Dana White Pleased With 2012, Except For UFC 149

One UFC event from the past year continues to bother UFC president Dana White.

While most would believe that event to be UFC 151, which was the first card to be completely cancelled under White’s watchful eye, that is not it. Instead, UFC 149 is the lone dark spot on an otherwise interesting 2012 for the promotion.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, White discussed his reason for wishing for a re-do on UFC 149, which went down this past summer in Calgary. The card was hit hard by injuries, forcing several marquee names off it. The main event features Urijah Faber and Renan Barao for the interim UFC bantamweight title.

In all honestly, I think we delivered great events all year…except for Calgary. I think that I’m always very confident going into an event that we’re going to deliver because the guys do, the guys always deliver, and we didn’t.

White did say that he plans to “go back to Calgary” and that he wants to “deliver next time.”

The original card featured Jose Aldo defending his UFC featherweight title, and such notables as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Thiago Alves, Michael Bisping and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua all in action. The event drew just over 16,000 fans and had a total gate of $4.1 million. The pay-per-view buy rates were 235,000.

 

UFC 149 Fighters Matt Riddle, Francisco Rivera Suspended

Matt Riddle and Francisco Rivera, who each earned wins this past July at UFC 149, were suspended by the Calgary Combative Sports Commission, according to a report by MMAjunkie.com.

Riddle was found to have marijuana in his system, while Rivera was suspended for an undisclosed over-the-counter stimulant. Both fighters served 90-day suspensions, which expire on Friday.

Riddle (7-3) earned Submission of the Night when he locked up an arm triangle on Chris Clements. He has fought all 10 of his professional fights inside the Octagon.

Rivera (9-2) scored his second UFC victory when he knocked out Roland Delorme.

The commission allowed both results to stand.

 

Dana White Serves Up Opinion On Kongo-Jordan, Anderson Silva’s Next Fight, Michael Bisping, Others

UFC president Dana White gave members of the media another 20 minutes to discuss all subjects following this past weekend’s UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao card.

Among some of the most interesting topics were the Summer Olympics, Cheick Kongo-Shawn Jordan’s fight, when Anderson Silva will compete again, and Michael Bisping’s standing in the UFC middleweight division.

White said he isn’t too concerned with the UFC on FOX 4 card going up against the Summer Olympics:

The women’s soccer team, or basketball, or if (Michael) Phelps is swimming, or (Usain) Bolt is running, those certain things can be hard to compete with. But, other than that, I’m not sweating the Olympics.

On his disappointment from Kongo and Jordan, and if they need to be concerned about their jobs:

If they don’t know that they fought like (expletive), they should go get another job. Kongo looked scared to fight. He had a shitty performance, but he’ll be on another card with somebody.

On when we might see Silva in action again:

If I had to do a fight right now, I’d do the (Chris) Weidman fight. I haven’t talked to (Silva about his next fight yet).

When pushed further about Silva’s return possibly being this year yet, White said:

Maybe. Or right after (the beginning of the new year).

Bisping, who is set to face Brian Stann, claimed to be next in line with a big win. White offered up plenty of praise for the Brit:

Bisping’s right in there. Bisping is very underrated because people hate him. Without a doubt, he is one of the best 185 pounders in the world. An impressive wins gonna give somebody the title shot.

Photo credit: Twitter/DanaWhite

 

Bellator Champion Ben Askren Sounds Off On Cheick Kongo-Shawn Jordan Fight From UFC 149

Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren has been on the receiving end of several angry fans in regards to his style of fighting.

However, even Askren took exception to what he witnessed Saturday night at UFC 149 between heavyweights Cheick Kongo and Shawn Jordan.

For the better part of three rounds, Kongo held Jordan up against the fence. The two had very few significant exchanges, and time-and-time again, Jordan appeared frustrated. However, Kongo did enough to earn the decision, though Askren was highly disappointed.

Askren is a two-time NCAA champion and former Olympian, but has been criticized for his lack of aggression inside the cage. At least we know Askren can take the complaints and move forward with this comment.

 

Prospect Of Meeting Renan Barao Excites Dominick Cruz

Current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz was given a great seat to witness Renan Barao’s victory over Urijah Faber Saturday night for the interim UFC bantamweight title at UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao.

Cruz, who was a guest analyst on FUEL TV’s programming for the event, is rehabbing from knee surgery that knocked him out of a planned contest with Faber. However, after seeing what Barao did to “The California Kid,” Cruz is interested in facing Barao inside the Octagon.

I am looking forward to it. (Barao) is new blood. It’s exciting to fight a guy like that. He was composed and is ready for a five-round title fight with me.

Cruz did not give any indication of when he’ll be ready to fight again, and Barao even made it known that he was willing to defend his interim title if “The Dominator” will remain inactive for an extended period.

Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog

 

Dana White Critical Of Officials, Says They Are “Gonna Kill Combat Sports’

UFC president Dana White was in no mood to discuss much of anything after UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao Saturday night.

