Read the highlights and key takeaways from Dana White’s post-fight press conference for UFC 288. Exciting fights, impressive performances, and potential matchups discussed. Find out what’s next for fighters like Henry Cejudo, Aljamain Sterling, and more. Stay updated with the latest news in the world of UFC.
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Main Event Analysis | Dana White scored the main event in favor of Henry Cejudo, but acknowledged it was a close fight. |
| Impressive Comeback | Dana White praised Cejudo’s performance after a three-year hiatus and his ability to fight against a much bigger opponent. |
| Sterling’s Legacy | Sterling’s victory cements him as one of the best bantamweights of all time. |
| Next Opponents | Cejudo will likely face Marlon Moraes, while Sterling may fight Sean O’Malley. |
| Diego Lopez’s Impressive Performance | Lopez showed incredible heart and determination in his fight on short notice. |
| Chances of a Fight in China | Dana White expressed interest in exploring the Chinese market and potentially organizing a fight between Yan Xiaonan and Zhang Weili. |
| Thoughts on Kron Gracie | White admired Kron Gracie but acknowledged his limited performance in the fight. |
| Belal Muhammad’s Victory | White praised Belal Muhammad for his impressive finish and becoming the first person to knock out Drew Dober in 12 years. |
| Retirement Speculation | White wouldn’t argue with Cejudo if he decides to retire again, but believes he had a great performance. |
| Future Events | Plans for upcoming events in Boston and Atlantic City were mentioned. |
| Conor McGregor’s Activities | White had no issues with McGregor’s appearance at a bare-knuckle promotion event and saw it as him enjoying being a fan. |
| Cross Promotions | White discussed the UFC’s involvement in various cross-promotions, including skateboarding championships and slap fighting. |
| Slap Fighting’s Success | Slap fighting has been incredibly successful in terms of viewership and revenue, surpassing other major sports in social media engagement. |
| Aging Fighters in Lower Weight Divisions | White reflected on the challenges faced by aging fighters in lower weight divisions and the difficulties of competing at a high level. |
| Future Plans | No immediate plans for fighters like Rose Namajunas and Dustin Poirier. Difficulties in finding breakthrough fights for fighters like Umar Nurmagomedov. |
| Flyweight Headliners | White expressed enthusiasm for flyweight fights and stated they could consider more flyweight headliners in the future. |
| Aljamain Sterling’s Main Event Status | Sterling headlining a pay-per-view event for the first time was seen as a success, with a sold-out crowd and stylistic matchup. |
| New York Fights | Challenges of organizing fights in New York due to commission regulations. Willingness to work with the commission but final decision lies with them. |
| Slap Fighting Finale | Slap fighting finale’s incredible success in terms of revenue and social media engagement. Dismissal of negative media coverage. |
| Henry Cejudo’s Future | Uncertainty about Cejudo’s future, depending on various factors and personal decision. Acknowledgment of Cejudo’s impressive performance. |
| Future Events in the New York Area | Plans for future events in Madison Square Garden, Atlantic City, and potentially other locations in the New York area. |
| Umar Nurmagomedov’s Next Fight | Difficulty in finding an opponent for Umar Nurmagomedov, but assurance of working on securing a fight. |
| Challenges for Aging Fighters | Reflection on the challenges faced by aging fighters in lower weight divisions and the impact of long layoffs on performance. Acknowledgment of Jon Jones’ incredible comeback after a three-year hiatus. |
The UFC 288 event held at the Prudential Center in Newark was a huge success, with a sold-out crowd of 17,559 and a gate of $5.12 million, making it the highest-grossing sporting event in the arena’s history. The fight of the night went to Mosvar versus Lopez, while Jana Fravola received the performance of the night award. Let’s dive into the highlights and key takeaways from Dana White’s post-fight press conference.
Main Event Analysis
Dana White praised the main event between Henry Cejudo and Aljamain Sterling, calling it a technical and close fight. While White personally scored the fight in favor of Cejudo, he acknowledged that it was a very close battle.
Impressive Comeback
White also commended Cejudo on his performance after a three-year hiatus from the Octagon. He stated that he is a big believer in ring rust and was impressed with Cejudo’s ability to fight against a much bigger opponent.
Sterling’s Legacy
With Sterling’s victory, White acknowledged that it cements him as one of the best bantamweights of all time. He mentioned the tough fights leading up to this match and the significance of defeating Cejudo, regardless of the weight and size difference.
