Last May, for the first time in 11 years, UFC President Dana White was nowhere to be found during a UFC event. As his two headliners, Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier, engaged in what many considered to be the ‘Fight of the Year,’ White was back home, watching UFC on FUEL 3 on television due to a rare inner ear condition called Meniere’s disease, which cripples a person’s hearing and balance centers, while also causing severe vertigo and a feeling of heavy pressure inside the ear.
Needless to say, between an endless flight schedule and supremely high stress level, White’s lifestyle isn’t exactly conducive to being sick. So it’s not surprising that White has lobbying for corrective surgery for the better part of the last five months.
Doctors were initially reluctant to perform such major surgery on someone so young. However, that no longer seems to be the case.
“Saw the [doctor] today about my Meniere’s and I’m getn [sic] the surgery when I get home from Brazil!!!!!” White tweeted late Thursday night.
According to WedMD, surgery for Meniere’s disease is highly invasive and can result in permanent damage to an individual’s hearing. During the procedure, doctor’s essentially cut the nerve inside one’s ear that controls hearing and balance. White has talked about the surgery in the past, and how it requires a minimum of three weeks of intensive rehab to relearn basic motor functions, such as walking.
None of this sounds pleasant at all, so we wish Dana good luck and good health in advance of next week.
6 MUST-READ STORIES
White to undergo surgery. Following the completion of UFC 153, UFC President Dana White is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct his Meniere’s Disease. According to White, the surgery involves cutting a nerve inside his ear and requires a minimum of three intensive weeks of rehabilitation to relearn how to walk.
Jones warming on Sonnen. UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones tweeted out Thursday night: “The more I realize how bad the fans want me to fight [Chael] Sonnen, the more I am beginning to disregard whether he deserves it or not.”
Silva says no to Jones superfight, White disagrees. Speaking at yesterday’s pre-fight press conference, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva said of his future, “Look, there are many possibilities, but fighting Jon Jones is one that is not possible. There’s no way.” To that, Dana White promptly responded to a fan, “It will.”
Bonnar reflects. A reflective Stephan Bonnar said he feels the scene is set for something special to happen on Saturday night. Later, when asked if he ever considered turning the Silva fight down, Bonnar appropriately answered, “No f—ing way.”
Matchmaker on Johnson release. UFC matchmaker Joe Silva explained the behind-the-scenes chain of events that led to DaMarques Johnson’s release, defending his decision by stating, “I never pressure anyone to take late notice fights. I got a bunch of guys who want to fight. If one says no, I will find someone else. No problem.”
UFC eyeing 2013 Brazil stadium show. UFC managing director of international development Marshall Zelaznik said interest in staging a UFC event in a Brazilian soccer stadium remains very high, as UFC officials are targeting a date in the second half of 2013.
MEDIA STEW
Seriously guys, all the parallels to Rocky IV are starting to sweet-talk the irrational thoughts buzzing across my brain. What happens if Stephan Bonnar wins? (International geo-blocked users, see if this helps.)
Whether you like it or not, 15:40 is still one of the coolest moments ever to take place inside the Octagon. (Click to watch.)
Who knew Chess Boxing was actually a real thing? Somebody alert the Wu-Tang Clan immediately.
(HT: MiddleEasy)
Vintage Big Nog: nearly gets knocked out, somehow wins. Seriously, is there anybody who doesn’t love watching this guy fight? (Click to watch.)
Wait, The Simpsons brought back Artie Ziff?
(HT: Reddit)
GOOD LUCK, BOSS
Saw the Dr today about my menieres and I’m getn the surgery when I get home from Brazil!!!!! 🙂 #getmyfuknlifeback
— Dana White (@danawhite) October 11, 2012
COMIN’ AROUND
The more I realize how bad the fans want to see me fight Sonnen the more I am beginning to disregard whether he deserves it or not
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2012
A part of me wants to do it for the fans the other part of me feels as if it delegitimizes the importance of championship
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2012
A REBUTTAL
You don’t GIVE.I TAKE.Remembah that, Bonesie-Boy @jonnybones
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) October 12, 2012
HUGHES WEIGHS IN
@danawhite at least he’s man enough to take all the responsibility. When you say “yes” its all on the fighter.
— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) October 12, 2012
THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS
Watch @stephanbonnar land a 360 spin kick van damme style at the open workout in Rio #UFCyfrog.com/j1548lbrtywnbb…
— Stephan Bonnar (@StephanBonnar) October 10, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, October 11, 2012):
N/A
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day sees Steve Borchardt return with: Rumors of Strikeforce’s demise an encouraging sign
If recent rumors prove to be true it would appear the demise of Strikeforce may be coming sooner rather than later. On this past Monday’s episode of Inside MMA host Kenny Rice confirmed that “multiple sources” were reporting the end was near for the business partnership between Showtime and Strikeforce. That these rumors have yet to make a big splash is indicative of just how moribund the Strikeforce brand has become since being purchased by Zuffa eighteen months ago. Strikeforce my have have once been the number two promotion in mixed martial arts, but right now it feels about as long for this Earth as Old Yeller after contracting rabies. For all parties involved it would be best to take the brand behind the shed and put it out of its misery as soon as possible.
Really there’s nothing to lose for either Showtime or Zuffa by parting ways. Showtime supposedly still wants to be in the MMA business but it’s hard to gain traction with a decimated roster populated by unknowns, journeymen, and a mere handful of fighters who can conceivably draw as headliners. When lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez was forced to withdraw from last month’s card in Sacramento due to injury, it was Showtime who made the call to pull the plug. Their position was that the show wouldn’t draw without Melendez, which speaks volumes about how thin Strikeforce’s current roster is.
Now there are rumblings that next month’s show in Oklahoma City on October 3rd may be in jeopardy as well, with Zuffa apparently unable to find an opponent for headliner Daniel Cormier and middleweight champ Luke Rockhold pulling out with a wrist injury. According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, Strikeforce has yet to submit a request for a promoter’s license to the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission. For those of you keeping track at home the only fight currently intact on the card is Jorge Masvidal vs. Bobby Green. No disrespect to either fighter, but it’s hard to see what Showtime can do besides cancel its second Strikeforce show in a row with nothing but a single bout between two mid-level fighters announced three weeks before the event.
The thing is though, these are by and large the kind of fighters that make up Strikeforce’s roster. Outside of the departing Cormier the only names Strikeforce has that can conceivably headline a card are Melendez, Rockhold, Nate Marquardt, and Ronda Rousey. When you factor in the injury bug that looks to be an inextricable part of MMA for the foreseeable future you are left with a situation where every Strikeforce show is like a precariously stacked house of cards that’s just one torn ACL from crumbling down.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in Monday’s column.