Quotes Round-Up: Dana White, Chuck Liddell, Batista and Alistair Overeem
Posted on June 21, 2010, 04:47 PM by Daniel CassidyDespite UFC president Dana White last week promising we would never see Chuck Liddell fight again inside the Octagon, it seems Liddell has other ideas. While few can argue that the Chuck Liddell of UFC 115 was one of the best versions of The Iceman once again he was let down by his chin, being on the receiving end of his 3rd KO in 5 fights, and fourth straight loss.
But despite all this, Chuck himself wants to conttinue:
Speaking to Yahoo! Sports Kevin Iole: "I’m still working on evaluating. I thought I did great before I was caught. I have to look at it some more and think about it. I think I looked good and I definitely was in great shape. I could have kept that pace up for another four rounds, without a doubt. It’s hard to beat that [aggressiveness] out of me, because that’s who I am and that’s who I’ve been for a long, long time. People like watching me because of the way I fight, so it’s hard to get me not to fight that way.
There’s a lot still to think about. I felt pretty good and I think showed I can compete. I’m not going to rush and I’ll do what I think is best. I’m just not at a point to make that decision yet."
In other Dana White related news, it seems after years of trying, he has finally given up on landing the biggest fish in the mma pond, Fedor Emilianenko. Despite making no secret of his desire to bring The Last Emperor into UFC, he seems to have accepted defeat at last:
Speaking via sportsradiointerviews.com: "It will never happen in a million years. They are a minor league. Listen I have come to the realization and everyone else needs to too that Fedor (Emeliananko) doesn’t want to fight the best guys in the world. Believe me when I tell you guys I have done everything in my power, I have flown to crazy parts of the world, done all this stuff, been on the phone for hours, not hung out with my kids on weekends because I’m on the phone with these lunatics and just can’t make the deal. They don’t want to do it so we gotta get over it.”
In a more bizarre turn of events, it seems Strikeforce could be on the verge of signing former WWE Champion Dave Bautista. When Batista was cornered by paparazzi, he claimed to have signed for the UFC's biggest competition, however Strikeforce's official stance is that its not true, releasing a statement saying that the wrestler "definitely has not signed" (mmamania.com) for the California based promotion. Below is the video of Batista claiming to have signed for them:
And finally, speaking via MMABay.co.uk, Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Allistair Overeem has made it crystal clear who he wants next, saying it will be madness if he does not fight Fedor next, should Emilianenko overcome Fabricio Werdum:
“My number one priority is to defend my belt at Strikeforce and keep fighting as much as I can. For me the fight with Fedor makes the most sense. If Strikeforce has the number one fighter in the world then it’s crazy that it’s belt holder (me) is not fighting him. I know the fans want it so therefore I want it. I would love to fight the man that’s considered by most people the best in the world. It would be a honor to fight him and see if I’m truly the Strikeforce champion.”
UFC 118 Poster:
Comments
Fedor won't fight in the UFC. It disappoints me because as much as I dislike the fighter he is I want to see him against some actual compitetion. Too bad he will never be man enough to step up to the plate. He has done everything there is to do in the sport except conqure his challenger of the throne.
It is more than likely that Chuck is done. I cannot even begin to tell you how hard it is to say that one of the last originals is done. I can't pull myself to say that he is no longer the best. His chin is not at the level the rest of his body is, and that is the only reason he can't compete at what is now one of the best Chuck LIddell's of his career. He needs to hang uo the gloves as hard as it is.
All of the WWE fighters seem to make there debut in SF. If they fail, they are never heard of again, but in the case of success they find themselves in the UFC.
There's at least an exciting match up for Fedor outside the UFC, Overeem. The Reem is right at the top with the likes of Brock, Carwin, and Valasquez...Big Foot Silva has shown some great skills lately; that's another interesting, though less exciting, match up...
Fedor has paid his dues long ago...There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that he's willing to fight anyone, anywhere and that he can beat everyone (he can lose too)...Too bad he's not in the UFC...So, let's live with the situation and enjoy his fights whenever they happen.......
If Dana White was not in the UFC, being as disrespectful and as much of a tyrant as he is, I can guarantee Fedor would already have fought Lesnar. This has nothing to do with Fedor's willingness to fight, it has to do with Dana and the way he treats fighters.
You Realize that No one In the UFC can Beat Allistar Overeem right? Brock may not be the best the UFC has but if he is he would be no Match for Overeems speed and technical skills
Alister has been beating up people in Japan because they allow steroids. There was no one for him to fight in Strikeforce, thats why he want to Japan. He comes back to fight Rogers who is a Nobody and now you say he's the best.
I am not going to say that Brock is the best either, but Brock is a world class wrestler who can probably take Overeem down at will. All the top fighters will tell you that you need a wrestling game 1st, then your stand up to survive in the sport. Overeem is a kickboxer/striker....
Sorry, you're confused. Overroids has refused to fight anywhere but japan because he needs to juice, and because he needs to fight 2nd rate competition.
You mean his steroids right when you say speed and technical skills???