Next Opponents
When asked about the next opponents for Cejudo and Sterling, White confirmed that Cejudo will likely face Marlon Moraes, while Sterling will potentially fight Sean O’Malley.
Diego Lopez’s Impressive Performance
White gave credit to Diego Lopez for stepping in on five days’ notice and putting up a great fight against Mosvar. Despite the short notice, Lopez showed incredible heart and determination.
Chances of a Fight in China
White discussed the possibility of a fight between Yan Xiaonan and Zhang Weili in China. He mentioned how Teddy Atlas correctly predicted the outcome of Xiaonan’s fight and expressed interest in exploring the Chinese market.
Thoughts on Kron Gracie
White expressed his admiration for Kron Gracie but acknowledged that he had a limited performance in his fight. He compared Gracie’s style to that of fighters from the ’90s and highlighted the challenges of winning fights in the current era.
Belal Muhammad’s Victory
White praised Belal Muhammad for his impressive finish against Drew Dober. Muhammad became the first person to knock out Dober in 12 years and has been calling out Patty Pimblett for a future fight.
Retirement Speculation
Regarding Henry Cejudo’s potential retirement, White stated that he wouldn’t argue with Cejudo if he decides to retire again. He believes Cejudo had a great performance and has already achieved a lot in his career.
Future Events
White mentioned plans for upcoming events in Boston and Atlantic City. He expressed excitement about returning to the East Coast and praised the support from the New Jersey governor.
Conor McGregor’s Activities
White addressed Conor McGregor’s recent appearance at a bare-knuckle promotion event. He saw it as McGregor simply enjoying being a fan and had no issues with it.
Cross Promotions
White discussed the UFC’s involvement in various cross-promotions, including skateboarding championships and slap fighting. He clarified that these ventures are part of their ownership in companies like 301, Ridiculousness, SLS, Nitro Circus, and Travis Pastrana’s NRX Rally Car.
Slap Fighting’s Success
White emphasized the success of slap fighting, both in terms of viewership and revenue. He mentioned that slap fighting has surpassed other major sports in terms of social media engagement and viewership numbers.
Aging Fighters in Lower Weight Divisions
White reflected on the challenges faced by aging fighters in lower weight divisions. He acknowledged that it can be more difficult for them to compete at a high level compared to their welterweight counterparts.
Future Plans
White provided updates on fighters like Rose Namajunas and Dustin Poirier, stating that there are no immediate plans for their next fights. He also discussed the difficulties of finding breakthrough fights for fighters like Umar Nurmagomedov.
Flyweight Headliners
When asked about flyweight headliners, White expressed his enthusiasm for the division and its exciting fights. While there hasn’t been a flyweight non-title main event in six years, White acknowledged the demand for flyweight fights and stated that they could consider more flyweight headliners in the future.
Aljamain Sterling’s Main Event Status
White addressed the significance of Aljamain Sterling headlining a pay-per-view event for the first time. He mentioned the sold-out crowd and the stylistic matchup between Sterling and Cejudo, highlighting the overall success of the event.
New York Fights
White discussed the challenges of organizing fights in New York due to commission regulations. While he expressed willingness to work with the commission, the final decision lies with them.
Slap Fighting Finale
White shared the incredible success of the slap fighting finale, both in terms of revenue and social media engagement. He emphasized that the numbers speak for themselves and dismissed any negative media coverage.
Henry Cejudo’s Future
White expressed uncertainty about Cejudo’s future, stating that it would depend on various factors such as weight class, opponents, and Cejudo’s personal decision. He highlighted Cejudo’s impressive performance and reiterated his respect for the athlete.
Future Events in the New York Area
White confirmed plans for future events in Madison Square Garden, Atlantic City, and potentially other locations in the New York area.
Umar Nurmagomedov’s Next Fight
White acknowledged the difficulty in finding an opponent for Umar Nurmagomedov but assured that they would work on securing a fight for him.
Challenges for Aging Fighters
White reflected on the challenges faced by aging fighters in lower weight divisions, highlighting the impact of long layoffs on performance. He praised Jon Jones for his incredible comeback after a three-year hiatus and acknowledged the rarity of such achievements.
Conclusion
Dana White’s post-fight press conference provided insights into the UFC 288 event and the future of the organization. Exciting fights, impressive performances, and potential matchups created anticipation among fans for upcoming events.
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