White on Jones’ bullying charge: I’m making the fights people want
Dana White: “In boxing, these guys run away, and they tried to make Floyd and Manny seven years ago – fight still hasn’t been made. We make fights, that’s what we do.”
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones recently appeared on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour and discussed his latest contract negotiation with the UFC, during which it was announced he would be fighting Alexander Gustafsson, when he wanted to fight Daniel Cormier.
“Originally, I just kind of identified it as being like a strong arm technique on their part,” said Jones. “Get fans pushing for a fight prematurely. I hadn’t even heard that date before… I thought it was unprofessional, a bully tactic.”
UFC president Dana White appeared recently on AXS TV’s Inside MMA and offered no denial that he tried to pressure Jones into the rematch, made no apologies, and simply explained he was doing his job.
We sit down and we try to make everybody happy, but this isn’t boxing, man, said White as transcribed by Tom Ngo. In boxing, these guys run away, and they tried to make Floyd and Manny seven years ago – fight still hasn’t been made. We make fights, that’s what we do.
“I had a real stupid article by a real stupid journalist where he was talking about how I get whatever I want and he called me a czar. That’s my job, to put on fights people want to see. If an overwhelming number of people don’t want to see Jones-Gustafsson, then I probably wouldn’t want to make it.”
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 178 on 27 Sept. And he recently signed a new contract with the UFC that he said he was “extremely happy” with.
During the same appearance White also addresses two other recent controversies.
UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo recently complained, again, about UFC compensation.
“Yeah, they don’t sell as much as the bigger guys and a guy like Jose Aldo has the talent and the ability to be a big star,” said White as transcribed by BE. “It’s up to a guy like Jose Aldo to make people care and want to watch your fights.”
White also discussed the recent firing of Bellator founder Bjorn Rebney by Viacom, and his replacement by former Strikeforce founder Scott Coker.
Well not only do I know Scott very well, I know the guys at Spike very well, I was in business with them for a long time. And I think that this is a much better fit for them than Bjork was, said White.
