(‘You…just ruined my vacation, Frank Mir.’)
Despite the heat generated by the post-fight face-off between "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans, the proposed title bout for UFC 98 in May isn’t guaranteed just yet. Dana White was upfront about the possibility that injury or simple fatigue could keep Jackson out of the fight, in which case Lyoto Machida would get the title shot.
Injuries or not, Rampage didn’t exactly sound thrilled about fighting again in just a little over two months.
"I want my belt back, but I got to talk to manager and talk some things though. Then I’ll tell Dana what’s up," he said.
If he does take the title fight, Jackson acknowledged that it would ruin plans he had for some time off, saying that after being told of the Evans fight as a replacement for Frank Mir/Brock Lesnar at UFC 98 he immediately thought, "most likely my black ass is going to be up in the mountains training again in like two weeks.”
He also said he’d had plans to take an island getaway with a female Asian friend yet to be determined but now "all of that shattered because somebody got they damn knee ‘scoped.”
- In other news to come out of the press conference, White seemed very impressed with Shane Carwin‘s performance, saying, "Beating Gonzaga and beating him the way he did, I don’t think there’s anyone he can’t fight in the UFC."
- White said Mark Munoz was doing fine after the initial scare following his knockout loss to Matt Hamill, but said, "Pete Sell is the one I’m worried about," adding that he sent Sell to the hospital.
- On the subject of the bizarre fight between Sell and Matt Brown, White said, "I couldn’t believe what I was seeing," with regards to referee Yves Lavigne allowing the bout to continue. He said was hurt his arm banging on the side of the Octagon and screaming for the fight to be stopped — a first for him.
- As for the referee troubles on the night, White said: "I hate dogging refs because I know they have a hard job. …There’s a few guys out there who are good and a lot of guys who aren’t."
- When asked about nixing Tamdan McCrory‘s music choice, White copped to it and explained, "I let them all pick their music and then I go back and change it if I don’t like it." One choice he originally wanted to change was Matt Hamill’s entrance to "Hang On, Sloopy," but he decided to allow it when someone explained the significance for Ohio State fans. See? I’m not the only one who didn’t know that.
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There are those which are too soon and the occasional one that goes on too long, but don't exaggerate the severity of the consequences of late referee interventions.
There have been some barbaric beat-downs of late that were never at the risk of stoppage - Kos on Lytle for example. The damage done in a fight like Matt Brown vs. Pete Sell between the initial referee involvement and the close is not worth bitching about, as it isn't even close to the damage caused in a fight like Kos/Lyle. One of those types of contests is more risky from an injury leading to bad publicity perspective.
On a side point - the boxing in the UK this evening had a contest in which a Latvian guy with 2 amateur fights made his pro debut and got destroyed mercilessly. During the fight the commentators questioned the vetting process in place by the boxing authorities and slated the referee prettymuch non-stop for the last 2 of 4 rounds. We don't really get that kind of honesty from Joe and Mike for example.