Explosive Dana White Radio Interview

by Michael Rome on Aug 6, 2008 5:34 PM EDT in News Comment 25 comments

Dana White just got finished with an explosive radio interview on Hardcore Sports radio. I don't have a link yet, and I joined halfway, but here are some highlights:

--He is obviously very unhappy with Roger Huerta. He basically called him a moron for complaining and bitching about PR. Said he hasn't beat anyone to justify millions of dollars that he's demanding, but if he beats Kenny Florian it's a different story. (This week in the Observer, Dave Meltzer reported Huerta is asking for a bigger contract than BJ Penn has.)

--Rampage Jackson is "okay" now. After he was arrested, he was in psych evaluation, and they found there was no psych problem. It was exhaustion and dehydration that caused delirium, and he will be at UFC 87. He has legal problems, but he is physically and mentally better. From the sound of this, they are 100% behind him.

--Tito Ortiz is the "biggest moron on planet earth." On Celebrity Apprentice, he didn't talk because he didn't want to be exposed for being "completely f***ing retarded."

--Says Affliction lost over 4 million dollars, and guarantees they will be out of business soon.

--UFC will focus all their efforts on the rest of Canada and getting MMA legalized up there.

*** UPDATED, 3:19 PM PDT by Chris Nelson ***

An MP3 of the full interview is now available here.

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wow...

i’d really like to hear this interview. I wonder how many fights huerta has on his current contract..

by asmiley420 on Aug 6, 2008 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2, so if he beats florian he’ll be kept in a holding pattern until he signs a new contract (ie: no LW title shot until he’s signed on the dotted line).

This adds to the notion that this is going to be a crazy fight, if Huerta wants the millions he figures he’s entitled to then he HAS to beat Florian or a lot of his bargaining power is out the window.

by pr0cs on Aug 6, 2008 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right, Huerta’s future in the UFC now really depends on this fight. If he loses, I suspect he will have to settle for a mid-level contract or end the relationship.

Dana basically said they built him up from nothing and he’s read too much of his own press that they created.

by Michael Rome on Aug 6, 2008 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone knew he was a protected fighter. Since when has beating a Clay Guida that he should’ve lost means that he’s BJ Penn?

It doesn’t matter, Florian’s going to town with him.

by cyph on Aug 6, 2008 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you say he should have lost, what do you mean? It’s not like he cheated to win. He lost two close rounds and then finished the guy in the third. His gas tank and heart are his best qualities, and they helped him get that win. Catching a guy that repeatedly shoots on one of his shots with a knee is not a cheap win. It’s a completely legitimate win.

by Michael Rome on Aug 6, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why is it a stretch to think that Clay Guida lost a fight he should’ve won? If a guy is winning the fight then got flash KOed or made a mistake and got submitted, the he lost a fight he should’ve won. Conversely, the Huerta won a fight he should’ve lost. No one is saying anything about cheating.

He was down 2 rounds to 0. He was beaten in all facets of the game. Clay Guida got careless and got kneed in the face. There is a difference between getting careless and KOed versus getting his handed to him.

I know you got a man crush on him, but you’ve gotta admit, Florian’s going to manhandle him.

by cyph on Aug 6, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was it you or Luke? I forget, one of you said it.

by cyph on Aug 6, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

People are overstating Guida’s early dominance. Round 1 was extremely close, Guida clearly won round 2.

Still, Guida spent the whole match successfully shooting. He got pressured early in round 3, went for another shot, and Huerta timed it perfectly, and did an amazing job finishing. It’s not a fight he should have won because he got way too predictable, and also failed to finish when he had the chance.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never said that, I think it’s Brent that has the man crush, but you’d have to ask him :) And no, I don’t think Florian is going to manhandle him.

by Michael Rome on Aug 6, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I smell a sig bet.

by cyph on Aug 6, 2008 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the old…he was winning…..right up until he lost argument….okay….... i was rooting for guida in that fight but Huerta beat him, and finished him…something not a lot of folks in the ufc have done

Mike Goldberg on robnashville:
"His analysis is so analytical"

by robnashville on Aug 6, 2008 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My point was that Guida gave him a lot of trouble. I’m not discrediting his win. Huerta isn’t as good as he think he is, and especially not BJ Penn good or worth BJ Penn money.

by cyph on Aug 6, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Dana

I really like Dana. I know there are the “Dana Haters” out there. I just feel like he is a straight up guy. Says what is on his mind and doesn’t hold back punches. (pun intended)

Rob Dib
http://www.break-your-face.com

by Rob Dib on Aug 6, 2008 5:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m with you. Sometimes he is misleading, but it is to his advantage business wise.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 6, 2008 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This week in the Observer, Dave Meltzer reported Huerta is asking for a bigger contract than BJ Penn has.

Wait, what?

Who has he beaten to demand that much?

by Tonley on Aug 6, 2008 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it has little to do with who he has beaten but rather his bargaining power…..he has been built up as the great latin hope….. huerta sees he is being built up to draw in the latino market and isn’t willing to take short money for being the face of the company to a whole demographic group….. getting paid doesn’t necessarily correlate with who you beat or didn’t beat…. if Huerta proves he can bring in hordes of latin fans….he’s gonna want to make the $$$ win lose or draw…..

for the record i don’t really like florian or huerta….can this fight just end in a draw or maybe a double knock out like the one where shonie eas the ref…..?

Mike Goldberg on robnashville:
"His analysis is so analytical"

by robnashville on Aug 6, 2008 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right, he clearly has more value than his record shows due to his potential as a Latin star. If he beats Florian, a title shot in Mexico in 2009 could be a huge deal for the UFC. I think they’ll work it out in the end, but only if Huerta wins this weekend.

by Michael Rome on Aug 6, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep^

Dana is 100% correct so far though in that he hasn’t really beaten anyone of note…yet

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Aug 6, 2008 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I generally like Dana interviews like this one. Straight from the horses mouth, so to speak. As long as you filter out the language and promoter personality BS, he always has a lot of interesting things to say about the state of MMA.

And, a lot of his predictions do turn out to be true, like the IFL folding.

by LiuLang on Aug 6, 2008 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wants more then the best that he's never fought

I like Roger but he is being unprofessional about all this. Go to management and discuss your thoughts after you destroy KenFlo. Before the fight to a magazine is childish and needing attention. I can’t figure where he thinks he can go and make more. Then to want more then guys like BJ Penn, Tyson Griffin, Frank Edgar, Sean Sherk, Spencer Fisher, Joe Stevenson all without having fought one of them. HUH?

by Tommy7 on Aug 6, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with White. They made Huerta and have protected him thus far. He’s only fought Guida. Don’t get me wrong. I like Huerta, he’s one of my favorites, I met him at UFC 76 and he ws cool as hell. I just don’t think that he should be complaining right now. His road is paved forever and he’s blowing it with these comments. Beat Florian, then you have something to complain about. Asking for more money than BJ Penn is just ridiculous.

by Josh H. on Aug 7, 2008 12:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t happen to agree with Dana here. This is a business. Huerta is worth a lot of money to the UFC as both an exciting young fighter and a bridge to the latin fight market (not to mention his potential for a cross-over to main stream celebrity given his looks and charisma).

Tim Sylvia beat a lot of tough dudes but the word was that he was boring and didn’t draw fans so he wasn’t worth big money. Now the situation is the opposite with a guy who isn’t boring and does draw (theoretically) and Dana is saying the opposite.

What a person is paid is a function of what they are worth to their employer. Here Huerta is worth a lot of money to the UFC (even if the UFC protection allowed him to reach this level), and has both the leverage and the right to ask for more money.

I like Dana, hes a smart dude and a good businessman, but hes also quite full of shit and a lot more calculating then his supposed “off the cuff” persona lets on. If this was Lyoto Machida asking for more money Dana would be on the radio claiming that it doesn’t matter what your record is, its how exciting and how big of a draw you are that determines how much you get paid.

by Day Man on Aug 7, 2008 3:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

No way in hell Huerta deserves a contract similar to BJ Penn…Huerta COULD potentially tap into that Latin market…but has it been proven that he’s been able to do so? No…nor has he beat any upper tier fighters…the main point Dana is making is…basically the UFC created Roger Huerta…and basically he’s right.

Now Dana did admit that if he beat Florian…Huerta would have bargaining power…and that’s fair.

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Aug 7, 2008 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

memorabilia

Hi fight fans,

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Is there anything that you can think of that you would like to see for Fight Fans?

by Bablaze on Aug 7, 2008 9:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bablaze – you should make a FanPost (over on the right sidebar) and tell us a little more about the type of stuff you make. I’m sure folks around here would be more than happy to give you some input.

by Chris Nelson on Aug 7, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

FAN POST

Hi Chris

Thanks for responding.

I would be eager to make a fan post. Not sure how – but will check it out.

My computer skills are limited to Photoshop, PP, word and somewhat being able to maneuver around the net. I very much appreciate your suggestion and will attempt to create a fan post.

Best. Bonnie

by Bablaze on Aug 8, 2008 11:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs