Dana White Squashes One-Night Tournament Concept

Part of what made the UFC successful when it first launched in 1993 was the one-night tournament format.

But that doesn't mean UFC president Dana White has ever seriously thought about bringing that concept back, even for one event.

"My philosophy on that was, this many people want to see a crazy freak show, that many people want to see a real sport," White said at a question-and-answer session prior to the Fight for the Troops 2 weigh-ins last week. "We believe that's why the thing has grown as fast as it has and become as big as it has, because people want to see a real sport. So, no.

"Plus, we couldn't do that anymore; you could never do a one-night tournament. And to be honest with you, the one-night tournament thing never worked; it didn't make sense."

The UFC's last one-night tournament was UFC 23: Ultimate Japan 2 in 1999, won by Kenichi Yamamoto. The organization has never held another in the Zuffa era.

Recently, Shine Fights and Strikeforce have dabbled with the concept, but neither have committed to it for more than one event.

White simply doesn't believe the tournament format proves who the top fighter really is.

"Imagine going three rounds, two tough guys, and then you gotta get back in the tournament and fight again another thirty minutes. It's not fair. It doesn't really determine who the best guy is."

Source: mmafighting.com

UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort Video Preview

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, at UFC 126 on Feb. 5, will continue to try and make his case to be considered the pound-for-pound best fighter int he world. He face Vitor Belfort, one of the most explosive fighters in the sport, in the UFC 126 main event in Las Vegas.

Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin, both former UFC champions, are slotted in the evening’s co-main event, each trying to find his way into title contention in the UFC light heavyweight division.

Not the veterans that Griffin and Franklin are, rising contenders Jon Jones and Ryan Bader will square off in another light heavyweight bout at UFC 126. Like Griffin and Franklin, Jones and Bader are fighting for the next rung on the ladder leading up to the UFC light heavyweight championship.

UFC President Dana White Plans to Take New York to School

While mixed martial arts has managed to peek its violent head through the mainstream door, the nation’s largest market keeps shutting the sport out. If knowledge is indeed power, then UFC president Dana White is about to take the state of New York to school.

“To be honest with you, I’m not frustrated. I’m a little baffled, but not frustrated,” White said during this week’s press conference. “We just got Ontario done in Canada, there’s absolutely no reason why [MMA] should not be in the state of New York.”

Like most businesses do prior to each year’s end, UFC head honchos listed their goals for the next 365 days. Clearly, having an Octagon showcased under MSG’s historic spotlight was priority numero uno.

“This is New York City, this is Madison Square Garden. Obviously we wanna be here. Absolutely,” White emphatically stated. “We’re committed to getting this thing done and educating everybody that needs to be educated to get this thing done here in New York.”

While the UFC has threatened to invade the NYC in the past, Thursday’s presser was the company’s most aggressive sales pitch thus far. Although White and Co. unveiled an impressive Power Point presentation, The Big Apple is an uphill battle that has only just begun.

“Can we continue to grow our business without the state of New York?” White rhetorically asked. “Absolutely. But why? Why would we not be in the state of New York when we’re everywhere else in the world?

“It makes absolutely no sense.”

Last June, New York Assembly Democrats stripped approval for MMA from a budget bill that lawmakers could have voted on. However, state assemblyman Dean Murray claimed during this week’s presser he contacted the Governor’s office to include MMA in this year’s budget.

If that doesn’t happen, Murray will try to bring it to the floor for a vote.

Source: 5thround.com