With all due respect. Overeem has been tested before most of his fights, including fights in North America as well as in Japan, and has never tested positive. He won the Strike Force belt fair and square over 2 years ago and defended it fair and square.
It's simply unjust to have be accused time and again without one instance of tested proof (i.e. Josh Barnett). I mean we could make the same claims that Brook is still a user to this day based on the criteria that many of you guys use to determine guilt.
daaaaaaaaaaamn im ****ing ready for couture vs toney!!!
"Too bad he will never be man enough to step up"
what are u 12?
grow up
Yes, actually I am 12
Yea he is a tyrant because all of the stakeholders at the UFC do smart business and already make a ton of money.... Why the hell do they need to share with M-1? For their one fighter?
Im sure Dana White approached Fedor respectivly in the beginings of negoations, and it went bad from their.
Where are you getting your information, maybe making it up...
Guys are still joinging the UFC every year. Brock is only be with the UFC a few years...We all have bosses who might be jerks at times, but Dana has definately persevered and help the company grow...
This is all with Fedor managers who explicitly requested a portion of the gates gross earnings when Fedor fights. Fedors managers are full of shit....
If Fedor really wanted to fight the best guys from the UFC, deals would be made without adoubt. Even if he didnt get dollars that he wanted from the UFC, just to get in the UFC and prove himself, i would bet he would make even bigger bucks that in strikeforce...
Nonsense that you pulled out of your ass.
Its not about Money Kid. If all the UFC fighters demanded more money the UFC would be forced to pay them as much as they wanted or Leave to strikeforce. IF the fighters Knew that other ppl were making more money than they were then something like this would be likely to happen.
Let's see how unruthless the UFC is if they ever developed a fighters union like players unions in all other sports. Allow fighters to have some sort of future after they have made those shareholders 100's of millions. Every fighter in the UFC has a clause in their contract that states they can never leave the UFC on a win and fight MMA. They cannot fight for other promotions, they cannot endorse any products without the UFC's permission. Can you blame athletes who are unwilling to sign that?
Kid huh? Lol, please.... Then u make a comment that isnt even relevant to what I said....
The UFC created the market and runs the best business model. The average MMA fighter in the UFC makes far far more than the average boxer makes in a professional fight. Other organizations are riding their coat tails, not having to contribute to things like getting MMA sanctioned in new places. And they still tank left and right. They don't know how to spend their money. And, UFC fighters make a lot of money, being the best and biggest organization, they get a lot from sponsors.
If its not about the money, then why do u think M-1 wants to co-promote? For cookies?
I understand that.... As the comments and replies get further and further down the page, it seems like people get more and more out of touch with the entire point of the original comments... No disrespect bud.
He is not willing to fight anyone. He turned down the best offer in MMA history to fight somewhere else. To me it just seems like he is afraid. The UFC Fedor will always be the most desired Fedor
You are Right. At one poin Randy Coture was the best the UFC had. At that time Fedor would have beaten him and can beat him now. Fedor Has just outlasted his time in MMA .
He's not old, it's a weak excuse.
Feeding the fire again. I will say this about Chuck. A lot of us think he is washed up but if the man wants to fight, let him. He should be applauded for that.
i can applaud his fight but common sense should prevail, it's not healthy for him keep getting knocked out he should hang it up imo for that reason alone.
As for Fedor i can't buy this whole idea that Dana and the UFC are the problem not Fedor and his management. If Fedor retires without fighting people like Cain Valsquez, Lesnar, Carwin etc can all his supporters really say he's the best ever. Watching video's of Fedor fights have made me see why he so highly rated I never got the opportunity to see pride when it had all the best fighters but have been watching the UFC long enough to see it have all the best fighters right now and feel cheated that as a mma fan that this guy isn't fighting in the UFC and will feel even more cheated if retires without doing so
When you fight for UFC you are Dana's bitch, and Fedor didn't want to be. Someone used the boxing analogy before and if you apply that then Fedor is the Matweather of mma and why shouldn't he demand gross amounts or his management. He is the star attraction. As many haters as fans are always glued when this guy fights, some praying he loses so they can justify their pathetic disrespect for the guy.
Dana said he feels he should make the fights the fans wants, but he only ever gonna do that when he owns the fighters, if he dont he will do his best to block it. The guy is full of crap sometimes, he should practice what he preaches and we could see Brock Fedor this year.
Please people use your common sense forget the fact dana can be a **** or is one. you seriously telling me carwin is a bitch ? and how did randy end up in the EA MMA game ? simple when he had his legal battle with the ufc obviously some adjustments were made to his contract to keep him . Now if other dudes want to do his they can they don't because 90% of fighters just want to fight. When the ufc really want someone and don't get them common sense should tell you fedor's people don't want him in the ufc. again use your brain fedor can ask for a short term contract or whatever he wants they want him bad but still NO DEAL. WHY ? because of dana's attitude please lol
I want to see Fedor fight the toughest competition possible...he's only 31 he shouldn't be thinking about retiring.. he should be thinking... who's ass is getting kicked next
When i saw the top picture I was like, holy steroids much.
