Menu
We will be discussing Dana White’s post-fight press conference for UFC 293. Dana White, the president of the UFC, addressed various topics including the main event, the performance of fighters, and future plans for the organization. Let’s dive into the highlights of the press conference.
The main event of UFC 293 featured a highly anticipated middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. Dana White expressed his surprise at the outcome of the fight, stating, “You know, going into this, we didn’t know what was going to happen. This is the fight business, and anything can happen.” Adesanya, who was the dominant champion, lost the fight to Strickland, who came in as a 7 to 1 underdog. White commended Strickland for his performance, saying, “He came here, he beat the champion four rounds to one, and won the world title in impressive fashion.”
One of the standout fights of the night was the flyweight matchup between Manel Kape and a newcomer, Matheus Nicolau. White praised Kape for his durability and toughness, stating, “I love kids like him, who come in with the opportunity to win and give it their all.” He also mentioned that Kape has a bright future ahead of him in the UFC.
During the event, Manel Kape made some homophobic remarks in his post-fight speech. White acknowledged the issue, stating, “I think these guys get a little excited and make bad mistakes.” He compared Kape’s situation to a similar incident involving another fighter, Radke, who also made offensive remarks. White emphasized that they did not force Kape to apologize, but he did so on his own accord backstage. He added, “It’s how you recover from a mistake that matters, and Kape came out and apologized sincerely.”
With Adesanya’s loss, the question of an immediate rematch arose. White expressed his belief that a rematch between Adesanya and Strickland should happen. He mentioned that Adesanya may have overlooked Strickland due to his previous fight against Paulo Costa. White is eager to hear Adesanya’s thoughts on the matter and looks forward to booking the rematch.
Jack Jenkins suffered a gruesome injury during his fight, with his arm snapping in half. While White did not have specific medical updates, he mentioned that Jenkins’ elbow was dislocated. The severity of the injury was not specified.
White discussed the process of selecting bonuses for the night. He acknowledged the impressive performances of fighters like Alexander Volkov and Tyson Pedro, who both had notable finishes. White stated that Pedro deserved a bonus as well, and they would also be giving bonuses to other fighters who performed well. He mentioned that they consider various factors when selecting the bonuses, such as unique submissions or standout performances.
During the press conference, a question was raised about the possibility of introducing a finish bonus for any fighter who gets a finish, rather than selecting two or three fighters for performance bonuses. White responded that the current system works well for them, but it’s an interesting suggestion to consider.
White was asked about the inclusion of Fedor Emelianenko in the upcoming UFC game. He confirmed that Fedor will be in the game and mentioned that they didn’t have to fly to an island to get his permission. While the details of the agreement were not disclosed, White jokingly stated that they paid him an obscene amount of money.
White praised the performance of City Kickboxing, the gym that produced fighters like Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski. He mentioned that it’s incredible what the team has achieved and highlighted their dedication and training. He also acknowledged the support and fan base they have built in the region.
When asked about the possibility of hosting rematches like Strickland vs. Adesanya in the same region or overseas, White stated that it depends on how fast the fighters want them to come back. He mentioned that they are already planning fights up until March of next year, so the location of future events will be determined based on various factors.
White was asked about UFC 300 and whether it would take place in April. He stated that he didn’t have the details at the moment and they haven’t started planning for it yet. He mentioned that there are many things that will happen between now and then, so it’s too early to confirm anything.
White praised Laura Sanko for her debut as a commentator on the pay-per-view broadcast. He mentioned that the commentary team did an awesome job and that Sanko will definitely get more opportunities on pay-per-view in the future. He described her as a rock star and commended her skills in the role.
White was asked about the potential fight between Tyson Fury and Jon Jones after Fury’s upcoming fight with Francis Ngannou. He stated that they will see how things play out and didn’t provide any further details. When asked about his thoughts on Francis Ngannou getting the fight with Fury, White simply said, “Good for him.”
White was asked about the possibility of the UFC returning to Brisbane, Australia. He mentioned that they plan to go everywhere once the world is back to normal and heading in the right direction. He expressed his hope that they will be able to travel to places they haven’t been since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A question was raised about the debut of Tom Nolan, who is from the same area as the person asking the question. White stated that he doesn’t have a timeline for Nolan’s debut on the Dana White’s Contender Series. He didn’t provide any further information on the matter.
White was asked about Justin Tafa, who made weight as a backup fighter for the event. He didn’t provide any specific thoughts on Tafa but acknowledged his presence as a backup fighter.
White was asked if the card exceeded his expectations, considering the number of finishes and great fights. He responded that the card absolutely met his expectations. He mentioned that the main event didn’t go as expected, but overall, the card lived up to his expectations.
Tai Tuivasa as a Fan Favorite One of the questions raised during the press conference was about Tai Tuivasa and whether he falls into the category of fan favorite fighters whose stock never drops too much with a loss. White responded by saying that Tuivasa definitely fits into that category. He praised Tuivasa for his performance in the fight, stating that he fought a hell of a fight against a tough opponent. White also mentioned that the fight between Tuivasa and his opponent exceeded expectations, considering the size and power difference between the two fighters.
White was asked about Gabriel Miranda’s dominant submission victory over Shane Young. He didn’t provide any specific thoughts on Miranda’s future or the ceiling for him. However, he emphasized the importance of taking advantage of opportunities and shining in the big show. White mentioned that when fighters come in and perform well, it’s a big deal and opens up more opportunities for them.
There were rumors circulating about the possibility of an Auckland card, and White was asked about the truth behind them. He responded by saying that until they announce it, nothing is true. He mentioned that they often discuss possible matchups and locations during matchmaking sessions, but nothing is confirmed until they make an official announcement.
During the open workouts, Sean Strickland brought a fan on stage and had a sparring session with him. When asked about his thoughts on the situation, White admitted that he didn’t know what to think. He described Strickland as a different guy and couldn’t provide a clear answer to the question.
White was asked about Alexander Volkanovski’s next fight and whether Alex Pereira could find his way back into the middleweight title picture if he doesn’t succeed at light heavyweight. White didn’t have any specific information on Volkanovski’s next fight or Pereira’s future. He mentioned that they haven’t confirmed anything regarding Volkanovski’s next fight and he believes Pereira will stay at light heavyweight. White expressed that cutting back down to middleweight would be a significant weight cut for Pereira, who is already a monster in size.
In conclusion, Dana White addressed various topics during the post-fight press conference. He discussed the possibility of introducing a finish bonus, confirmed Fedor Emelianenko’s inclusion in the upcoming UFC game, praised City Kickboxing’s performance, and talked about the future plans for rematches and UFC 300. He also mentioned the debut of Laura Sanko as a commentator, the potential fight between Tyson Fury and Jon Jones, and the UFC’s plans to travel to different locations, including Brisbane. White couldn’t provide specific information on Tom Nolan’s debut, Justin Tafa as a backup fighter, and Gabriel Miranda’s future. He acknowledged the card exceeding expectations and Tai Tuivasa’s status as a fan favorite fighter. Finally, he addressed the rumors of an Auckland card, Sean Strickland’s interaction with a fan, and the future of Alexander Volkanovski and Alex Pereira.
BETMMA is the only free MMA betting platform that lets you get in on the action without having to spend your hard-earned money.