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Fox Sports: "Zach Arnold's Fight Opinion site is one of the best spots on the Web for thought-provoking MMA pieces."

« | Home | »

“As far as his fighting career… I don’t know.”

By Zach Arnold | May 19, 2009

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Dana White word’s today about Chuck Liddell during an interview with Dana Jacobson on ESPN’s First Take show.

Other quick notes:

– White was really curt, if not tight-lipped when grilled on questions about the Loretta Hunt Youtube rant. Amazing self-control (by Dana’s standards.)

– Said the next country UFC would advance into after Germany is France.

– Claimed that business is up 20% this year in the current quarter from last year’s quarter.

– Said that the UFC Heavyweight division never looked better.

Is Dana White’s stance on Chuck Liddell fighting one more time softening?

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

26 Responses to ““As far as his fighting career… I don’t know.””

  1. Alan Conceicao says:

    Chuck is gonna fight again, and as long as he has a contract and he passes medicals, he can’t be stopped from fighting in the UFC. If Dana tries that, he’ll breach the contract and Chuck hits the free market.

    He’s mentioned France before. Supposedly the ratings on TV there aren’t too bad, but then they’re on Wednesday nights at 11PM. Not exactly prime time. Its virgin territory to the point where MMA wasn’t televised in the country up until 2 years ago due to a ban on the sport, and there’s very few French fighters that would sell tickets. My guess is that if Germany doesn’t turn around fast, France ends up like Mexico, Japan, and the Phillipines as places that were eminently about to get an event and just sorta faded away.

    I gotta say, I do wish there was less reprinting on the net of the spin type stuff too. Like anyone really believes this is the best heavyweight division ever or that NY legalizing MMA wasn’t a high priority.

  2. Ultimo Santa says:

    France is a good move, but I’m a little surprised that the UFC hasn’t held more PPVs in Brazil and Japan.

  3. robthom says:

    Its starting to sound to me like chuck will probably fight again also.

    But luckily according to a quick interview he did for a website the other day (I cant remember which one), it sounds like he plans to take a healthy break before he does. I believe he actually said a year.
    I think that is the best scenario to make everyone happy.

    “My guess is that if Germany doesn’t turn around fast, France ends up like Mexico, Japan, and the Phillipines as places that were eminently about to get an event and just sorta faded away. ”

    I dont think theres any money in mexico, well except for that one guy who’s on the billionaire list right behind bill gates. The Philippines either. I dont really see any use going to 3rd world countries for live gates.

    And UFC will never be forgiven in japan after the pride drama. Not anytime soon at least, maybe 25-30 years from now. The fact that that org was actually called pride is an unfortunate coinky dink.

  4. Oops! says:

    I’m waiting to see when they decide to come to Edmonton or Calgary. Both a day’s ride from Saskatoon.

    MFC and KOTC Canada are the only show’s I’ve been to.

  5. 45 Huddle says:

    Would Brazil also go under the category of a country with not enough money to put on a UFC event? Plus, I would worry about security at the events.

    France makes the most sense. Cheick Kongo would be good. Not sure about GSP. I have to admit my ignorance on French Canadian vs. French. Not sure if GSP’s popularity would translate over there. I would assume that if there is the potential, he seems like a lock for a main event in that country.

  6. Mark says:

    Why do you worry about security? Are you afraid Rio Heroes will do a run-in?

  7. Fluyid says:

    Damien Riccio vs. Royce Gracie in France!!

  8. Alan Conceicao says:

    I dont think theres any money in mexico, well except for that one guy who’s on the billionaire list right behind bill gates. The Philippines either.

    I’m generally pessimistic when it comes to their international talk these days. Mexico is a good example: Lots of talk, then lots of excuses. They don’t have anyone to sell tickets to in Mexico, they don’t have any local fighters, and they don’t have any solid idea of where to run it. And if they did run there, they’d have a lame-o live gate even if they filled a bullring (and they can’t). The talk eventually became the WEC doing it and then that’s gone quiet too.

    I dont really see any use going to 3rd world countries for live gates.

    You’re right. I just think its absurd to see people talk about their incredible international efforts before they run shows in half the places they talk about. Forget even getting to the making money part.

  9. Mark says:

    Japan wouldn’t accept the UFC in a major way. Even if they did forgive them for the PRIDE closure, MMA is in a downcycle there.

    The Philippines success banks only on one fighter (Vera) which is a terrible idea. Some would say the UFC made that strategy work in Canada with GSP, but Canadians have supported MMA for as long as Americans have, but Filipinos only seem interested in Brandon Vera.

    Mexico has shown absolutely no demand for MMA. How could you expect to be successful in a country where Dos Caras Jr. in their biggest MMA star, anyway?

    Brazil could give them a sold out venue, but I don’t know how their Real currency matches up to our Dollars currency.

    South Korea is like Philippines where you’re banking on one big name to carry them. And how do South Koreans feel about Akiyama denouncing his heritage for Japanese acceptance, anyway? If I was Korean I would be fond of him for that.

    If the UK didn’t break a profit I don’t see how anywhere else would.

  10. 45 Huddle says:

    Arlovski vs. Rogers on June 6th Strikeforce. Great fight to watch. I do have two major problems with this from a booking perspective.

    1) This is throwing Rogers to the wolves in a match-up he could easily lose.

    2) This puts Cavalcante/Hamen on the undercard, and the Randleman and Riggs fights stay on the main card. Are you kidding me? This isn’t Fitch UFC 92 stuff, but very close. Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps worse because at least the guys on the 92 main card were legit. Same can’t be said for Randleman or Riggs these days.

  11. robthom says:

    “… they’d have a lame-o live gate even if they filled a bullring (and they can’t). ”

    Lol. 🙂

    “Brazil could give them a sold out venue, but I don’t know how their Real currency matches up to our Dollars currency. ”

    Although I understand that brazil has a lot of slums and poverty, I’ve heard people point to Rock in Rio as an example of organizing a successful and profitable event there.
    And with all the great Brazilian fighters that UFC has somehow gotten their hands on recently, it would seem like a natural.

    I wonder why I dont recall hearing any talk about another UFC Brazil recently at all?

  12. Dave says:

    I’m sorta curious as to why they haven’t looked into european countries that kickboxing does so well in.

  13. Jeremy (not that Jeremy) says:

    MMA is down-cycling in Japan because the people running the shows there no longer understand their audience, compounded by the problem that their audience is being encouraged to return to their points of origin.

    Like soccer in Japan, MMA had a solid base of support from Nikkei from Brazil and Peru (descendants of/or Japanese migrant workers who emigrated to South America in the wake of the collapse of feudalism in the early 1900s) who were encouraged to return or migrate to Japan based on their ethnic heritage and cheap wages to work in the auto industry. At one point there were about three quarters of a million Nikkei in Japan.

    As production was shifted overseas and with the recent decline in the industry as a whole, those people are being put out of work and strongly encouraged to go back to South America, in some cases even having their passage paid on the condition that they NEVER COME BACK (at least anecdotally).

    The Brazilian stars have left Japan and many of them are on the downsides of their careers. The perfect fighter to connect with that fanbase would be Machida (who is Nikkei), but I don’t know if there are enough of them with disposable income left in Japan to justify trying to market him there.

  14. Wolverine75 says:

    @Dave

    In Holland MMA in the cage is forbidden.

    The funny thing is that there is also huge problem with the rules in France. The government does not allow strikes on the ground. If they don’t work it out, they won’t do the show in France.

    @Mark

    Akiyama is a celebrity in Korea. They absolutely love him, especially after Miskai drama.

  15. Fluyid says:

    WTF is going on with WAMMA?

    “PAT MILETICH AND SAM CAPLAN ANNOUNCE THEIR RESIGNATIONS FROM THE WORLD ALLIANCE OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

    After serving in prominent positions with the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts since its inception 20 months ago, Pat Miletich and Sam Caplan have jointly announced their resignations from the MMA sanctioning body, effective immediately.”

  16. Ivan Trembow says:

    Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers being added to the Strikeforce event is fantastic news. Having said that, the idea that Baroni vs. Riggs is going to be a main card bout, while Feijao vs. Hamman is a prelim bout, is beyond pathetic.

  17. Zack says:

    The Riggs/Baroni fight is on the main card because it will be entertaining. It’s why I’m glad when fights like McFedries/Sakara or Leben/Martin make the main card. They’re just fun fights to watch.

