Tag: Dana White

Dana White: WEC, UFC to Merge in 2011

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World Extreme Cagefighting is merging with its sister organization the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In the video interview below, Dana White exclusively confirmed that the merger will take place in January 2011. In addition, White said that four UFC events will air live on Versus in 2011.

The final two WEC cards will air on the cable network on Nov. 11 and Dec. 16, which means that starting next year, the UFC will absorb WEC’s 135, 145 and 155 weight classes.

White explained the timing of the decision and what this means for all parties involved. He also provided updates on what’s next for Brock Lesnar and Tito Ortiz, as well as his take on the Undertaker-Lesnar exchange following UFC 121.

Filed under: , , , , ,

World Extreme Cagefighting is merging with its sister organization the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In the video interview below, Dana White exclusively confirmed that the merger will take place in January 2011. In addition, White said that four UFC events will air live on Versus in 2011.

The final two WEC cards will air on the cable network on Nov. 11 and Dec. 16, which means that starting next year, the UFC will absorb WEC’s 135, 145 and 155 weight classes.

White explained the timing of the decision and what this means for all parties involved. He also provided updates on what’s next for Brock Lesnar and Tito Ortiz, as well as his take on the Undertaker-Lesnar exchange following UFC 121.

The History of the WEC: A Timeline

Filed under: UFC, WEC, FanHouse ExclusiveWorld Extreme Cagefighting, an event with humble beginnings as an entertainment program for an Indian reservation casino in California, will join the MMA’s World Series when it merges with the UFC in 2011.

Ove…

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World Extreme Cagefighting, an event with humble beginnings as an entertainment program for an Indian reservation casino in California, will join the MMA’s World Series when it merges with the UFC in 2011.

Over the past decade, the WEC has succeeded in spotlighting lighter weight fighters as well as the creating of stars such as Urijah Faber, Jose Aldo and Miguel Torres, whom otherwise might not have received the same amount of recognition.

Let’s take a look back at the history of the WEC after the jump.

Better Late Than Never: UFC-WEC Merger Is Long Overdue

Filed under: UFC, WECIt’s about time. After years of operating the WEC as a little brother organization to the UFC, Zuffa has finally decided to do the sensible thing and bring all its fighters under one roof. It was a long wait, but at least it’s over…

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It’s about time. After years of operating the WEC as a little brother organization to the UFC, Zuffa has finally decided to do the sensible thing and bring all its fighters under one roof. It was a long wait, but at least it’s over.

The way UFC president Dana White tells it, this was all about timing. It was the perfect plan and now is the perfect time to implement it. Then again, White’s never been afraid to indulge in a little revisionist history when it suits him, so take that explanation with a grain of salt.

The truth is, the WEC has long suffered from the same branding problem that every other competing MMA organization has faced. To many casual fans, the UFC is MMA. That’s great for the industry leader, but not so great for little brother. That’s why, as exciting as the WEC fights have been, ratings have lagged.

The Big Announcement: UFC Absorbs WEC, Featherweights/Bantamweights Debut in January

(Props: MMAFighting)
The cat’s out of the bag, and the "major announcement" turned out to be pretty damn major after all. Dana White announced during a media call today that the UFC is absorbing the WEC beginning in January 2011; the UFC…

(Props: MMAFighting)

The cat’s out of the bag, and the "major announcement" turned out to be pretty damn major after all. Dana White announced during a media call today that the UFC is absorbing the WEC beginning in January 2011; the UFC will now feature seven championship weight classes. Here’s how it’ll work…

– Jose Aldo is automatically the UFC Featherweight Champion; he’ll defend his UFC featherweight title at UFC 125 on January 1st against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

– WEC 53 (December 16th; Glendale, Arizona) will be the final WEC event. The winner of the bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz and Scott Jorgensen will become the UFC Bantamweight Champion. The winner of the lightweight title fight between Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis will automatically face the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125.

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ESPN Host’s Remark That UFC is Starting Its Own TV Network Fuels Speculation That Announcement is Imminent

It may have been a speculative remark fueled by an interview Dana White did with Broadcasting Cable this week in which the UFC president intimated that his promotion was considering starting its own television network, but to many MMA news sites…

It may have been a speculative remark fueled by an interview Dana White did with Broadcasting Cable this week in which the UFC president intimated that his promotion was considering starting its own television network, but to many MMA news sites, an eight-second conversation the hosts of ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption show had on the subject yesterday was enough to prompt speculation that this is the major announcement that will be made during today’s media conference call.

Here’s what White told BC’s Ben Grossman:

"A lot of people don’t realize we are in a half a billion homes around the world. You know all the things we’ve been through in the United States, but this sport travels well. Cricket will never be big here and the NFL will never be big around the world. But we are all human beings and fighting is in our DNA. We get it and we like it. So we are working on a couple moves now and should be in a billion homes around the world in the next couple months. Sports Business Journal just came out with a survey asking big names in the industry which sport could start its own network and 4 out of 5 said us. They are right. I agree. That will happen within the next couple years.You are starting to see now ESPN is starting to cover us more. I think this is one of those things ESPN will probably kick themselves in 10 years saying, ‘We could have fucking had that.’"

It is possible that if it is true that ESPN got wind of the news, considering they have a deal to broadcast UFC events and to produce satellite pre and post-event MMA Live programs, but it’s more likely that PTI is just throwing the scenario out there to create dialogue on the possibility.

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Wednesday Morning MMA Link Club: Y’Ever Notice How White People Eat Sandwiches?

(Cain Velasquez and George Lopez enjoy a PBJ and milk in honor of Brock Lesnar’s cracker-ass heritage. Props: fpvault)
– Five Lessons: UFC 121 Edition (Versus MMA Beat)
– Cesar Gracie Says Jake Shields Is the Guy to Beat GSP (FightMagazine)
…

(Cain Velasquez and George Lopez enjoy a PBJ and milk in honor of Brock Lesnar’s cracker-ass heritage. Props: fpvault)

– Five Lessons: UFC 121 Edition (Versus MMA Beat)

– Cesar Gracie Says Jake Shields Is the Guy to Beat GSP (FightMagazine)

– Dana White: Brock Lesnar Is Not Going Back to WWE (LowKick)

– Court McGee Not Entirely Pleased With Performance in UFC 121 Win (MMA Fighting)

– The IRS Put a Lien On James Toney’s UFC 118 Fight Purse (MMA Convert)

– Marquardt vs. Okami Winner Guaranteed Title Shot (Heavy.com/MMA)

– Bellator Finalizes Line-Up for Thursday Night’s Season-Ending Event (Five Ounces of Pain)

– Playboy Playmate LaTasha Marzolla Gets Her Arm Snapped in an MMA Bout (MiddleEasy)

– Herb Dean Talks Refereeing and Judging and His New Line of Condoms (MMA Scraps)

– UFC President Dana White Talks Jon Jones, Jose Aldo on the Fight Fix (SBNation.com/MMA)