
(Dan also took his stapler and three boxes of ballpoint pens from the supply closet. Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.)
Dana White has never been one to lose a fight gracefully. Now that Dan Henderson has scampered off to rival fight club Strikeforce, it’s time for DW to start telling everybody what a farce Hendo is. As White explained to MMA Fanhouse:
"Let me ask you a question. Do you think that there’s any guy we can’t get that I want? Other than Fedor [Emelianenko]? So far, he’s been the one guy we can’t get. But everyone else that we’ve wanted, we got. If I wanted Dan Henderson, I could’ve signed him…
For
the money he wanted, he’s not worth it. He’s not a big pay-per-view star, he’s not a big attraction, and he’s not going to sell out arenas. He wants way too much and he doesn’t bring anything to the table…I could care less. Here’s the reality: If I wanted him, he’d be in the UFC. It’s not like, ‘F***, Strikeforce beat me out.’ He’s been a free agent for a long time. If I wanted him, I would have signed him by now."
Dana also claims that he effectively forced Henderson out of the organization:
White says that while he originally entered negotiations in good faith, after three or four meetings with Henderson and his management, he realized it was unlikely the two sides would come to terms. Eventually, he lowered his original offer, effectively forcing Henderson’s hand in signing with Strikeforce. "I wanted him to s**t or get off the pot," he said. "He was in this limbo forever, and he needed more motivation to make a decision.
Will Strikeforce be able to pay Henderson even close to what he was asking from the UFC? Probably not — but at least they’ll appreciate him. From an earlier report on Sherdog:
[Henderson's manager Aaron] Crecy said Henderson was “very pleased” with the terms of his new contract and that money was not the fighter’s sole objective in his decision to move to the newer promotion.
“Dan likes to be a maverick, and I think part of the attraction to Strikeforce was to be a part of something that broadens the growth of the sport within the U.S. and globally,” said Crecy. “The fact that Strikeforce offers a network television platform in CBS as well as a premium cable partner in Showtime was particularly appealing to him. It delivers an incredible opportunity for Dan to perform live before an audience of millions of present and future MMA fans. Also, (Strikeforce CEO) Scott Coker treated Dan with a great deal of respect and integrity throughout the negotiations, and that certainly affected his decision. Dan is very excited to be a part of the Strikeforce family."
Hey, whatever you gotta tell yourself…
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Showing 1-25 of comments
commentsGood points. Hendo indeed rocks, and Kimbo indeed sucks. I still think Dana did the right thing, however. At least your argument is sound.
@ Barc
Your point regarding MBAs is also good. People may not like Mr. White, but he knows how to run his own business. Like him or hate him, he's financially sharp. He sure as hell knows more about making a profit than the average MMA fighter or fan.
aww yea
UFC Fanboy = DW, there is no why he isn't!
now what i mean, is that i find all the ridiculous bullshit surrounding UFC's PPV's and such annoying, but i'm still a dedicated MMA fan. So obviously im not going to boycott watching these fighters just because i disagree with one promotions methods of selling MMA
p.s - arastmaus, get the dick out ya ass, noamsayn?"
Yep, that seals it.
I KNEW you were retarded.
Its a really good interview.
Hendo is so laid back.
I dont like to bitch about Dana, theres way too much of that already. But it does make Dana and the UFC look kinda like jerks just in contrast to Hendo's tone and disposition.
In the end I think I'm starting to agree with Hendo that it may have just been for the best. They just didn't fit together well. I've had "good" jobs that were bad enough in ways that made them not worth keeping if there was an alternative.
now what i mean, is that i find all the ridiculous bullshit surrounding UFC's PPV's and such annoying, but i'm still a dedicated MMA fan. So obviously im not going to boycott watching these fighters just because i disagree with one promotions methods of selling MMA
p.s - arastmaus, get the dick out ya ass, noamsayn?
"UFC is gettin to be WACK. not that i still wont steal all their PPV's off the internet and wtach every single fight they produce.....but they are hella wack"
Why subject yourself to something you don't like? Sounds like something a retarded person would do.
Are you retarded?
You're retarded, aren't you?
I'll bet they weren't lowballing him financially. And as far as an "audience of millions" they gave him a TV show and at least 3 headliner fights.
Did he want dana to read him stories and tuck him into bed at night or what?
Dans a really good fighter, but he seems like he's always skirting the top shelf almost intentionally. Always the prince but rarely a king.
Mon, 12/07/2009 - 15:42
@UFC fan
Is what 831 son said true? Are you seriously that old and still that stupid? Whatever happened to with age comes wisdom? Or at least the ability to logically process thought. I bet you're divorced and your kids hate you.
----------
Dana white is a jerk. Why would anybody talk crap about a good ol' boy like dan like that. I hope dan isn't the last fighter to jump ship on the UFC. Maybe it'll humble DW a little."
exesforassholes if you actually read this website more often you would know the answers to your question of my age. For your information I am happily married and she finds you children to be amusing and annoying, to qoute her. As for my kids they are college grads, have a house a nice job and a life all their own, unlike you. Try to get out of your dad's basement every now and then, ok?
"MachidaVsSilva Says:
Mon, 12/07/2009 - 15:53
UFC Fan, you are missing the point. No one doubts Dana has carte blanche. He's an asshole because he is "sour graping" Hendo for not sucking the D. He could have shown a little more respect. Dana isn't the one out there fighting. He treats the fighters like show dogs. And I watch UFC because I like the fights and the fighters, not because I think Dana White's a great business man. I honestly never understood why so many people were flaming you but I'm starting to."
Dana White doesn't have to fight he is the boss, and someone has to be so it is what it is, fighters work for the company, and the man who runs it is Dana White, get over it. You know why you don't see Hendo bitching? cause he knows better. Hendo got respect, he got told respectfully.. NO. Dana Doesn't owe Hendo anything you are confused and think with your dick, learn to use your brain from now on. Fighters are show dogs, and they like it, you are the only one who doesn't get it. Why does Chuck liddell wanna fight more? cause he is a fighter, he could make more money a part of the administration, BUT hes a show dog, he likes the spotlight, and he craves it. UFC is the best spotlight in the world, and every fighter in the world wants to get there.
If you want to flame me join in, doesn't faze me one bit, knock yourself out I can tell you as easy as the rest to go fuck yourself in the middle of the highway, it's up to you.
"virpz Says:
Mon, 12/07/2009 - 16:05
@ UFC fan
Shut up, bitch. You talk way too much and seems to say nothing, like always."
says the newbie nobody who has yet to post anything relevant to a topic yet. You can jump right on the end of the bandwagon to go fuck yourself in the middle of the highway as well. gang up and clusterfuck with the rest of the homo's.
"I went nuts and for some reason I decided to yell America in a British douchebag's face who lived in the same dorm as me in Japan."
Wow. You're an idiot.
I think it all went to Hendo's head, to be honest. Face it, Hendo's a good fighter, but he's not flashy and doesn't have a lot of amazing fights under his belt since coming to the UFC. Most importantly, he has the charisma of the rocks used to build his skull. Guys who get PPV shares are the guys who draw in casual fans who drive up the PPV buys. Casual fans don't know Hendo because casual fans never watched Pride where Dan got to beat up Wanderlai Silva using his own IV drip. Casual fans see a plain-looking, straightforward, unmemorable fighter who never held a belt in the UFC and whose only claim to fame is that he looked good against Silva for one round. And jackasses like Tito can't win a serious fight to save their life, but the casual fans know who they are. Life isn't fair.
Strikeforce will be good for him. He'll stand out more, though I don't think he'll ever become the a real draw.
The phrase "pale lilly" is a tad redundant. It's like saying "black and dark."
The fact that any fighter in the UFC could beat up Dana White is neither here nor there. It's like saying any player in the NBA could dunk on David Stern. White isn't a fighter. He's a businessman. If you (or anyone) wants to criticize White for his financial dealings, come up with a better argument.
He is an asshole for constantly bashing fighters, when 100% of them can kick is pale lilly ass.
Does DW even know what the "High Road" is?
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