About the only topic that White really wanted to talk about concerned officials, and his lack of acceptance with what has been going on from the third man inside the Octagon as of late.

“Officiating these days is gonna kill combat sports,” said White, during the post-fight show on FUEL TV. “We are talking about experienced (refs) doing this for a long time. It’s not just MMA, boxing too (is having issues with officials).”

White talked about what went down in the Cheick Kongo-Shawn Jordan match. Referee Yves Lavigne, according to White, failed to force the action between the two heavyweights. Instead, they clinched time and time again, drawing several rounds of booing from the fans.

“The reffing in that fight was disgusting,” White said. “This isn’t the Ultimate Clinching Championship. It’s the refs job to make them fight. That entire third round, Yves Lavigne let them clinch against the fence.”

In regards to the continued displeasure by the Calgary, Alberta, Canada crowd following the main event between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao, White believed the booing wouldn’t have been so loud had the under card delivered.

Photo credit: Dana White/Twitter

 

UFC 149 Bonuses Go To The Prelim Fighters

UFC president Dana White was very critical of the fighters who took part on the UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao main card Saturday night.

After a series of thrilling prelim fights, it appeared as if the tone had been set for an exciting night of action.

Instead, the main card bouts failed to live up to the hype, igniting several rounds of booing by the faithful to packed the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The bonuses – which wound up being $65,000 per fighter – for Submission, Knockout and Fight of the Night all went to those on the prelim card.

Matt Riddle, who caught Chris Clements’ spinning attack and locked in an arm triangle, scored Submission of the Night.

Ryan Jimmo, a former Maximum Fighting Championship titlist, knocked out Anthony Perosh in a UFC-record-tying seven seconds, delivering the Knockout of the Night. Jimmo caught Perosh with a right just seconds after touching gloves, and could have had the bout called even sooner had the referee been in position to end it.

The Fight of the Night went to Bryan Caraway and Mitch Gagnon. The two put on a thrilling fight that saw Caraway come out with a submission victory after finally locking in a rear-naked choke in the third round.

Photo credit: MMAFighting.com

 

UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao Live Results

Tonight’s UFC 149 lineup looks nothing like the original card announced a few months back but certainly packs the potential to entertain. Headlined by a bout between bantamweights Urijah Faber and Renan Barao, the show also features the promotional debut of Hector Lombard, a heavyweight tilt between sluggers Cheick Kongo-Shawn Jordan, and an appearance from TUF winner Court McGee.

Faber and Barao will be battling for more than bragging rights as an interim title is also on the line due to Dominick Cruz’s untimely knee injury. Barao enters the match-up on a 28-fight winning streak, while Faber is a seasoned competitor with wins over a number of the sport’s best and a WEC championship to his credit.

Lombard, who exited Bellator as the company’s long-standing middleweight king, will face Tim Boetsch. Boetsch is coming off a TKO over Yushin Okami and has emerged with his hand raised in four straight fights.

The show starts on Facebook at 6:45 PM EST, heads to FX at 8:00 PM EST, and finishes on PPV at 10:00 PM EST.

Read below for a full rundown of UFC 149 results:

Anton Kuivanen def. Mitch Clarke via Split Decision
Antonio Carvalho def. Daniel Pineda via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
Bryan Caraway def. Mitch Gagnon via Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Ryan Jimmo def. Anthony Perosh via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
Francisco Rivera def. Roland Delorme via Knockout Round 2 (Strikes)
Nick Ring def. Court McGee via Unanimous Decision
Matt Riddle def. Chris Clements via Submission Round 3 (Arm-Triangle Choke)
James Head def. Brian Ebersole via Split Decision
Cheick Kongo def. Shawn Jordan via Unanimous Decision
Tim Boetsch def. Hector Lombard via Split Decision
Renan Barao def. Urijah Faber via Unanimous Decision

Photo credit: Dana White/Twitter

 

Hector Lombard Thinking Only About Win, Not Money Or Title

Hector Lombard has worn gold before, as he was the Bellator middleweight champion prior to signing with the UFC.

Tonight, Lombard will make his debut inside the Octagon against Tim Boetsch in the co-main event of UFC 149.

Lombard has won 20 straight fights, but is still only fighting for the thrill of victory, as he told UFC Ultimate Insider recently.

I don’t think about the money, I don’t think about the belt. In my next fight, I just focus on the win.

Lombard had been viewed as one of the top fighters to be competing in MMA and not in the UFC. He is now looking to make a statement with a victory over Boetsch and position himself nicely in the UFC’s middleweight division.

While some view Lombard as a heavy favorite, the former Olympian from Cuba knows he will have his hands full with Boetsch.

He’s not the most technical guy out there, but has has the determination to win the fight.

Boetsch himself is thinking about a run at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. He recently defeated former contender Yushin Okami via TKO in Japan.

Photo credit: Bellator

 

UFC 149 Post-Fight Press Conference Live Stream

The UFC 149 post-fight press conference will stream live in the video player above following the conclusion of UFC 148.