Dana White to UFC on FOX one-fight main-card critics: Shut up
by John Morgan and Steven Marrocco on Nov 13, 2011 at 12:50 am ET
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos was the shortest main-card in the UFC's history.
But if you're complaining about not getting to see more fights, and you want a sympathetic ear in UFC president Dana White, you're not going to get one.
"For anybody to ***** about this fight, and they didn't get to see this fight…shut up," White said following UFC on FOX, which took place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
FOX executives said this past week that future UFC broadcasts will feature two or three fights and likely be 90 minutes in length. But as anyone who's been living in what White calls the "bubble of MMA," the complaints come fast with any change to the program.
Most UFC events feature a four- or five-fight main-card. The preliminary card of UFC on FOX, which numbered nine fights, streamed live on Facebook and FOX.com. But, as White noted, Saturday's event took place under special circumstances.
"Our deal doesn't start until January," White said. "So this fight here, was what these guys wanted to kick this thing off as a welcome the UFC to FOX fight. This fight wasn't part of the deal. The deal is for seven years, so many fights on FOX.
"After we signed the deal, FOX said, 'Why don't we do this. Why don't we do a fight right away. Let's put a great fight on TV and let everybody know about the partnership."
In essence, the Nov. 12 event was a 30-second teaser for what's to come on FOX. And that's why White has no patience for critics.
"You should have bought tickets, then, if you want to see all the fights and you don't want to watch it on Facebook," he said. Seriously, shut up. I don't even want to hear it."
As to how FOX executives feel about the blink-and-its-over main event, White isn't sure.
"I went straight from putting the belt on Junior, to the end of the show, to my room, to here, and I didn't talk to anybody yet," White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
There will be plenty of talk among fans and critics about the impact of the quick fight on the casual viewing audience and whether it's a positive or negative for the sport's growth.
White, however, said the impact is not necessarily measured in the result of the fight but in the success of the UFC in reaching beyond its borders. That is, reaching beyond the legions of hardcore fans and armchair critics and finding the people who might not have considered the sport as something they'd like to watch.
All the promotion can do is set the stage.
"As soon as those fights start, whatever happens, happens," he said. "There's nothing you can do about that. We can't control the fights, and that's why I said, if this thing goes 25 or 25 minutes, everybody knew it had the potential to be either."
For more on UFC on FOX, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.
Originally posted by Mr. Marshall
Kongo exposed Cain's lack of a stand up.Out striking zombie Nog doesn't mean you have good stand up.
Two good strikers Cain faced... put him on his ass.
That's exactly what i have been saying during the build-up to last night's main event.
Cigano put Cain to sleep within 60 seconds with a fierce overhand right hook and made it look so easy.
WAR CIGANO!
Who is in your top5 most liked/disliked fighters? Liked: 1. Cruz. Created a new striking/footwork style, stillhes in the top10 best mma wrestlers. 2. Bendo: he cuts 30+lbs, yet doesnt gas. He has the tools 2 beat FE. 3.JONES. 4.Ian Mcall 5.GSP...for now. If he plays safe and blankets again, im done.
I dislike: 1. Silva. Mainly do 2 fans saying goat. 98% of his preufc opponents records were like 15-18-5 & he lost to 5 of them.Hes in weak division. Even n the ufc 95% of his opponents got fired 4 sucking. 2. Melvin G 3. Nick diaz=overrated 4. Mendes= blanket. 5. Shogun's identical outtashape twin.