Youth N Asia

And whether the event is sold on seperate disk, or along with season one of TUF, it'll be a pick up for Steph/Forrest alone!

BONNAR...GRIFFIN...FUCKING EPIC!!!!!!!!!! Holy God, that was the most fun I've ever had watching a fight. My old man who's not into MMA at all even got a kick out of it. I had Bonnar 29-28 in the fight, but I could have seen it going either way. And Dana White wins babyface of the year by giving Steph a contract

Other than Hogar over Bob the undercard went as I thought it would...although I didn't think any fight would go 20 freakin seconds

I liked Droz. He was by no means great, but I always liked him for some reason.

If he brought back any of the old belts I'd be all for it. But to bling bling up the WWE title would be stupid.

I'm waiting for the series to come out on dvd so we can get the deleted scenes of Sam in a ski mask stealing shirts and hats from people's bags

Least we still have Viscera, Heidenreich, Dupree, Suzuki, Holly, a dozen or so sets of tits who's names I'll never learn, Jordan, The Bashams, Scotty, Masters, Henry, Genier, Rosey, and Tomko. Cause if any of them got fired it would be a real loss.

Damn, Thacker actually looks like a fighter now. I hope we get to see the undercard fights soon.

I know we have an Ultimate Fighter thread, but people who don't post there might not know this. If you haven't caught the show yet, now your chance to start. All 12 episodes of The Ultimate Fighter will start airing Saturday morning at 9am, leading into the season fina at 9pml with the middle weight finals, light heavyweight finals, and Rich Franklin vs Ken Shamrock.

40-48...which means 47...which means Chuck punching Tito's lights out!

While I'm all for guys like Roderick Strong and Matt Styrker getting a minute and a half of tv time, I think this whole thing has run its course and a little more. I thought this was going to be a new way to introduce someone new, but it's been going on so long I'm gettng the idea that it's just a way where Kurt doesn't have to work much on Smackdown any more.

groomer

That would give him a justifiable reason to do it then

So, I know this is good for a year and all, but if they wait any longer than a couple of months everyone will have forgotten about it. So when should he get the title shot? My idea, was really for Christian to win the match. Then for Batista to have a bloody war with HHH and win. Then Christian immediatly runs out for his match and wins. With help from HHH, Flair, Tomko, Edge, and anyone else he needs. Then Batista gets the title back next month after going on a killing spree on the Raw locker room. Which Edge could still do after the Backlash match with HHH.

Dana White interview from Observer. ------------ http://www.liveaudiowrestling.com/wo/news/...t.asp?aID=12889 4/7/2005 4:24:00 PM Dana White talks about Saturday's show, Tito negotiations, TV negotiations, wrestling vs. boxing viewers and more Jason Milloff [email protected] This week, I had the opportunity to interview Dana White. Mr. White has been the president of the UFC since Zuffa took over ownership of the company, I will present this interview as a forum for Mr. White to express his views and withhold any comments that I may have for future articles. Dana White Interview Question: How are things shaping up for "The Ultimate Fighter" finale on April 9th? Dana White: "Everything is coming together real well. We are actually about to have a staff meeting here in 2 minutes to make sure everything is on track." Question: After the show had finished filming, you had referred to the experience as a "nightmare." Is there anything you learned from the experience or from the feedback of the viewers that will help improve the show upon its second season? Dana White: "It was definitely harder than I anticipated. We were there filming non stop every day but it was much harder on the fighters themselves. That's all those guys did 24/7. They were not allowed to watch TV, listen to music, read, or basically have contact with the outside world. I think there are some things in the show that we think we can change and make better for Season two. I think Season two will end up being a great show for the simple fact that there are going to be heavyweights competing." Question: Were their any particular fighter/fighters from the show, regardless of if they won or lost, that you feel are at the UFC level? Dana White: "I was very happy with the cast. As far as the question goes; obviously the finalist. I also really liked Nate Quarry and Mike Swick. There were alot of guys I liked." Question: During the show, there seemed to be some friction between Bobby Southworth and yourself. Was that an accurate portrayal of the relationship? Dana White: "Bobby and I butted heads a couple of times. You have to understand and put it in context though. We were together everyday. Guys would start to go crazy because of the living situation and being locked up in the house. You got to understand; there was alot of footage that you did not see. There's about 4,000 hours of footage and you guys get to see 44 minutes of it on Monday. Me and Bobby had some good times as well (laughing)." Question: Are there any plans to air the fights that might not be shown on April 9th? Dana White: "Those fights will not be shown during the April 9th show. We don't know what we will be doing with that footage but we going to do something with it. Those fights could end up airing on Spike TV at a later date but at this time we are not sure." Question: Ken Shamrock is the biggest pay per view draw in the company. Why put his fight on free TV instead of using his remaining fights to increase PPV buys? Dana White: "I think Ken Shamrock is one of the most famous fighters in the UFC. We want the finale to go out with a bang. Putting Ken in the Main Event made sense to us." Question: As the sport of Mixed Martial Arts evolves, the fighters will want to see increases in their contracts as well. Tito Ortiz is a recent example of this. Have you ever considered offering the fighters a certain percentage of PPV revenue if it reaches a certain level of buys? This would help motivate the fighters to promote the event and if the number of expected buys are not met, Zuffa loses nothing on the deal. Dana White: "Maybe they already have that (laughing). We have done alot of great things in the last few years but this sport still isn't at the level of boxing as far as money is concerned. I think the fighters are getting exactly what they should be paid. We run this thing like a business and these guys make a percentage of what comes in. The way it works for boxing is different. HBO will pay 3 million dollars to make the Floyd Mayweather vs Arturo Gotti fight. Bob Arhum will then go out and negotiate with Mayweather and his camp and so on. He takes no risk. There is no risk for those guys. Promoting boxing is simple. A little kid could do it! Here at Zuffa, in promoting Mixed Martial Arts, we are the ones taking the risk. We put up the money for all of the stuff. We market it, promote it, pay for the venue, and everything else. It's a whole different ball game. Comparing MMA to boxing is like comparing apples to oranges." Question: How are the negotiations going with Tito Ortiz? Dana White: "I have not negotiated with Tito Ortiz at all. We haven't even talked to Tito." Question: Do you feel that future money making matches involving Tito Ortiz versus Chuck Liddell, Ken Shamrock, and even Lee Murray can justify the kind of money he wants per fight on a new deal? Dana White: "No." Question: Will you be going over to the Pride Grand Prix Tournament with Vitor Belfort and will Belfort still be involved in future UFC matches, regardless of how he does in the tournament? Dana White: "Vitor Belfort is a UFC fighter that you will see in the future, regardless of how he does over there. I will be going over there to support him as our UFC representative." Question: How do you respond to critics who feel that the UFC comes off looking weak by sending fighters over to Pride when the favor is not returned? Dana White: "I'm counting on them returning the favor. As far as us looking weak over there, that doesn't bother me at all. I say it every day. I will put my fighters up against any of their guys. Any day they want to send Vanderlai Silva over here to fight Randy Couture or Chuck Liddell, we can do it! I mean that's what it is all about. I'm in this thing to see the best fights." Question: In the past, you have stated that the UFC's demographic audience is made up of more boxing fans than that of fans of Pro Wrestling. With "The Ultimate Fighter" retaining a large percentage of its Pro Wrestling lead in; has your feelings changed on that subject? Dana White: "No not at all because TUF is a whole different thing. There is a lot of storylines involved with that show. It's like a soap opera where you tune in every week to see what is going to happen with the guys. The difference being that they fight for real. TUF is right up the alley of the WWE's fan base because of the storyline aspect of the show. Our Pay Per Views are geared more towards a traditional boxing audience. It's for guys who like real fights. We have done studies on it, in regards to our pay per views, and they are definitely viewed more by those with a taste for boxing." Question: Is there any concern of media backlash is regards to signing Sean Gannon? Dana White: "There is no real backlash we can get. We are a legitimate sport. We are sanctioned in every state in this country that would host a big boxing event. As long as Gannon comes in and fights by the rules of the Nevada State Athletic Commission or wherever we might be, what difference does it make?" Question: Are there any plans to crown a UFC lightweight champ? Dana White: "No, not anytime soon. Yves Edwards is the guy who I consider as our lightweight champ. I am probably going to send him over to one of those tournaments in Japan. I like to keep our guys active and making money. The guys who fight for me our loyal and they know we treat them well. I don't hold anyone back from anything. In the American market now, we just don't have a slot for a lightweight champion. I would still put my name and the UFC name behind Yves Edwards. I would love to send him over to Japan as a representative of our company for the upcoming Bushido tournament. He could go over there and make some money and probably win the thing. That's what makes this whole thing fun anyways, right?" Question: Are there any plans for a female division? Dana White: "Well, that is going to take awhile. We are just getting people use to the guys fighting. The show on April 9th will be the first time that a MMA match will be televised on free TV and the sport has been around for 11 years. That in itself is huge." Question: Will we ever see a UFC tournament, similar to that of the Pride Grand Prix? Dana White: "No, not where you see a guy fight twice in the same night. I don't think you will ever see that in the U.S. with the commission." Question: Let me throw three names at you; Jens Pulver, BJ Penn, and Jeremy Horn. I hear from alot of fans who want to see these guys back in the UFC. Are you interested in signing any of these three fighters? Dana White: "You know, it's funny. People always say that they want to see them in the UFC so bad but when they were here, people weren't that crazy about them. Everybody was bitching about Jens Pulver, saying that every time he fought that he would stall and was boring. People could have cared less about BJ Penn. He never sold any tickets or Pay Per Views. Who was the other one, Jeremy Horn? You should know what I mean. I find that statement funny. I like Jeremy Horn, and Jens. BJ and I are friends. I just don't think that there are that many people that are excited to see them back in the UFC. BJ just fought in Japan and both times they did not even put him on television. He's not selling any tickets over there either. I went to go see him fight Gomi in Hawaii and the place there wasn't even sold out." Question: Any opinions on Pride possibly promoting in the United States? Dana White: "I think it would be great. We need as many shows out there as possible. Even in regards to the smaller shows; they are all great for the sport. More active fighters out there mean we have a bigger pool to choose from. It will eventually mean more money as well. We need all these shows for the sport to grow." Question: I have been hearing reports that the Tito Ortiz vs. Vitor Belfort PPV did over 100,000 buys. Is that correct? Dana White: "That would be great (laughing), Over a 100,000 would be awesome. We don't give out our PPV numbers." Question: Is there a projection that you are hoping for in regards to the number of buys for the Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell PPV? Dana White: "That's a tough one. You know I would like to do numbers like the last Eric Morales boxing fight. I hear they did 400,000. I would love to do how much the WWE probably did last night. How many did they do, you know?" Interviewer: I think Wrestlemania this year might have done around 750,000 buys. Dana White: "Trust me. Call me after doing 750,000 buys. I will be doing cartwheels around the office!!! That is awesome. That is where I some day hope to be." Question: Is there a realistic TV rating that you are hoping to get for the TUF finale? Dana White: "Well, we are hoping to crush our highest weekly rating so far which is a 2.03. We are hoping to crush that for the finale." Question: Do you have any advice for upcoming fighters who want to make it to the UFC one day? Dana White: "They need to start out in these smallers shows like the WEC, the AFC down in Florida; there are small shows all around the country where guys fight. We pretty much keep our eyes on all of them. We like to see who is up and coming, who they just beat, and those type of things. We realy keep a good eye on it. They just need to get their game down and start fighting in one of these smaller shows." Question: Mr. White, I thank you for your time. You can close the interview out with anything you want to put out there. Dana White: "Right now we are negotisting with Spike TV and we are hoping that they will be the home of the UFC. "The Ultimate Fighter" is the 3rd highest rated show on Spike TV, trailing only RAW and CSI. It is the #1 origonal program on the netowrk. It nearly doubles what the NBA does on ESPN for regular season games and nearly does 6 times the numbers that the NHL did on ESPN 2. We hope to do alot of things with Spike TV in the future." Final Thoughts: I would like to thank Dana White, Dave Meltzer, David Schwarz, Brika Reese, and Spike TV. I will be back this weekend for my final TUF report for the season. I will save my farewells until then. I can be reached at [email protected].

Maybe the dead are on the other side of the island. Jack's dad, the lady's husband...Boone?

Ariba! Let him and Tajiri put on some show stealing matches, pleeeeeease. Don't split the two.

And for some reason Jack dropping his whole name, John Locke, made it seem way more serious

the shield > Lost sorry ladies But it's definatly my favorite new show since The Shield

They probably figured Hugo, Locke, and Jin weren't nagazine friendly.

Using Benoit to end this would be a complete waste. While I'm all for Benoit vs Angle 400, this isn't the way to do it.

Plus I wouldn't put past Edge to get injured soon. Holding a storyline off like that for a year...there's no telling what could happen

Very good episode, you just knew there was no coming back for Boone. Plus they'd already gone back on killing Charlie and Shannon, so someone had to go. I hate hate hate the long wait for the new episode, we need Locke.

Death of WCW I'm about 2/3 into it, I'm enjoying it for the most part. I didn't watch much WCW from 98 till the end, so a lot of this is news to me

Show up as a face, get way over, then be foreced to turn heel...just like everyone else more over than JJJ