Midnight Mania! Dana White says UFC might bring boxing under its umbrella

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight …

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Dana White is famous for just saying stuff. The UFC head honcho was at it again recently in a video interview with the Wall Street Journal. Transcript via MMAFighting.com:

“I could see bringing boxing under our umbrella and trying to see what we could do with that,” White told Jason Gay on “The Unnamed Podvideocast.” “I could see doing that.”

First of all, “The Unnamed Podvideocast” is the ultimate “someone else come up with something” name. Secondly, while “Zuffa Boxing” was seen on several T-shirts ahead of McGregor-Mayweather, Dana White becoming a boxing promoter seems unlikely, except perhaps for future large cross-promotional opportunities. The Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather spectacle was a one-time event that only made sense because of the magnitude of McGregor’s star power. The UFC did act as co-promoter in that fight. In most cases (including that one), promoters end up paying out a lot more to their top stars in boxing because of the Ali Act, which also changes contract negotiations and gives more power to the fighters.

As far as the longevity of his current career in the WME-IMG era, White says he’s still fully invested in his job.

“This is what I love to do,” White said. “I’m 48 years old. This is what I jump out of bed every day and I love doing. I love working with [WME-IMG co-CEO] Ari [Emanuel]. Ari and I actually get along really, really well. And then his other partner Patrick [Whitesell] is the nicest guy in the world. I couldn’t be in a better position. I couldn’t be doing it with better people. I’m good.”

“What people don’t understand is first of all, I’m still an owner,” White said. “I still have an ownership position in the UFC. And yeah, I signed a contract, but no contract can keep you anywhere. I could leave tomorrow if I wanted to. I obviously couldn’t go work for somebody else, but I could leave when I want to leave. I don’t want to leave.”

“No contract can keep you anywhere” is a good line. The hundreds of fighters the UFC has under contract, some of whom it engages in legal battles to keep from pursuing other opportunities, would be interested to hear that. The world is much different when you have hundreds of millions of dollars as UFC president, I suppose. You don’t have to seek other work in your area of expertise at that point. You can just go dive off your yacht all day long if you want to.

He also said, if he were to retire and pursue something else, it might be a surprise. Dana White wants to make education better in Las Vegas (though he didn’t get into the specifics of how).

“If I stopped doing this, one of the things that I would focus on is making education better in Las Vegas,” White said. “I would like to work on the schools and break down the system that’s in place now, because it’s a mess.”

White also riffed on the appeal of women’s MMA, where McGregor is at, the upcoming TV deal, and the ultimate goal of getting the UFC product on one UFC-owned platform.

Insomnia

Ronda Rousey’s acting career continues to go well … not:

Have been told that there is always a chance that she is brought in for a smaller, reduced role due to Berg’s relationship with Ari Emanuel

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 23, 2017

I probably wouldn’t watch more hockey if more hockey players did this, because the Internet would bring these GIFs my way. But I would appreciate it nonetheless.

Would you watch more hockey if players did this? #Supermanpunch @ELaw31 @codywinkle53 @MacMallyMMA @mmajapjunkie

pic.twitter.com/aYcKOfqaAM

— CFouillard_6™ (@ChadFouillard_6) October 25, 2017

Claudia Gadelha has a new puppy!

Ele cortou as unhas hoje pela primeira vez. Hahaha ❤️ #filho #pablogadelha #babybull #bullterrier #bullterrierlovers #son

A post shared by Claudia Gadelha – Official (@claudiagadelha) on Oct 24, 2017 at 5:14pm PDT

I don’t at all believe this actually works, but placebo effects can be important and Derrick Lewis is willing to try anything to fix his back, I’m sure.

@bodymechanicmvp got me feeling good for the night

A post shared by Derrick Lewis (@thebeastufc) on Oct 24, 2017 at 7:12pm PDT

The real Jon Jones is a cool dude and this video, with the interview, is great.

