belt, Edgar-Maynard III date not yet determined
Perhaps no one was more frustrated at Edgar and Maynard's UFC 125 draw than the WEC's final champion, Anthony Pettis. "Showtime" was promised a shot at the winner of the Janaury matchup, but when one emerged, he was forced to make a decision – wait on the sidelines or take another fight.
Pettis chose to fight on, and he'll now face Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale. As it turns out, Pettis decision was probably for the best, as injuries to both Edgar and Maynard saw that fight delayed until later this year.
The bad news for Pettis? A win over Guida doesn't assure him an immediate title shot. White admits the situation is unfortunate, but he figured Pettis will probably need to fight once more should he beat Guida while the rest of the division shakes out.
"That kid's in a bad position," White said. "He's supposed to be the next in line. All this craziness happens. [Edgar and Maynard] both get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. The first one is a draw, then they get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. But this is one of those things that happens in a sport like this.
"I respect [Pettis] for stepping up and taking on a tough guy like Guida, and he'll probably have to fight again before he gets a shot at one of those guys. Sucks for him. It's a [expletive] position for him to be in."
As for Edgar-Maynard III, White said he's not sure when that fight will happen. White said he'll check on both fighters' status in the next six-to-eight weeks, and the fight will then take place as quickly as possible.
"As soon as they're ready, we'll figure it out," White said. "It's going to depend on how long it takes these guys to heal – at the latest, eight weeks. They should be able to start training in eight weeks, both of them. Maybe six."
Aldo's return date not guaranteed
The MMA world was shocked to learn this past week that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo had withdrawn from a tentative UFC 133 fight with undefeated challenger Chad Mendes.
Some were even more shocked when Mendes elected to take a fight with Rani Yahya at UFC 133 rather than wait on the champ's return, which Aldo's camp insisted would be in September.
Today, White said there simply is no guarantee the champ would return by that date.
"That's a good question, and I honestly don't know the answer to that one," White said when asked by MMAjunkie.com for an update an Aldo's status. "He is hurt. He's got a problem with his shoulder."
Aldo's camp previously declined to name the nature of the injury but did say the champ was currently beginning six weeks of rehab. Today, White revealed that might not be the end of the line for the Brazilian slugger, which is why Mendes elected to stay busy rather than wait and hope.
"I think that the confusion might be that they don't know if [Aldo] is going to have to have surgery yet or not," White said. "He's going to try and rehab it, and then we'll see if he's going to have to have surgery."
"Dark era" DVDs unlikely to see the light of day
Hardcore UFC fans are among the most avid collectors of DVDs on the planet, with many enthusiasts boasting near-complete libraries of every UFC event ever held.
Unfortunately for U.S.-based fans, a number of events have never been released on DVD.
While in recent years, Lions Gate issued UFC 1 through UFC 12, UFC 13 through UFC 38 have never appeared on disc in the U.S. White said fans clamoring for the titles shouldn't expect them anytime soon, if ever.
However, the UFC boss did make an offer that he may soon regret. Send him an email, White said, and he'll just burn the damn things for you.
"I get asked that question all the time," White told MMAjunkie.com. "We do (own the footage). What happened was, when we bought the company and we started making the DVDs, there were some that we went back that we thought were good enough titles.
"You're talking about a group of people this big that collect the whole series. I'd like to know how big that number really is, and I'd rather just burn some [expletive] DVDs for them and give them to them. You go out, and you try and product these DVDs in that era of time, there's no shelf space (in stores). It's impossible to get out there and sell them.
"Email me, and I'll burn you a set."
TUF 14 Coaches: Mayhem & Bisping
Middleweights Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller will serve as coaches on the upcoming 14th season of "The Ultimate Fighter."
UFC president Dana White today confirmed the assignments with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). MMA.tv initially reported the selections.
The season begins filming in June and debuts on Spike TV in September.
Bisping (21-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Miller (24-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will meet in a season-ending fight at an event to be determined.
For the time in series history, "TUF 14" is expected to feature bantamweight and featherweight fighters. A 28-man, 32-slot tournament will be used. After an elimination round of fights, an official cast of 14 fighters will be determined. Two opening-round losers then will get second life as wild-card picks who fight for the eighth spot in the quarterfinal bracket.
Bisping, who won "TUF 3" and coached on "TUF 9," and Miller, who recently left Strikeforce and signed with the UFC, take the spots that were rumored to be going to a variety of fighters. Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber, Chael Sonnen, Brian Stann, Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz and others all had been speculated as possibilities.
Sonnen, in fact, had the spot opposite Bisping. But unable to get a second's ("cornerman") license due to his fight ongoing fight following a recent California State Athletic Commission, Sonnen instead was replaced by Miller. (Bisping said he was "gutted" by the decision.)
Miller, in fact, is slated to fight Aaron Simpson at July's UFC 132 event, though that fight is expected to be scratched.
Middleweights Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller will serve as coaches on the upcoming 14th season of "The Ultimate Fighter."
UFC president Dana White today confirmed the assignments with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). MMA.tv initially reported the selections.
The season begins filming in June and debuts on Spike TV in September.
Bisping (21-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Miller (24-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will meet in a season-ending fight at an event to be determined.
For the time in series history, "TUF 14" is expected to feature bantamweight and featherweight fighters. A 28-man, 32-slot tournament will be used. After an elimination round of fights, an official cast of 14 fighters will be determined. Two opening-round losers then will get second life as wild-card picks who fight for the eighth spot in the quarterfinal bracket.
Bisping, who won "TUF 3" and coached on "TUF 9," and Miller, who recently left Strikeforce and signed with the UFC, take the spots that were rumored to be going to a variety of fighters. Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber, Chael Sonnen, Brian Stann, Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz and others all had been speculated as possibilities.
Sonnen, in fact, had the spot opposite Bisping. But unable to get a second's ("cornerman") license due to his fight ongoing fight following a recent California State Athletic Commission, Sonnen instead was replaced by Miller. (Bisping said he was "gutted" by the decision.)
Miller, in fact, is slated to fight Aaron Simpson at July's UFC 132 event, though that fight is expected to be scratched.