    I agree with the Randleman point, although they’re probably hoping that he has some drawing power while Feijao probably doesn’t yet. It’s still a dumb idea since Feijao is the biggest prospect for Strikeforce in what’s been the marque division of MMA. Hammond is actually a pretty good fighter himself too. My guess is Riggs/Baroni doesn’t make it out of the first and they have time to squeeze it in.

  18. robthom says:

    Although I’m enthusiastic to see it, I’m not sure it was strategically a good idea for SF to put rogers against AA.
    Rogers is one of SF’s better prospects and I dont think he’s got a heck of a chance in this one.
    Its definitely the deeper end of the pool for a guy without a better gym behind him.

    On the other hand if he can get at that chin it will instantly legitimize him, and if not it hopefully becomes a valuable experience that will make him even better down the road.

  19. doem says:

    I had Brett losing against Overeem as well. Hes a third tier heavy like Rothwell. Not going to beat a polished heavyweight fighter.

  20. 45 Huddle says:

    I’m very happy that WAMMA is likely over. That was just bad for the sport. Good Bye!

    “On the other hand if he can get at that chin it will instantly legitimize him, and if not it hopefully becomes a valuable experience that will make him even better down the road.”

    I feel like losses outside of the UFC kill a fighters career. What has happened to Rothwell and Nelson? Both aren’t even talked about anymore. A loss to Arlovski would almost be a career killer for Rogers at this point.

  21. 45 Huddle says:

    Heath Herring out of UFC 99.

    They have a few options now, especially with Tim Hague now without an opponent. It would almost be stupid for them to put Hague/Velasquez on at this point.

    I’d rather see Turk/Hague back on, and then Cain vs. Mirko.

  22. robthom says:

    Only problem I have with Cain/Mirko is the political ramifications, the actual fights sounds awesome.

    But if crocop gets smashed right out of the gate by a rising prospect like the GG fight, especially fresh back after such a reputation damaging first attempt, he might as well tip out of the cage all the way back to japan.
    I dont think he’ll ever get the momentum back if his “rebirth” gets immediately ruined.

    He needs a little bit of fair warm up first. He needs to look good at least once first before going against serious contenders.

    And if Cain looses it kind of wastes his current mystique as an undefeated potential wunderkind.
    Something that doesn’t come along everyday and shouldn’t be just pissed away for a spur of the moment cool sounding fight.

    Sounds like a great fight, but more to lose than gain to do it right now. I’d rather see them do that down the road a little bit.

  23. Ivan Trembow says:

    I’m not surprised by Cro Cop’s return to the UFC, but I am surprised that he’s fighting in June. Cro Cop is fighting just five months after reconstructive knee surgery? And he’s having a training camp three to four months after reconstructive knee surgery?

  24. robthom says:

    Interesting point.

    I didn’t even consider the logistics of the timeline, but it does seem kinda quick and out of nowhere.

    You think its enough time to handle Al Turk?

    I hope this isn’t another form of his “training in a cage doesn’t matter its all the same” attitude applied to training camps on the whole.

    IE: “My knee feels better, training camp shmraining camp. I’m Crocop dammit!”

  25. Mark says:

    Re: MMA in Japan

    To sell out in Japan, they’re going to need a Japanese Superstar to bank on. And they don’t have one, they just have a group of Japanese fighters that have star power more comparable to Shoji than Sakuraba. They’re not all that interested in the UFC product, so if they want MMA they’ve got Japanese products to watch. They don’t watch it on television so why would they go to a venue to see it?

    Re: Caplan/Miletich leave WAMMA

    Both men were hindered in their day jobs by being linked to them, so it’s not all that surprising. Caplan’s 5oz’s Of Credibility took a big hit since everybody stopped taking him seriously after signing on to run that joke of a group. And Pat’s fighters, if they were highly ranked, stood the risk of losing credibility with the public since lots of people would believe they only got their spots on the rankings due to Pat’s connections..

  26. Grape Knee High says:

    The timeline for coming back from knee surgery really depends on the type. Shogun took a long time because he completely tore his ACL. It sounds likely that Cro Cop only had minor ligament damage, or just got scoped to clean out some debris.

    Depending on the type of surgery, pro athletes are sometimes back to competing just a few weeks after getting scoped.

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