Yet another Dana White radio interview - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

Gygax · 11-30-2007, 09:04 AM

Yet another Dana White interview, this one with a radio station in Sacramento. Its a good listen in two parts. Scroll down the left side of the site to see the links for it. Definitely some interesting news in it.

For those too lazy (just kidding), here's the highlights as relayed by Sam Caplan at ProElite.

Quote:

UFC president Dana White was a guest earlier this week on the Carmichael Dave sportstalk radio show in on KHTK in Sacramento.

Dave has a longstanding relationship with White as a radio guest that dates back several years and always conducts great interviews with him.

During the course of the interview, a potential match between UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko was brought up.

White surprisingly responded to the question by saying "Never say never." When pressed for details, White gave no indication of any ongoing negotiations but commented that he has pulled off bigger things in the past and went on to add that he won't say he can't or won't make the fight happen.

White also revealed that he spoke with Couture the night before the KHTK interview took place. He offered little in the way of details and concluded by saying "We'll see what happens."

Other highlights from the length interview includes:

- White saying that PRIDE is "done." He said they couldn't get a TV deal done and they didn't want PRIDE to turn out like all the "other promotions out there."

- Responded to a question about Andrei Arlovski's status by saying he doesn't think Arlovski will end up fighting for anyone else.

- In regards to UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, White once again alluded to the fact that he has some major news regarding him that the UFC will be announcing soon.

- At the end of the interview White did an up sell for the upcoming taping of the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter. He confirmed that taping will begin in January and that they will be shaking things up. As an side, I am aware of some of the finalists that have been chosen for the final interview process and I can tell you that there are some interesting names under consideration. Look the the caliber of talent on the next season to be a major upgrade over the current season.

- Matt Lindland was brought up by a caller. White said that Lindland can be hard to deal with at times and that the UFC has talked a lot to him in the past. He left it off by saying that Lindland is doing other things right now. He didn't rule Lindland out but didn't give any hope that we'll see him competing in the UFC's middleweight division again anytime soon.

- White was asked about Nick Diaz. Like Lindland, White said that Diaz is also hard to deal with at times. He also said Diaz is a "little crazy" and that he can be his own worst enemy at times. However, he was also very complementary to him by saying that Diaz is a real fighter who will fight anyone. He said he'd bring Diaz back to the UFC "in a second."

- Scoring was brought up at one point and you should check out the whole interview to hear what White had to say. Another called asked about rounds and White said he'd like to see fights have more rounds. He indicated that his preference would be for regular fights to have five rounds and championship fights to go seven rounds. He added that it isn't the UFC's call and that it's up to the commissions.

- White didn't pass up an opportunity to rip all the magazines and websites that do rankings. He said that they shied away from doing their own rankings because people would see them as biased but that everyone else "is so bad at it" that the UFC is on the verge of coming up with their own ranking system.

- White took calls and one caller brought up the WEC and Carlos Condit. He asked if Condit would ever get a chance to fight the UFC welterweight champion. White seemed very happy that he was asked the question and said that UFC vs. WEC matches are a definite possibility in the future.

StratTone · 11-30-2007, 09:23 AM

Very nice read! Thanks.

twigz · 11-30-2007, 09:36 AM

Quote:

- Scoring was brought up at one point and you should check out the whole interview to hear what White had to say. Another called asked about rounds and White said he'd like to see fights have more rounds. He indicated that his preference would be for regular fights to have five rounds and championship fights to go seven rounds. He added that it isn't the UFC's call and that it's up to the commissions.

Now that could be a good and bad thing. A 5 round LnP would be awful and take up too much PPV time but I'm betting there would be more KO's. Extend the rounds and you better extend the PPV time...

T-Bone · 11-30-2007, 09:41 AM

Thanks Gygax...sometimes I'm lazy or am at work so I appreciate the breakdown.

Glad to see some Nick Diaz and Condit info.

Seems lots of fighters are "hard to deal with" according to Dana. Read - not pushovers.

Gygax · 11-30-2007, 09:42 AM

The hot rumor regarding the big announcement for Rampage Jackson is that he'll be a coach on the next season of TUF that starts filming in January. But the stronger whispers I'm hearing is that it might be friend vs friend, Rampage vs Tito Ortiz around Super Bowl weekend.

bayouboy · 11-30-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gygax

The hot rumor regarding the big announcement for Rampage Jackson is that he'll be a coach on the next season of TUF that starts filming in January. But the stronger whispers I'm hearing is that it might be friend vs friend, Rampage vs Tito Ortiz around Super Bowl weekend.

Wait...as in Tito would fight for the title or that Tito would be the other coach???

Gygax · 11-30-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bayouboy

Wait...as in Tito would fight for the title or that Tito would be the other coach???

Could be either but I'm hearing fight. Not saying I agree with it. For the hardcore fans it would be brutal. But the casual fans might eat that fight up. The question comes up, who else would be a legitimate opponent in the interim waiting for the Silva-Liddell winner, banking on Silva winning.

I also don't think Zuffa will want to tie the title up in TUF production again. But then again, who knows but them.

bayouboy · 11-30-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gygax

Could be either but I'm hearing fight. Not saying I agree with it. For the hardcore fans it would be brutal. But the casual fans might eat that fight up. The question comes up, who else would be a legitimate opponent in the interim waiting for the Silva-Liddell winner, banking on Silva winning.

I also don't think Zuffa will want to tie the title up in TUF production again. But then again, who knows but them.

Well, he earned it I guess

...but yea, that would be a huge ratings fight.

