UFC 119 Press Conference Highlights
Ultimate Fighting Championship will be in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday night for UFC 119. On Thursday, UFC president Dana White along with a select group of fighters held a press
conference to talk about the fight card and current issues affecting the UFC. What follows are some highlights from the press conference.
When asked about why the UFC was returning to the Midwest for UFC 119 after a being absent from the area for so long, White responded, “it’s very important to us, not only to get to the
Midwest but to get everywhere. We want to bring this thing all over the world, and let everybody experience it. I truly believe this is one of the best sports in the world and we want to introduce it to everybody everywhere.”
Mr. White was later asked about his feelings on the downturn in popularity of UFC and falling ratings for “The Ultimate Fighter” television program. White chuckled as he began, “the business
hasn’t slowed down or had any lulls whatsoever. We want to continue to grow. If you look at the economic disaster that’s going on right now and you look at other sports, not only other sports, but other entertainment, for instance concerts. There were tons
of stars that were out touring, half of them shut down their concerts. The UFC machine continues to roll, we keep putting on event after event after event. You are very misinformed my friend.”
White had this to say when questioned about Chael Sonnen’s recent positive drug test and subsequent suspension, “I was very bummed out. That was such a great fight. Any time you have a
great fight like that that’s tainted, it sucks, to be honest with you. Every time these athletes step in to compete they are tested by the government, not only for performance enhancing drugs, but all other kinds of drugs. They are the only athletes, besides
boxers, that actually step in and get tested by the government. Now Chael is going to have to go before the California State Athletic Commission and we’re going to have to find out what happens.”
White commented on the eye injury that Mirko “Cro-Cop” Filipovic sustained in training for his feature bout against Frank Mir: “All kinds of people talk smack about ‘what do you consider
an injury?’ We don’t talk about, a guy is fine or he’s not fine, until we’ve had him checked out by the doctor. Mirko’s been checked out by doctors in Croatia, doctors here, Mirko’s eye is good and ready to go.”
Chris Lytle, who is facing Matt Serra, was a little more comical with his comments, “I’ve been fighting for a long time. I’ve got four kids. I’ve got a lot pf pent up rage. I got to let
that out at some point. I just bottle it up and suppress it until I get in the cage and then I let it go. It’s my therapy session. It’s either that or go to a therapist, it’s a lot cheaper this way.”
“Cro-Cop” delivered a one liner of his own when asked why he took the fight with Mir, he replied, “Don Corleone made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
UFC 119 will take place on September 25, 2010 at Canseco Field House in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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