Yardbarker: Lorenzo Fertitta

What is XARM?, MMA in Canada - Cageplay.com Weekly Review

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:49:08 -0500

Cageplay.com week in review includes: What is XARM? The Coutures Gary Goodridge Chris Horodecki S-Cup

Jon Fitch Blinked First

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:41:34 -0500

As usual, the UFC took a hard line and a fighter gave in. RearNakedNews.com takes a look at how Dana White and the UFC got Jon Fitch to agree to their demands.

As The Fitch Turns 2:Fitch Harder!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:18:52 -0500

The Long awaited sequel to As the Fitch Turns! RESOLUTION BABY!

Fedor Emelianenko Wants Brock Lesnar

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:16:44 -0500

MMAJunkie has released an official statement from M-1 Global's Vice President Jerry Millen.

M-1 would like to congratulate Brock Lesnar on his UFC heavyweight title victory as well as acknowledge Randy Couture's return to active competition after a layoff that lasted over a year.

Couture and WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko had publicly acknowledged a desire to fight each other multiple times over the course of the past year. While M-1 and Fedor remain interested in a match against Couture, we would also like to publicly state for the record that we would welcome a superfight between Fedor and Lesnar that would be held as a co-promoted event between the UFC, M-1, and Affliction Entertainment.

We've invited the media to speak with us today to not only make it clear we would welcome a Fedor vs. Lesnar matchup but to act in a preemptive fashion to address the possibility that UFC officials will try and position Lesnar as the No. 1 heavyweight in the world, much like they have tried to use a marketing ploy to brand Anderson Silfva as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

In the past, UFC president Dana White and Zuffa, LLC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta have tried to claim that Fedor was "overrated" and that his "record was irrelevant." They make these claims in spite of the fact that Fedor holds career victories over UFC champions past and present. While we have tremendous respect for the contributions Mr. Fertitta and Dana have made to this sport, we do not believe they are sincere in their statements.

It is the position of M-1 that the UFC has adopted an anti-Fedor policy because multiple attempts to sign him have not been fruitful. For a company that has tried to market itself as the number one promotion in the world, they are unable to accept the fact that the number one fighter in the world does not reside on its roster of contracted fighters.

We believe that the UFC has determined that it's much more inexpensive for them to use their marketing resources to use smoke and mirrors to brand a fighter as the pound-for-pound best as opposed to actually paying the pound-for-pound best what he is truly worth on the open market.

While Brock Lesnar is an accomplished athlete and a talented fighter, we do not consider him to be the number one heavyweight in the world. Until someone beats him, we strongly believe that Fedor should continue to be recognized as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. In a match between Fedor and Lesnar, we do not feel that at this stage Lesnar would be able to make it out of the first round.

For those who feel our statements in regards to Fedor are self-serving, we'd like to refer you to a video interview on the website RawVegas.tv in which at his UFC 91 after-party Couture himself acknowledges that "Fedor would probably tear Brock up at this point."

Jerry Millen, M-1 Vice President

I really hope this prompts a response from the UFC and Dana White(probably won't), very interested in what they would have to say after reading all the bashing that's in this statement.

Dana White Says Financial Crisis Helps Business

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:37:23 -0500

A video of Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta explaining how the financial crisis help the business

Its Official: Randy Couture is Back in the UFC and will Fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 91

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:33:56 -0500

Thomas Gerbasi of UFC.com breaks the news, which happened at the UFC 91 teleconference. If any audio or video comes available I will post it.

From Thomas Gerbasi
If we've learned one thing in combat sports, it's to never say never. This old adage was solidified once again today, as UFC President Dana White announced the November 15th return to the Octagon of heavyweight champion Randy Couture to face Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 91 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The announcement comes after nearly a year of contentious relations between the organization and Couture, who walked away from the UFC in October of 2007 with two fights remaining on his contract. But in August, the heavyweight champion and the organization worked on a renegotiation of his contract that will enable 'The Natural' to finish his Hall of Fame career with the UFC.

In addition BloodyElbow has many details of the announcement.
- Dana White: Brock vs. Couture will be "the biggest fight in UFC history".

- Dana White on competitors and co-promotion: ": These guys are dying on the vine. You're not under contract if the company's not in business anymore.

- Dana White: "I would be horrified if Affliction's still in business in January."

- Couture: would rather fight Fedor, but fight with Brock "a step in the right direction"

- Couture says UFC and he have "cleared the air"; "comfortable with way things stand right now"

- Couture says he'll weigh approximately 225lbs for this fight.

- Dana White says he doesn't know if Couture is the richest fighter in the UFC.

- Dana White: Nogueira is probably thrilled Couture is back.

- Dana White: research was done and proves Brock vs. Couture will be biggest fight in UFC history.

- Couture: re-signing with the UFC to get Fedor is "path of least resistance"

- Dana White: the heavyweight division "is looking pretty damn good now"

- Couture: MMA is the combative sport for this generation

- Couture: how can you overlook a guy [Brock Lesnar] that size?

- Dana White: over the next year we are going to see some really great heavyweight fights.

- Randy and Dana: feels good to have this problem resolved; "to see a little sunshine for a change is pretty nice"

- Dana White: "I like fighting with Tito"

- Dana White suggests Fedor might have to be not under contract for the UFC to sign a fight with him. He didn't say it was required, but he alluded to it.

- Dana White: Affliction is losing "shitloads" of money.

- Couture: biggest part of my decision was communicating with Lorenzo and Dana that I was feeling. Second was frustration with legal system. Tired of throwing money with lawyers with no end in sight. Best place for me to fight is a cage, not a court room.

- Dana White: "I'm like a giddy little girl right now"

- Dana White: "It drives me insane when Fedor is called the best p4p fighter in the world." If Fedor is the best, he has to come to the UFC eventually.

- Dana White: people don't know this, but there was bad blood between Brock and Herring. Herring was insulted he had to fight him.

- Brock Lesnar: "not a lot of people get this opportunity".

- Brock Lesnar: "who gives a shit about Fedor Emelianenko?" I'm sick and tired of sitting on the phone listening about Fedor. "Who fucking gives a shit?"

- Dana White: "UFC Countdown" for this fight could be two or three part series.

- Dana White: this is where all the best heavyweights are. Randy Couture is relevant; Fedor is not.

- Couture: I can't spend any time worrying about losing to Lesnar and losing luster on a fight with Fedor.

- Dana White: rivals can have whichever fighters we cut.

- Dana White: Werdum is still in the mix.

- Dana White: expecting 1million to 1.5 million PPV buys for this fight. It's a new deal: 3-fight deal.

- Dana White: I would not sign a one-fight deal with Fedor.

- Dana White: all court action is dead.

- Dana White: Randy Couture is the guy everyone wants to fight. Fedor is completely irrelevant.

- Couture: Mark Cuban wants what's best for me. He just wanted to facilitate what I wanted. Now the best path is to make the fight with Fedor happen in the UFC.

Some amazing news for MMA fans, hopefully they are serious about making the Fedor fight happen. Does this willingness to work with Couture and possibly Fedor come from Lorenzo Fertitta now working full-time with UFC or did Dana White finally come to his senses?

Jesse Taylor vs C.B. Dollaway Set for July 19th UFN 14

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:53:10 -0500

MMA Junkie has confirmed that "The Ultimate Fighter 7" runner-up C.B. Dollaway will take on show reject Jesse Taylor.

UFC President Dana White had mentioned that he would be willing to give Taylor a second chance after Taylor ruined his chances of winning TUF 7 by going on a drunken rampage in Palace Station, a casino owned by UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta. Dollaway replaced Taylor in the finals after beating Tim Credeur, but lost a second time to show winner Amir Sadollah.

This is a fight that most watching the show would've predicted to be the final bout for who takes home the contract, but Amir Sadollah surprised by beating the former Arizona State wrestling standout twice, in the process giving him his first career loss.

Should be a good scrap.

Other fights set for Ultimate Fight Night 14 below.

MAIN CARD

* Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin
* Brandon Vera vs. Reese Andy
* Frankie Edgar vs. Hermes Franca
* Jake O'Brien vs. Cain Velasquez
* C.B. Dollaway vs. Jesse Taylor

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Kevin Burns vs. Anthony Johnson
* Brodie Farber vs. Rory Markham
* Brad Blackburn vs. James Giboo
* Nate Loughran vs. Johnny Rees
* Shannon Gugherty vs. Dale Hartt

Affliction June 21st Announcement at 2 PM

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:28:04 -0500

WOW, look at all these counter moves by both MMA event organizers

Part 2: Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White Form MMA Superpower!

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:00:18 -0500

Continuation on why Dana White's announcement was mind blowing and not as weak as everyone thinks.