UFC FIGHT NIGHT 150 POST-FIGHT PRESSER NEWS AND NOTES
UFC president Dana White talked to reporters after UFC Fight Night 150 and answered their questions. Here’s what the boss man had to say in response to this MMA media’s queries:
The incentive for”Battle of the Night” moved to Mike Perry vs. Alex Oliveira, while”Performance of the Night” bonuses went to veterans Glover Teixeira and Jim Miller. White confessed handing out FOTN was a difficult choice considering how good the main event between Jack Hermansson and Ronaldo”Jacare” Souza was, but finally said he and the matchmakers reached a unanimous choice to give the incentive to Perry and Oliveira.
White reported the UFC reserved Hermansson against Souza since they think he is talented, and stated he had been pleased with the fact”The Joker” was prepared to go to the ground with Souza. He said Souza’s strength from the matchup impressed him, but ultimately he did not get the win.
Hermansson’s win puts him at the name combination at 185lbs, but not until UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and interim UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya try to merge the belt later this season. It is reasonable to state that Hermansson will need at least more big-name win before he fights for the middleweight belt.
White said he wasn’t a fan of this event between Greg Hardy and Dmitry Smoliakov. He explained the UFC doesn’t do set-up fights, despite what fans and press were saying online about this particular fight, but said he was very disappointed in Smoliakov’s performance. He’d add that Hardy came in great shape for the fight and did his job from getting the win, but White was quite critical of Smoliakov’s padded 9-2 record coming to the struggle.
The timing of this NFL draft did not have a thing to do with Hardy being on the crowed. It was since it had been in Florida and Hardy trains in American Top Team, according to White.
The UFC was pleased with the presence and gate and plans on coming back to Florida at a certain stage.
White stated the UFC is going to Mexico and Puerto Rico. The company is looking at land and is laying out a business plan for both countries. The UFC is trying to”kickstart the market” by building a performance institute in Puerto Rico, to provide jobs to individuals impacted by the hurricanes.
White credited American Top Team proprietor Dan Lambert for spending cash to develop the Florida regional MMA scene.
White said he was impressed with Perry’s performance, and praised how he remained composed against Oliveira even if he had been hurt. The UFC is very high on Perry and this triumph over Oliveira could push him to the top-15.
The UFC was supposed to meet with Conor McGregor in Miami, but will instead meet with him in Los Angeles shortly.
Tony Ferguson has no return date set but White stated he wants to book as soon as he is cleared to battle.
White reported the UFC’s decision to go to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale the next time they head to Florida will rely on who fights on the card.
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