White's announcement next week: my speculation

by pr0cs on Jun 6, 2008 12:42 PM EDT Comment 12 comments

regarding Dana White's comments at ESPN :

There's something no one else has heard. You have no idea some of the stuff that we have planned. I'm going to make an announcement next week that is going to blow people's minds. That deal is done, but my employees don't even know yet. I'm renting out a place next Thursday and I'm going to tell them. Then we'll make the announcement later that day. It's an indicator of where this business is going over the next five years."

My picks:
#1 - announcement of MMA legalization in New York, White has stated that he was in New York leading up to 85 and has to fly back after the show in England to New York
#2 - TV deal with major player, perhaps Fox
#3 - Announcement of fight promotion overseas, perhaps Phillipines

It will not be:
- grand prix of any kind, they won't likely ever do grand prixs
- womens' division of UFC, most of the decent female fighters are locked up and White has stated that there simply aren't enough Female fighters to make a competitive division.
- cross promotion, I would expect White to quit the UFC before he ever cross promotes with any other organization

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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I can’t see legalized MMA in New York, or a Phillipines show as blowing peoples minds.

It could be a network TV deal, but god I hope it’s not Fox (or Fox affiliate). I’m happy with on spike, to be honest.

I think more likely they signed some big name, or cross promotional fight (Liddel vs Fedor? Naah)

by mythbuster on Jun 6, 2008 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

White has the ability to blow certain things out of proportion. I’m trying to put two and two together and since he’s been in and out of New York the last week and continuing next week I’m presuming it has something to do with New York. I don’t know if I consider Phillipines as a big deal but to him it might be, Vera is treated like a rockstar there so perhaps there is a big market there now.

I still can’t believe they got another TV deal, I’d like to believe it as hopefully it would mean more free fights. Fox would be fine for me (though it would be odd to have their news segment bad-talk MMA again).

I can’t see them renting a room for their employees (as White suggests they’re doing) to announce a big name fighter.

by pr0cs on Jun 6, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree!

I can see white Blowing the whole New York thing out of proportion! Especially if Hughes beats Alves! And vera can beat Werdum! Both if’s! I can see this being the big announcement:

HUGHES VS SERRA UFC 90 in NEW YORK

VERA VS COLEMAN UFC 91 in PHILLIPINES

That blew my mind! Oh wait a TV DEAL, No WAY!!!

all you gotta do is...

by imapimp08 on Jun 6, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UFC 100 TO TAKE PLACE ON MARS

by Brett Jones on Jun 6, 2008 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 6, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then alves can make weight.

by mythbuster on Jun 6, 2008 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know what it better be

It better be a TV deal with ABC or Fox, or the UFC will feel the strain after 6 months of EliteXC and Strikeforce gaining steam on network TV. I think it will be. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they worked out a deal with ESPN. They are still the big kid on the block and if you are going to invest in MMA’s future, the safest place is them. I hate to give Dana any credit, but I am pretty excited about it. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.

by strictlymma.com on Jun 6, 2008 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Most likely its:

1) TV deal, Fox or HBO
2) Event in Germany or Australia
3) Dana vows not to swear ever again.

by igorpunck on Jun 6, 2008 2:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not HBO

Please… then I would have to buy HBO for what I currently get for free on Spike.

That would suck.

by mythbuster on Jun 6, 2008 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UFC on FOX, oh please can we get John Madden & Pat Summerall

by nitro on Jun 7, 2008 2:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Madden calling MMA would be hysterical.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Jun 7, 2008 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone catch this article?

Anderson Silva May Move Up To Light Heavyweight, Fight Liddell At UFC 88
By: Kris Karkoski | Jun 7, 2008
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (20-4) and the UFC have reportedly held discussions on Silva moving up to the 205-pound light heavyweight division and making his debut at the new weight at UFC 88 on September 6th in Atlanta.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported the news late yesterday on the heels of UFC President Dana White’s announcement that former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell would headline the fall event.

Here’s a snip from the report:

They hadn’t decided [Chuck Liddell’s UFC 88 opponent] as of the weekend but Mauricio Shogun Rua wasn’t to be available until December they thought so he was out. They’ll probably make the call after this weekend’s show. He promised an announcement that will blow people’s minds on Thursday. Don’t necessarily read anything into this as being the announcement, but I do know that they have talked with Anderson Silva about being on the card and fighting at light heavy and he wasn’t opposed to it, but there was nothing agreed to as of last week. He said he’s renting out a place on Thursday to tell his employees so in theory this had better be bigger than that.

Silva debuted in the UFC in mid-2006, defeating Chris Leben via first round knockout at UFC Fight Night 5. The sub-one minute win earned "The Spider" a title shot against champion Rich Franklin and Silva capitalized, claiming the 185-pound title with a dominant first-round TKO victory. After defeating Travis Lutter in a non-title fight after Lutter failed to make weight, Silva has defended his title three times, defeating Nate Marquardt, Franklin, and, most-recent, Dan Henderson at UFC 82 in March. Following his win over Henderson, Silva campaigned for a boxing match against former champion Roy Jones Jr. but White has stated that he would not let such a bout take place.

He remains unbeaten in the UFC, winning all six of his bouts in two rounds or less.

There is speculation that Silva’s move to light heavyweight could be to fight Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 88, though nothing has yet been confirmed regarding the potential main event matchup.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for more UFC news and UFC rumors.

all you gotta do is...

by imapimp08 on Jun 7, 2008 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs