DALLAS -- While Floyd Mayweather managed to steal most of the major sports headlines away from UFC 103 on Saturday night, UFC President Dana White was in full belief he put on the better event.How did he know? Because even though White was in the midst of a 13-fight card, he bought the Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez fight and had it playing on a monitor near him.
"It sucked," he said. "It sucked just like I said it would and knew it would."
UFC's card featured six TKO's, three submissions and four decisions. All seven televised fights (five on pay-per-view and two on Spike) had finishes.
UFC thrilled with Ultimate Fighter RatingsUFC 103 ended a big week for the company. Week one of The Ultimate Fighter performed ratings-wise beyond Dana White's wildest dreams. The season premiere brought a record viewing audience, with 4.1 million watching the episode, and another 1 million watching the rerun two hours later.
"We had our expectations about what it would do, and that wasn't it," White said with a smile. "Those numbers were crazy. Even UFC Fight Night got 2.6 million viewers. It was a big night for us."
Escudero goes from hospital to winner's circle in 24 hours
Efrain Escudero took a circuitous route to victory on Saturday night. The former Ultimate Fighter champ had a horrible time completing his weight cut on Friday and needed to take a trip to the hospital for IV's to rehydrate. Escudero told FanHouse that he'd been sick all week and his body did not adjust to the weight cut.
He showed no ill effects in the cage from the previous day's ordeal. He floored Cole Miller with a sharp right hand and knocked him unconcious with ground and pound. It was his first career TKO stoppage, and it improved his career record to 12-0.
"I'm working my standup every day and I'm going to continue to do that," said Escudero, who prepared for the reach differential by training with DeMarques Johnson. "I didn't want to go and use my jiu-jitsu. I thought it was time to make a statement, and I sure did that."
Cro Cop forced to make hospital visit after loss
After verbally submitting because of vision problems in his bout, Mirko Cro Cop put a towel on his head and walked out of the octagon. If he'd had it his way, he would've headed straight to the airport, but White wouldn't let that happen.
The UFC president sent the Croatian to the hospital for precautionary reasons after Cro Cop took a severe beating throughout most of the duration of a fight that went into the third round.
"He's got to fly 20 hours to get home," White said. "I've got to know he's OK before he gets on that plane. He took some big shots from a heavy puncher tonight."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I agree with Dana 100%! The Mayweather/ Marquez fight was terrible! Marquez didn't even come to fight, he looked scared the whole time and just got picked apart for 12 whole rounds. I wish I would've seen UFC 103 instead.
I really liked boxing for many years...until the greed, the classless thugs, and the incredibly poor judges' decisions turned me off to it...MMA (and UFC) is just plain more real...the fighters are far more skilled, in better shape, more intelligent, in general far more respectful of their sport and of each other, and most of the contests reach a clear and conclusive end. It's simply more exciting to do, to watch and to follow. Rock on, UFC!
First off no disrespect to you at all, but to say Boxers are classless and thugs COME ON. Name one person in boxing that did what Brock Lesnar did to the FANS. Now as far as the Judges thats a sports thing not just a boxing thing but they do F up alot sometimes. But with MMA the best fighters will never fight each other because there are other companies (I think too many). Now as far as better shape and better skilled? NO I beat any money a boxer will beat down a MMA IN Boxing and just the same the other way. I'm a boxer myself and for you to say an MMA person is better then me in boxing I feel disrespected I train in boxing. Now before fights they have to promote a fight so there will be words going back and forth but to say there disrespecting the sports. At the end of the day I like MMA but as far as the Boxing fight of the year Vs MMA fight of the year. Boxing wins. Why? Because in MMA I'm sure the fight of the year will be a something like a 51 second knock out. As for Boxing it will be a 12 round show of that SWEET SCIENCE.
fagweather,very exciting,hes like 100 lbs.id rather watch a girls fight
It looked like Crocop had a broken orbital bone. Its gonna be a while before his is back in there. Maybe its for the better though.
I thought both cards sucked, was boarded by watching the Mayweather fight and just as board watching UFC that night. Luckily Sunday brought some good games; I can always count on my NFL. =p
Dana White still promoting his homoerotic sport called the UFC...
PS This was Mayweather First time fighting in two years. I guess some of yall wanted him to jump right in with Cotto, Mosley, or Pac? This was a tune up fight relax it will happen
I think you make pretty valid points. The one a couple of things I do disagree with though.
First, I don't know if you're new to MMA but there have been PLENTY of Fight of the Year matches that have been showcased that DEFINITELY go beyond 51 seconds. A couple of matches worthy of FOTY I would recommend you check out are Mike Brown vs. Urijah Faber 2 and Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida if you are interested.
Second, well they aren't that many big companies like the UFC particularly in the U.S. The UFC does possess a stable of figters which are some of the most recognizable faces and talent in the world. Though, in most parts of the U.S. we could only see so much because of limited access to view other international organizations and talent.
Third, regarding your statements about MMA fighters and Boxers; I think it depends how you look at it. MMA fighters are a really mixed bag, because almost every fighter starts with a base in a certain discipline (Wrestling, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and even Boxing). From which ever discipline they start with, they must add more skills to their foundation (which is why you don't see a lot MMA fighters with Boxing finesse). A Boxer has to train for Boxing. An MMA fighter has to train Boxing, Kickboxing, and Grappling (which can comprise Wrestling, Judo, BJJ or other Submission Grappling discipline).
I hope this helps with your insights to MMA.
And on another note. NO OFFENSE but I have not seen any MMA fighter bite a piece of another MMA fighter off either...