Speaking with Sherdog, UFC president Dana White lays out his plans for the promotion’s future, with or without a few of its biggest stars. When it comes to former welterweight and middleweight champions Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva, White insists moving on from two of the UFC’s biggest Pay-Per-View draws is just business as usual.
“Back in the day, everybody was going ‘what are you going to do when Chuck Liddell’s gone? What are you gonna do when this guy’s gone, that guy’s gone.’ I mean I’ve been hearing this for 15 years. What do we talk about behind the scenes? Nothing. We literally don’t talk about anything. Georges St-Pierre said he wanted to reti– … He wants to go handle his stuff and take some time off. We haven’t talked about Georges St-Pierre since. We haven’t called Georges St-Pierre. We’re letting Georges St-Pierre have his time. If Georges St-Pierre decides he wants to come back and fight, then he can come back and fight. If he doesn’t … Me and Lorenzo [Fertitta] are flying down tomorrow to [Los Angeles] to see Anderson, just to go see him, because he’s been injured. If Anderson Silva never wants to fight again, that’s up to him.”
See the video below for more on White’s plans for 2014, growth in a rough economy and global expansion.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
UFC on FOX 11. Werdum vs. Browne, Tate vs. Carmouche set for Orlando on Apr. 19.
12-stepper. Josh Barnett outlines his plan for returning to MMA dominance.
Free agent. Dan Henderson says he and the UFC aren’t too close on hammering out a new deal. “I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say I was insulted, but I know what they’re trying to accomplish and trying to get everybody for as cheap as they can.”
New contract. Unlike Henderson, Travis Browne has signed ‘a multi fight deal that will take him well into 2016.’
Questions and problems. The crew over at Bloody Elbow has some major security concerns regarding UFC’s Fight Pass, namely, how the system stores users’ passwords and credit card information.
It’s Tuesday, so make sure to check out The MMA Hour featuring Dave Meltzer, Dan Henderson, Charlie Brenneman, Alliance Training Center head coach Eric Del Fierro, Stefan Struve and Josh Barnett.
MEDIA STEW
Silva rehabbing with video games.
Sara McMann talks stopping Ronda Rousey’s arm bar.
Portuguese interview with Silva. No english subtitles but still interesting.
Conor McGregor on Irish TV.
Jessica Aguilar’s last vlog before her WSOF title fight this weekend.
First promo for ONE FC: WAR OF NATIONS.
Long watches.
REBEL FC 1 : Into the Lion’s Den main card
Knuckle Up #435: The Lies-Rumor Round-Up, Belfort-Machida-Jacare Axis Powers, Nate & Khabib
TWEETS
As some thought.
Im not waiting for a title shot Ill fight tomorrow….
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) January 14, 2014
More back and forth.
@TeamKhabib let’s make this happen @ufc 172 call joe and ask him to set it up! What do u think @danawhite
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) January 13, 2014
@TeamKhabib @ufc @danawhite yea u think so either way were gonna fight sooner or later I’m not going anywhere but to the top!
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) January 13, 2014
@FollowTheMenace @ufc @danawhite As you go up, and soon we will fight!!
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 13, 2014
Conspiracy theories.
My perception is that Bellator wants him as champ so bad not only does he get immediate rematch but gets it in… http://t.co/CCIMxHSpA6
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) January 13, 2014
@daniel07572909 when I see a contract I sign on the line. No matter when, no matter where, no matter who it’s against. This is my job
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) January 14, 2014
Could be.
@bisping UFC 172 is at the end of April. Your eye and everything else should be 100% by then. Is that a convenient time to get beat up?
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) January 13, 2014
New homes.
Excited to announce I will be taking my talents 2 @BellatorMMA thanks @BjornRebney for chance to shine on the big stage @MikeKogan @HDMMA
— LC Davis (@lc_davis) January 13, 2014
I’m back in that saddle can’t wait to fight again, thanks @TitanFighting it’s gonna be a blood bath!!
— matthew riddle (@riddletuf7) January 13, 2014
I rolled with Dave once right when he was starting out. Strongest human I’ve ever … touched(?) Congrats!
@CesarGracieBJJ Thanks for the promotion. Proud to represent Gracie Fighter. #dreamchaser pic.twitter.com/BrWbENmisW
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) January 14, 2014
GSP shirt $10 cheaper?
#GSP and I on the #Affiction website marketing our shirts. So strange to know that we both had our… http://t.co/7bFw1zM6r3
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) January 13, 2014
Impressive.
This has to be THE funniest/coolest most athletic (or luckiest) thing Ive ever seen! I’m dying!… http://t.co/WiO6ikNRGD
— chad mendes (@chadmendes) January 14, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Jan. 13 2014)
David Grant vs. Roland Delorme at UFC Fight Night 37
Renee Forte vs. Frank Trevino at UFC 171
Daniel Straus vs. Pat Curran at Bellator 112
Travis Browne vs. Fabricio Werdum at UFC on FOX 11
Liz Carmouche vs. Miesha Tate at UFC on FOX 11
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via wolfman13.
UFC Fight Night 35 Main Card: Behind the Records Part 3
Next Wednesday UFC Fight Night 35 will be airing on Fox Sports 1, with the main event between Luke Rockhold and Costas Philippou. Prior to that there will be 11 more fights with fighters ranging from the Top 15 of the UFC to several making their debuts under the bright lights of the UFC. This is the breakdown of the fighters and their records on the prelims.
In each record break down you will see a fighters overall record, the record of their last 5 bouts and the record they obtained fighting in the UFC or other major organization. In addition there is the winning percentage, finishing percentage and the number of (T)KO’s and submissions in their records. Their stance, height and reach are all listed as well. On the far right are the significant striking accuracy, striking defense, takedown accuracy and take down defense percentages provided by Fight Metric from their websites.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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