White: Aldo probably would have made close to $4,000,000
Dana White on what Jose Aldo’s purse would have been: “Millions of dollars. Yeah, he probably would’ve made close to four million.”
UFC president Dana White appeared recently on The Russillo Show on ESPN Radio and discussed Saturday’s fight between featherweights Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes, and what might have been.
“Jose Aldo falls out, ticket sales are at 6.8 million,” said White as transcribed by Michael Stets for MMAMania. “Chad Mendes comes in, ticket sales go through the roof. 7.1 million, we are adding bleachers into the MGM. You can hook on these bleachers on to the top of the MGM. It’s at 7.1, it’s the biggest gate ever in the United States and not only did it not lose interest, it almost sort of gained more interest, as crazy as that sounds.”
The fight was of course supposed to be vs. division champion Jose Aldo, but the Brazilian suffered a broken rib while sparring, and it was videoed.
“It’s crazy because I actually saw the video,” said White. “He gets hit with a spinning-heel kick, which is crazy in itself that anyone is even throwing that at him two weeks before his fight. It is what it is. He stood to make a lot of money, a lot of money. If he could’ve fought, he would’ve fought.”
Not only was Aldo out one rib, Rusiillo asked White if the rumor was correct that the champion stood to make four million dollars.
“Millions of dollars,” White said. “Yeah, he probably would’ve made close to four million.”
In an interview with MMAFighting.com White defended Aldo against charges by asses in seats that he shouldn’t have pulled out.
“This is a contact sport.” said White. “You’re looking at a guy, Jose Aldo, who hasn’t lost in 10 years, defended his title seven times. Believe when I tell you he wanted to be here Saturday night, everyone loses except Chad Mendes. One man’s loss is another man’s gain. This happens, its a contact sport. It’s like having Tom Brady as a quarterback and being upset that he’s hurt. It’s going to happen.”