.@JonJones opens up on years of receiving angry tweets meant for @JonnyBones in this hilarious parody video. Q&A: https://t.co/3L5jje22Dh pic.twitter.com/t90PMbJolZ

— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) October 24, 2017

I’ve seen this with my girlfriend. Forrest Griffin might as well call in sick now.

Gonna play a drinking game where every time someone on @FixerUpperFans says shiplap I take a drink… might not make it to work tomorrow

— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) October 25, 2017

Daniel Cormier hyped to do a hype video is the most relatable thing I saw online today:

This was so cool to do. I’ve been seeing these for years. Was cool to be able to be apart of it. #brunsonvsmachida let’s go!!!!! https://t.co/UPvj3lKmU8

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 24, 2017

Brunson vs Machida.

It’s fight week in Brazil. #UFCSP pic.twitter.com/C0a8Q8KvmE

— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2017

Sage is becoming self-aware … and he evidently likes being compared to Ivan Drago (who wouldn’t, right?)

#Repost @KamuraShops pic.twitter.com/SYhTlgSArk

— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) October 24, 2017

Kristina Williams, who broke the nose of pro boxer Heather Hardy with a headkick at Bellator over the weekend, says she learned to kick from her horses:

I love to fight, but my horses more! Where do you think I learned to kick like that? #Horses #MMA #BellatorMMA #WarhorseMMA #Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/56malkaUzA

— Kristina Williams (@WarhorseMMA) October 24, 2017

Darren Till pushing Mike Perry from the rankings is poetic.

Darren Till rockets from unranked to #8 after #UFCGdansk, consequently pushing #15 Mike Perry out and causing all sort of mix-ups. pic.twitter.com/YFpFTpPWJR

— Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) October 24, 2017

Rashad Evans with a very large lizard or a baby dragon. Not sure which:

Haters gonna say this is photoshopped… lol @tyrone_spong let them know..

A post shared by Suga Rashad Evans (@sugarashadevans) on Oct 23, 2017 at 2:48pm PDT

Some very old mixed martial arts history for you.

112 years ago today Jiu-Jitsu defeats savate as Ernest Regnier submits George Debois outside Paris. https://t.co/WO5GY7mN3r pic.twitter.com/QVdOF1w41a

— John S. Nash (@heynottheface) October 24, 2017

Regnier was a good but not successful wrestler who then studied jujutsu in London with former Bartitsu instructors Yukio Tani & Taro Miyake. pic.twitter.com/rdotnBb09Z

— John S. Nash (@heynottheface) October 24, 2017

Slips, Rips, and KO Clips

You know the drill.

Falcon Knee!

pic.twitter.com/quumNsThHt

— Brody Armbar (@ntsprsts) October 24, 2017

Six minutes of elbow knockouts …

Podcasts and Video

Episode 3 of the MMA Outsiders is up, with Andrew Richardson and ATT strength and conditioning coach Phil Daru. Follow MMA Mania on Youtube

The Fight Society Podcast:

New #FightSociety podcast with the champ @joannamma and @ColbyCovMMA plus we talk GSP, #UFC217 and much more https://t.co/PUf4he2xKh

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) October 24, 2017

Check us out on SoundCloud as well as iTunes and Stitcher on the official MMA Mania channel!

Random Land

Go Houston!

Houston checking in tonight pic.twitter.com/8Qe311uHs3

— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) October 22, 2017

This is NSFW, just FYI. Also … she has bare feet. Disgusting

Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight …

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Dana White is famous for just saying stuff. The UFC head honcho was at it again recently in a video interview with the Wall Street Journal. Transcript via MMAFighting.com:

“I could see bringing boxing under our umbrella and trying to see what we could do with that,” White told Jason Gay on “The Unnamed Podvideocast.” “I could see doing that.”

First of all, “The Unnamed Podvideocast” is the ultimate “someone else come up with something” name. Secondly, while “Zuffa Boxing” was seen on several T-shirts ahead of McGregor-Mayweather, Dana White becoming a boxing promoter seems unlikely, except perhaps for future large cross-promotional opportunities. The Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather spectacle was a one-time event that only made sense because of the magnitude of McGregor’s star power. The UFC did act as co-promoter in that fight. In most cases (including that one), promoters end up paying out a lot more to their top stars in boxing because of the Ali Act, which also changes contract negotiations and gives more power to the fighters.

As far as the longevity of his current career in the WME-IMG era, White says he’s still fully invested in his job.

“This is what I love to do,” White said. “I’m 48 years old. This is what I jump out of bed every day and I love doing. I love working with [WME-IMG co-CEO] Ari [Emanuel]. Ari and I actually get along really, really well. And then his other partner Patrick [Whitesell] is the nicest guy in the world. I couldn’t be in a better position. I couldn’t be doing it with better people. I’m good.”

“What people don’t understand is first of all, I’m still an owner,” White said. “I still have an ownership position in the UFC. And yeah, I signed a contract, but no contract can keep you anywhere. I could leave tomorrow if I wanted to. I obviously couldn’t go work for somebody else, but I could leave when I want to leave. I don’t want to leave.”

“No contract can keep you anywhere” is a good line. The hundreds of fighters the UFC has under contract, some of whom it engages in legal battles to keep from pursuing other opportunities, would be interested to hear that. The world is much different when you have hundreds of millions of dollars as UFC president, I suppose. You don’t have to seek other work in your area of expertise at that point. You can just go dive off your yacht all day long if you want to.

He also said, if he were to retire and pursue something else, it might be a surprise. Dana White wants to make education better in Las Vegas (though he didn’t get into the specifics of how).

“If I stopped doing this, one of the things that I would focus on is making education better in Las Vegas,” White said. “I would like to work on the schools and break down the system that’s in place now, because it’s a mess.”

White also riffed on the appeal of women’s MMA, where McGregor is at, the upcoming TV deal, and the ultimate goal of getting the UFC product on one UFC-owned platform.

Insomnia

Ronda Rousey’s acting career continues to go well … not:

I probably wouldn’t watch more hockey if more hockey players did this, because the Internet would bring these GIFs my way. But I would appreciate it nonetheless.

Claudia Gadelha has a new puppy!

Ele cortou as unhas hoje pela primeira vez. Hahaha ?? #filho #pablogadelha #babybull #bullterrier #bullterrierlovers #son

A post shared by Claudia Gadelha – Official (@claudiagadelha) on

I don’t at all believe this actually works, but placebo effects can be important and Derrick Lewis is willing to try anything to fix his back, I’m sure.

@bodymechanicmvp got me feeling good for the night

A post shared by Derrick Lewis (@thebeastufc) on

The real Jon Jones is a cool dude and this video, with the interview, is great.

I’ve seen this with my girlfriend. Forrest Griffin might as well call in sick now.

Daniel Cormier hyped to do a hype video is the most relatable thing I saw online today:

Sage is becoming self-aware … and he evidently likes being compared to Ivan Drago (who wouldn’t, right?)

Kristina Williams, who broke the nose of pro boxer Heather Hardy with a headkick at Bellator over the weekend, says she learned to kick from her horses:

Darren Till pushing Mike Perry from the rankings is poetic.

Rashad Evans with a very large lizard or a baby dragon. Not sure which:

Haters gonna say this is photoshopped… lol @tyrone_spong let them know..

A post shared by Suga Rashad Evans (@sugarashadevans) on

Some very old mixed martial arts history for you.

Slips, Rips, and KO Clips

You know the drill.

Falcon Knee!

Six minutes of elbow knockouts …

Podcasts and Video

Episode 3 of the MMA Outsiders is up, with Andrew Richardson and ATT strength and conditioning coach Phil Daru. Follow MMA Mania on Youtube

The Fight Society Podcast:

Check us out on SoundCloud as well as iTunes and Stitcher on the official MMA Mania channel!

Random Land

Go Houston!

This is NSFW, just FYI. Also … she has bare feet. Disgusting

Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality