Updating this morning's post, Dana White danced around reporters' questions following UFC on Versus regarding a showdown between emerging stars Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. This matchup that will eventually determine the No. 1 contender to the heavyweight crown makes sense, as does White's assertion that he'll wait until after Frank Mir-Shane Carwin Saturday night before unscrambling the puzzle. If the winner of the interim title suffers an injury that forces them on extended medical leave, Velasquez would face Brock Lesnar likely at UFC 116 July 3.
"They're all going to fight," White said. "All these guys in that lineup are going to fight, but we've got to figure out how it's all going to go down. Mir and Carwin are going to get this thing started. We'll see what happens there, and the great thing is, we're a week away from that."
Back in the day, boxing's heavyweight champion was the most recognized athlete in the world. It'll still be awhile before MMA is in that echelon, but a heavyweight division deeper than it's ever been is a great foundation.
The top contenders: Frank Mir, Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos
Second-tier: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cheick Kongo, Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson (fighting one another at UFC Fight Night 21)
Keep your eye on: Pat Barry, Todd Duffee
Showing posts with label Dana White. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dana White. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Call answered: Edgar gets his shot at Penn
It's not 100 percent official yet, but when Dana White says something's going to happen, prepare for it. As first reported by ESPN.com's Franklin McNeil, Frankie Edgar has been named the No. 1 contender to B.J. Penn's lightweight championship. Penn recently stated on his Web site that he expected to fight at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, whereas it was Edgar's hope that his next bout would be before his hometown fans in Newark at UFC 111 in March.
That's probably not going to happen, UFC 111 already has two title bouts, and I for one am sure Edgar will be more than happy to accept the deal whether it's in Abu Dhabi or the Sahara Desert. Besides enjoying a three-fight winning streak, his latest a second-round submission of Matt Veach at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in December which earned "Fight of the Night" honors, Gray Maynard, presumed to be the next in line for Penn by virtue of him owning a victory over Edgar, looked lackluster in defeating Nate Diaz Monday night, leading to White claiming he wasn't "100 percent ready" for the Prodigy.
Maynard is a good fighter who trains under an outstanding camp led by Randy Couture, so his time will come. Right now there's no doubt it's Edgar's time. He's 11-1 (6-1 in the UFC) with a resume that includes wins over Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, Spencer Fisher and Tyson Griffin. During an exclusive interview that was published in the last edition of MMA Worldwide magazine, Edgar told me he's never been one to seek publicity and proudly billed himself as “the same dude from Toms River, N.J.,” who hangs with the people he befriended in high school. He’s always quick to counter that through hard work and faith your just rewards will be realized.
“If you win and perform well, all that stuff and recognition is going to catch up to you,” Edgar said. “People are going to notice.” Then when asked for a reaction to White’s praise that came after the Sherk win, he looked at it as a happy boss telling him job well done – until he slipped: “And it was good to finally get some recognition.”
Edgar's in the limelight now, but will be facing heavy odds. During yesterday's "Sirius Fight Club," host Randy Gordon and his crew agreed that Penn is on another level and will walk through Edgar. That will be the popular line of thinking. Penn destroyed Diego Sanchez, who I honestly believed stood the best chance of dethroning him, and nobody in the lightweight division can touch him now, if not ever. I'm interested to hear from Edgar how he plans on dealing with the Rocky-like odds that will be stacked against him.
That's probably not going to happen, UFC 111 already has two title bouts, and I for one am sure Edgar will be more than happy to accept the deal whether it's in Abu Dhabi or the Sahara Desert. Besides enjoying a three-fight winning streak, his latest a second-round submission of Matt Veach at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in December which earned "Fight of the Night" honors, Gray Maynard, presumed to be the next in line for Penn by virtue of him owning a victory over Edgar, looked lackluster in defeating Nate Diaz Monday night, leading to White claiming he wasn't "100 percent ready" for the Prodigy.
Maynard is a good fighter who trains under an outstanding camp led by Randy Couture, so his time will come. Right now there's no doubt it's Edgar's time. He's 11-1 (6-1 in the UFC) with a resume that includes wins over Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, Spencer Fisher and Tyson Griffin. During an exclusive interview that was published in the last edition of MMA Worldwide magazine, Edgar told me he's never been one to seek publicity and proudly billed himself as “the same dude from Toms River, N.J.,” who hangs with the people he befriended in high school. He’s always quick to counter that through hard work and faith your just rewards will be realized.
“If you win and perform well, all that stuff and recognition is going to catch up to you,” Edgar said. “People are going to notice.” Then when asked for a reaction to White’s praise that came after the Sherk win, he looked at it as a happy boss telling him job well done – until he slipped: “And it was good to finally get some recognition.”
Edgar's in the limelight now, but will be facing heavy odds. During yesterday's "Sirius Fight Club," host Randy Gordon and his crew agreed that Penn is on another level and will walk through Edgar. That will be the popular line of thinking. Penn destroyed Diego Sanchez, who I honestly believed stood the best chance of dethroning him, and nobody in the lightweight division can touch him now, if not ever. I'm interested to hear from Edgar how he plans on dealing with the Rocky-like odds that will be stacked against him.
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