The-Iceman-Chuck-Liddell · 12-01-2007, 03:31 PM

Quote:

UFC President Dana White and UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture had a meeting last week to discuss Couture's future with the UFC. Dana White commented on the meeting and many other things via “The Carmichael Dave Show” on KHTK in Sacramento, Calif. He said that things between Couture and the UFC are up in the air at this point and "we'll see what happens next".

It is likely that Couture is taking time right now to make a decision based on what went on in the meeting.

White also had lots more interesting news to pass along, including the following:

-Spoke about possibly making the Couture-Fedor match up. Didn't rule it out saying that he could still make the fight.

-Spoke about Rampage, saying that he had something big planned for him. Rumors persist that Rampage will be one of the coaches on TUF 7.

-Addressed TUF 7 saying that there will be a major and exciting shake up to the series. The UFC is talking to some exciting names about participating this next time out.

-Said that he doesn't see Arlovski fighting anywhere else beside the UFC.

-Also said that he'd like to change the format of the rounds from 3 rounds for regular fights, and 5 for championship fights, to 5 and 7 respectively; but that it's up to the commissions not the UFC.

Update On The Rift Between Dana White And Randy Couture - MMAFightLine.com

It's good news about Arlovski.

subgenius · 12-01-2007, 03:53 PM

It would be awesome, if M-1 Global and the UFC had a co-event where they showcased their talent and had the main event Fedor-Couture. The UFC tried to have a cross over relationship with PRIDE. It could work with M-1. I may be just dreaimg, but I would pay big money for a UFC/M-1 event on PPV.

theEmpiric · 12-01-2007, 04:22 PM

From a business perspective, I do not see why Dana would Co-Promote with M1? All that it would do is give ALOT of exposure to the casual American fan. Even if Couture won, alot more people would now know the names of: Fedor, M-1. Just doesnt make sense to me? Unless ofcourse he KNOWS that Randy will wait out the 9months and do the fight regardless....?

Anyways, all good news. I hope they arent building up some BS thing for Rampage, and that it is truly a big one.

I wish they would sign Arlovski to fight already, too much down time. Maybe Vera/AA is in the works?

MasterMWM · 12-01-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theEmpiric

From a business perspective, I do not see why Dana would Co-Promote with M1? All that it would do is give ALOT of exposure to the casual American fan. Even if Couture won, alot more people would now know the names of: Fedor, M-1. Just doesnt make sense to me? Unless ofcourse he KNOWS that Randy will wait out the 9months and do the fight regardless....?

Anyways, all good news. I hope they arent building up some BS thing for Rampage, and that it is truly a big one.

I wish they would sign Arlovski to fight already, too much down time. Maybe Vera/AA is in the works?

Hit the nail on the head Empiric. Dana imo will never promote a competitor theses day expecially after trying to cross-market with Pride. Dana will probably try to crush M-1 to make a point to Fedors Managment for not signing with them.

OneTwoPunch · 12-01-2007, 04:33 PM

I can't wait to see Arlovski in the cage again.

OneBigThrow · 12-01-2007, 04:40 PM

5-7 rounds is a little much, i dont want that at all but i am glad he has an opinion

i think 5 rounds for certain big non-title fights is good enough i.e. chuck/wanderlei

ephi · 12-02-2007, 08:17 AM

5 rounds for all fights is good. 7 rounds is too long. Title fights have a belt and a title to separate them from other fights, they don't need additional rounds as well.
5 rounds gives fighters more time to eliminate the judges from the fight and in some cases would encourage fighters to try harder to end it early and not coast to a decision.
I'm anxious to see aa fight again soon too.

subgenius · 12-02-2007, 09:54 AM

Well, Dana White said he could make it happen. I mean the Fedor-Couture match. What else could it mean? Maybe, since Fedor's M-1 Global contract is supposedly not exclusive, then Fedor can still come and fight in the UFC. If the UFC made an exception to the championship exclusivity clause. Hmm, I don't know. That sets a bad precedent. But, what else could DW do in this situation? Either he shares the best toy (the Fedor-Couture match) with M-1, or he makes an exception to championship exclusivity.

OneStepAhead · 12-02-2007, 11:10 AM

I just drooled at the thought of a M1/UFC Event. Seven rounds seems a wee bit much for an MMA fight although I do like the idea of making more fights 5 rounds.

FightingIrish · 12-02-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneStepAhead

I just drooled at the thought of a M1/UFC Event. Seven rounds seems a wee bit much for an MMA fight although I do like the idea of making more fights 5 rounds.

I agree with the M1/UFC event, that sounds really good. But I'm not a fan of having more rounds, then we would only get like 3 or 4 fights every PPV (unless they all end in like the first round), also we would see alot of guys not being able to make it to round 4. All the fighters would also have to make a huge part of there training cardio.

fullonshred · 12-02-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bone

Thanks Gygax...sometimes I'm lazy or am at work so I appreciate the breakdown.

Glad to see some Nick Diaz and Condit info.

Seems lots of fighters are "hard to deal with" according to Dana. Read - not pushovers.

Or as I was gonna post before I saw your excellent take.......

Hard to deal with = "They won't do exactly what I tell them to do. They have ideas of their own."

StratTone · 12-03-2007, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twigz

Now that could be a good and bad thing. A 5 round LnP would be awful and take up too much PPV time but I'm betting there would be more KO's. Extend the rounds and you better extend the PPV time...

Yeah I agree. I would hate 5 round fights and 7 round title fights. UFC and MMA rocks because of the pace the low round fights set. If it were longer rounds we would be bored to tears far to many times.