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The Atlantic published a really good interview with Lorenzo Fertitta on everything from details on Zuffa’s beginnings with the UFC to Dana White to fighter pay. It’s definitely worth ten minutes of your time if you have it. It’s pretty long so I’m not going go through all the questions, but I did want to bring the last question and Lorenzo’s response to your attention.

Remember the Rickson Gracie interview from last week where he said a comeback fight was a possibility if it was big enough. Who knows if he was really being serious or not, but I can tell you that there’s one man who’s serious about facilitating such a fight—Lorenzo Fertitta.

DS: When you hear Rickson Gracie talk about how, at the age of 47 or whatever he is now, that he could beat the crap out of these UFC fighters that he sees on TV now, is that an older man’s understandable vanity? Or is he telling the truth?

LF: Let’s do it! I mean, that’s the ultimate test, that’s what I said, right? Let’s find out! If that’s the truth, then let’s find out! I mean, don’t just say it. Let’s do it!

I’m giving this a one in ten chance of ever actually happening, but let’s say it does. Anyone want to play match maker? Who would you book against Rickson Gracie?

By the way, The Atlantic also has pieces up on Rampage Jackson, BJ Penn, and Arianny Celeste.

Props to MMA Payout and Bloody Elbow for the interview finds

In a previous post, we passed along a report from Sherdog.com that AKA and the UFC had reopened discussions regarding the huge fallout which was first reported last night. It appears one result of those talks is that Jon Fitch is back with the UFC. According to MMA Rated, Fitch patched things up with Lorenzo Fertitta, not Dana White. Oh, and now Fitch says it was never even about the agreement, it was about Dana White’s approach.

There’s an old saying - never mix business with pleasure. When the “pleasure” goes sour, the business relationship suffers. Well, that’s sorta what’s happened with Affliction and Randy Couture, except instead of mixing business with pleasure, they tried to mix business with more business.

Here’s more of the audio from the Scott Ferrall show with Affliction. Turns out “the t-shirt guy” quoted in the interview is Gary Brody Todd Beard ??? from Affliction. (Edit: I heard wrong in the interview. Ferrall does introduce Gary Brody from Affliction, but he’s a second person in the interview, not the guy quoted below. Sam Caplan is reporting the guy with the rugged voice quoted below is Todd Beard. My apologies to the Affliction guys. Edit II: Dana White says the guy in the interview is not Todd Beard. Not sure who he is yet.)

The notable quote from the interview in cased you missed the update in the last post.

“They threaten us personally which is hilarious. Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta they’re tough guys. They’re old school mafia guys or wanna-be old school mafia guys. Their grandfather built their business. They’re nothing. They put (Station Casinos) $5 billion in debt. They’re in big trouble right now. They’re going out of business in February, guaranteed. Station Casinos will go out of business in February, for sure. Lorenzo Fertitta … kiss my fucking ass motherfucker. Dana White, by the way, the t-shirt guys are gonna fuck your ass up.”

Also, when asked who Brody thinks will win the Couture-Lesnar fight, he replies, “I gotta be honest right now, and Randy if you’re listening, I hope Lesnar kills you.” Apparently, Affliction is a little more upset about Randy re-signing with the UFC than Atencio led on.

CR: Bloody Elbow

[UPDATE 10/24/08 12:00PM ET] - Part two has been added after the jump.

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