If Batista was going to MMA, hes got to stop juicing...
Chuck has definetly improved his physic and whole fighting game plan since he fought Shogun, I gotto give him that. But watching him getting knocked out by Frankln's left arm makes me think he shouldn't be fighting anymore. I've probibly wrote 3 other comments like this before but thats not the point. Liddel's chin is like a sponge compared to what it was before and I'm surprized he still fighting.
I think he still wants to take another shot at Tito before he retires, but i think with the condition he is in, he will get knocked out again. Hes just too old to be fighting and Randy he is old to but hes doing 100 times better than Chuck is....
When i saw the top picture I was like, holy steroids much.
If Batista was going to MMA, hes got to stop juicing...
Chuck has definetly improved his physic and whole fighting game plan since he fought Shogun, I gotto give him that. But watching him getting knocked out by Frankln's left arm makes me think he shouldn't be fighting anymore. I've probibly wrote 3 other comments like this before but thats not the point. Liddel's chin is like a sponge compared to what it was before and I'm surprized he still fighting.
I think he still wants to take another shot at Tito before he retires, but i think with the condition he is in, he will get knocked out again. Hes just too old to be fighting and Randy he is old to but hes doing 100 times better than Chuck is....
..
Yea anyone big MUST be on roids....
thats how a majority of the people up here think. Idk how ppl jump the gun like that. BIG arms, legs, hands, head.......that aint natural must be steroids.
dude look at him.. he's obviously on steroids
There's a difference between being big and looking like ronnie coleman
He was big when he was an infant, he was a monster when he was a 13 year old kid. I'm sure he was juicing then too though... According to everyone who gives testimony, Lesnar trains like a maniac in the gym.
lol atleast batista is smarter than bobby and brock. He dont want nothing to do with fedor
Go chuck. Being a man and making ur own decisions, whatever it is u want to do, u kno whats best and good luck. Fedor.........dnt really care bout him so on to Batista.....man is big huge and an athlete to boot he would be a good competitor in the MMA world.....OH NO WAIT, he was a wrestler on a non MMA affiliated program.....so i guess i have to hate him and think he is a joke to himself and MMA as a whole. See its easy to be an idiot HAHAHA.
its to bad dana and chuck are such good friends..if not chuck could man up and say **** you i decide wen i retire and dana cant afford to lose chuck to strikeforce so he would let him fight
I assume your refering to those hate that Brock Lesnar for making millions in the WWE then kicking randys ass. anyway just so you know Batista has now wrestling back round, he was a body builder before he joined the WWE so if people think Brock is roid freak just take a look at Batista that a real roid freak imo.
when he actually fails a drug test then hey shout it from the roof tops that hes on steroids but if that is the only reason that u hate or dislike him, and the only proof is "that he is big" then its just not worth it. If he turns into a Sean Sherk or Chris Leben then hey hate his guts, but till then just assume that he is that big becuase he worked for it.
LOL loo man don't you dare try to say Batista has never used steroids. Look man i used to tune in and out of the WWE years ago trust me he's used. I got no problem with Batista it would just make sense if people hated on him rather than brock. brock's haters say he is not mma but then jump on the Cain Valasquez bandwagon when their athletic back round is the same
The thing is is that Fedor is competitive in a difference sense of the word. He doesn't feel the need to prove anything to anyone in MMA. He fights because he loves to fight and tries to win because he doesn't want to be in poverty, competing in general is what proves success to himself. Now GSP for example feels the need to prove it to himself as well as others that he is the best at what he does, always wanting to fight the guy who's better(or may be.) I think when people understand that about Fedor they will stop critiquing him on how he fights and who he fights for. Most American MMA fans enjoy the aggression and violence of the sport, the other ones who look at it as skill and determination are the die hard Fedor fans. Like myself
Oh boy.... That seems to happen a lot with Fedor fans. Why generalize people who don't think he is the best as "violence loving Americans?" He has a TON of American fans.... Also, its funny that u are suggesting that a man with 8 T(KO)'s is not just as violent as the next fighter. I am not attacking u, but rather the comment... What bothers me is there are a LOT of different fighters, styles, attitudes, etc in the MMA world and each person values different things in a fighter... Just like the judges vs the fans when a fight goes to decision.... Not EVERYONE is going to think Fedor is the best... Its irrational to expect it with such diversity among fighters, styles and fans...
Batista finally quit that fake wrestling crap and went to a real sport, I said he should have gone to MMA a long time ago. I think he will be good for the sport.
im not sure how much he has left in him though, he's in his 40s
It's a shame that Fedor won't be tested by most of the top HW's in the world, but that's what happens when a thing as big as MMA has become turns into a money and politics game, and that's what it boils down to. As far as Liddell is concerned, he is a true competitor and I'm not surprised that he does not want to quit. Can you blame him? The jury is still out on this whole Batista thing. I give him credit for stepping away from a WWE gold mine and actually wanting to prove himself as a real fighter. Anyone who takes up MMA professionally deserves that credit, but only time will tell whether he can be legit or not.