Everyone seems to have suddenly picked up on Dana White’s comments during the UFC 73: Stacked conference call regarding the upcoming matchup between Dan Henderson and Quinton Jackson. I’m not sure how this little nugget slipped past everyone’s radars (including mine) but I’m glad it’s being brought up now.
When Dana White was asked about the Dan Henderson vs Quinton Jackson fight at UFC 75 and whether the bout would unifiy the UFC and PrideFC 205lb titles, he had that following answer:
No. What we’re doing with that thing is we’re respecting both (the UFC and PRIDE) titles. The UFC title is the UFC champion and we’re respecting Dan as the PRIDE champion. Quinton will walk out with his belt if Dan wins and vice versa.
This is very puzzling to me and and raises many new questions. First, if there will be no titles on the line, regardless if it’s the UFC belt, the PrideFC belt, or a unified belt, why have this fight in the first place? Quinton Jackson is the UFC Light Heavyweight champion; why have him fight in a non-title fight? Dan Henderson is the PrideFC Welterweight and Middleweight champion; why have him fight in a non-title fight? While it will be a good fight to watch, what really is the point with no belts on the line?
Also, if this isn’t for the UFC and/or PrideFC belts, what truly is Dan Henderson’s contract status. If, according to Dana, after the fight Dan will “walk out with his belt” no matter what the outcome, is Dan signed with the UFC or is he under a PrideFC contract? Is this a one fight thing for Henderson in the UFC?
What if Henderson beats Jackson? Where does that leave the UFC in the eyes on the ever-growing fanbase? We will have a UFC champion who will have just lost a fight but still holds his title belt. Will the average fan understand the fact that there really is a differentiation between the UFC and PrideFC belts? Will they understand that a champion can fight in his weightclass without putting his title belt on the line? What does the UFC have to gain at all with this fight?
[Source: OCRegister.com via UFCJunkie.com]
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Tags: UFC, MMA, UFC 75, Dan Henderson, Quinton Jackson
(via MMA HQ - Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis)