Tag: Dana White

Yoshihiro Akiyama Clarifies Recent Comments About Chris Leben

You may recall last week hearing the sobs of Wanderlei Silva fans around the world, as word came down that “The Axe Murderer” would not fight at UFC 116, due to multiple injuries. It was a tough couple of days, no doubt, but we got through it… together. Now the man that Silva was supposed to […]

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You may recall last week hearing the sobs of Wanderlei Silva fans around the world, as word came down that “The Axe Murderer” would not fight at UFC 116, due to multiple injuries. It was a tough couple of days, no doubt, but we got through it… together. Now the man that Silva was supposed to fight, Yoshihiro Akiyama, was in fact truly devastated that he would not fight the former Pride champion this Saturday. When informed he would fight Chris Leben instead of Wandy, Akiyama’s reaction was rather similar to when we’re told last call is over- not good. The renowned judo competitor stated Leben wasn’t “a big name,” and that further, a no show for UFC 116 might just be in the cards (yeah- that would have gone over real well…) .

Of course, thankfully, Akiyama made the trip overseas and is set to fight Leben tomorrow night, and in the meantime, the Japanese middleweight has apparently been doing a little bit of damage control. Talking to MMA Junkie this week, Akiyama tried to clarify his recent comments, that probably didn’t score many points with Leben and his supporters.

“I’m very familiar with Chris’ popularity in the States, but compared to Wanderlei overseas, he’s a much bigger name in Korea and Japan,” Akiyama said through an interpreter. “For me, to improve the popularity of MMA in Japan is one of my goals as well.”

It also sounds like all is well between Dana White and Akiyama, as the UFC Prez was quoted saying “I understood,” in regards to “Sexyama’s” bitter disappointment that he’s no longer fighting Silva. Should be a good bout regardless. To bet on the tilt head here.

Dana White, Fedor Emelianenko, and MMA’s Revisionist History

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceIt must be nice to have a memory as pleasantly selective as Dana White’s. It’s always there when he needs it, and it never fails to leave him feeling like the smartest guy in the room.

Take the recent upset loss that knock…

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It must be nice to have a memory as pleasantly selective as Dana White‘s. It’s always there when he needs it, and it never fails to leave him feeling like the smartest guy in the room.

Take the recent upset loss that knocked Fedor Emelianenko from the top spot in the heavyweight division. To hear White tell it, he alone saw through the outsized fiction of Fedor, so it doesn’t surprise him to see the Russian fall.

“I’ve been saying that forever, but the media overhyped this mythological creature that they thought was the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, which is just so…it’s so asinine and ridiculous,” he told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani in this video interview.

Stephan Bonnar: ‘Do or Die’ in Rematch With Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 116

Filed under: UFCWith three straight losses, Stephan Bonnar is feeling the pressure.

Despite UFC president Dana White’s statements in the past that Bonnar will always have a home in the organization thanks to his epic battle with Forrest Griffin in th…

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With three straight losses, Stephan Bonnar is feeling the pressure.

Despite UFC president Dana White’s statements in the past that Bonnar will always have a home in the organization thanks to his epic battle with Forrest Griffin in the finale of Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a fourth straight loss would have most fighters staring at a pink slip.

His last setback was a controversial TKO loss thanks to a cut from an inadvertent headbutt against Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 110 in Sydney. Bonnar appealed that decision, hoping to have the loss overturned to a no contest. That appeal was denied, the loss stood and Bonnar now finds himself in a must-win situation in his rematch with Soszynski on Saturday at UFC 116.

“I don’t think (losing the appeal) adds any pressure,” Bonnar said. “I already feel a ton of pressure. Every fight I usually do. But this one here, I’m kind of looking at like do or die. I want to be aggressive, throw lots of punches and just do everything I can to win. Usually, the faster the pace of the fight, the better I do. So I’m looking forward to him pushing the pace.”

Shogun Rua Out Until March, Leaving 205-Pound Division in Holding Pattern

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS — Rashad Evans won a light-heavyweight championship title opportunity when he beat Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in May, but he’s going to have to wait a while to cash in his golden ticket.

UFC President Dana White confirm…

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Shogun RuaLAS VEGAS — Rashad Evans won a light-heavyweight championship title opportunity when he beat Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in May, but he’s going to have to wait a while to cash in his golden ticket.

UFC President Dana White confirmed Thursday that current champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua won’t be back in the octagon for another eight months, likely returning in March 2011.

Dana White: I’ll Release Chuck Liddell if He Wants to Fight Again

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS — UFC President Dana White and former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell haven’t had a chance to sit down and talk since Liddell’s recent knockout at the hands of Rich Franklin.

That changes Thursday night. White…

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Chuck LiddellLAS VEGAS — UFC President Dana White and former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell haven’t had a chance to sit down and talk since Liddell’s recent knockout at the hands of Rich Franklin.

That changes Thursday night. White and Liddell are scheduled to have dinner, and though there is no official agenda, it’s quite likely the subject of fighting again will come up.

But White says this time, there will be no going back on his word. This time, there is no chance that Liddell can convince him for one more run in the octagon.

Dana White Talks UFC 116, TapouT Issue and Jake Shields

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsLAS VEGAS — MMA Fighting spoke to Dana White following Thursday’s UFC 116 pre-fight press conference about a whole host of topics.

White discussed if he ever thought Brock Lesnar would never fight for the UFC…

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LAS VEGAS — MMA Fighting spoke to Dana White following Thursday’s UFC 116 pre-fight press conference about a whole host of topics.

White discussed if he ever thought Brock Lesnar would never fight for the UFC, whether Lesnar is the biggest draw in MMA, Yoshihiro Akiyama‘s initial reluctancy to fight Chris Leben, his thoughts on Fedor Emelianenko‘s recent loss, whether he got in the way of a TapouT deal with Emelianenko, his take on MMA’s future in New York and whether the UFC had signed Jake Shields.

All that and much more in the interview below.