As Dan Henderson's free-agent flirtations with both Strikeforce and the UFC continued without resolution for the last few months, many seemed torn about whether the veteran would eventually return to the UFC.
UFC President Dana White, however, was not one of those people. Telling FanHouse that Henderson's decision-making process forced him to change negotiating strategy and that he ultimately pushed Henderson into signing with Strikeforce, White made it clear that losing the accomplished star was not a big blow to his organization.
"He's happy, but the reality is that I pushed him into signing that deal," White told FanHouse. "I told people over the weekend that he'd sign within the next week."
White says that while he originally entered negotiations in good faith, after three or four meetings with Henderson and his management, he realized it was unlikely the two sides would come to terms. Eventually, he lowered his original offer, effectively forcing Henderson's hand in signing with Strikeforce.
"I wanted him to s**t or get off the pot," he said. "He was in this limbo forever, and he needed more motivation to make a decision.
"Let me ask you a question," he continued. "Do you think that there's any guy we can't get that I want? Other than Fedor [Emelianenko]? So far, he's been the one guy we can't get. But everyone else that we've wanted, we got. If I wanted Dan Henderson, I could've signed him."
Henderson (25-7) became a free agent after his UFC 100 win over Michael Bisping in July. Despite the fact that Henderson is a former PRIDE champion and took part in high-profile UFC bouts with Anderson Silva, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rich Franklin, White says that his addition will actually hurt Strikeforce.
"For the money he wanted, he's not worth it," he said. "He's not a big pay-per-view star, he's not a big attraction, and he's not going to sell out arenas. He wants way too much and he doesn't bring anything to the table."
Although he added there are no hard feelings between the UFC and Henderson, White virtually closed the door on a potential return in the future, saying Henderson's age (39) would probably work against that.
He was not as kind with Strikeforce, saying it was another move that would lead to more problems for the upstart organization.
"Nothing's going to help Strikeforce," he said. "They have too many fighters under contract and not enough events. They can't keep some of their obligations to fighters already. Either they're going to start breaching contracts or paying fighters not to fight. It'll take a lot more than one guy to help them. Their whole business model is f****d. They're coming after UFC? Yeah, OK.
"I could care less," he continued. "Here's the reality: If I wanted him, he'd be in the UFC. It's not like, 'F***, Strikeforce beat me out.' He's been a free agent for a long time. If I wanted him, I would have signed him by now."
Comments (Page 1 of 4)
If you say so Dana...
I like watching the fighters in UFC but I wish they would all join Strike Force because Dana White is an arrogant punk making millions off of everybody elses sweat and blood. Dana is all about who can make the him the most money and who can sell tickets, not about who earns a title shot. Dan Henderson deserved another title shot and was told he would get one after his fight with Bisping. Nate Marquardt also deserved another title shot but Dana gives it someone who has one recent fight in the UFC and it wasn't even at the weight that the title shot will be at. Greed will eventually destroy the UFC because fighters will get tired of Dana White's BS. Many MMA fans whop love the sport hate Dana White and it will only be a matter of time before the fighters will feel the same.
First of all, I dont know if any of you have ever been to a Strikeforce event, but I have, and its nothing like the UFC. Also, while Dana White may be a little arrogant, thats part of who he is and its what draws in fans. Besides, Dana White DOES NOT set up the fights, Joe Silva does. If your gonna get mad at someone not setting up fights, then its him, not White. Also, you can say what you want about Dana White, but the UFC has great fighters in EVERY weight division, unlike their rivals who have some good fighters here and there. Dan Henderson may be a legend, but who else could he have fought and actually won? Sure there are some lower caliber fighters in those classes, but Silva would have destroyed him and so would Nate Marquardt. Plus, if he wants to make more money, then he better fight and earn more money. He hasnt fought since UFC 100 and I have already seen other fighters fight twice since then. At the end of the day, Dana is running a business, and like a good business man, you have to cut your losses and get rid of people who are not pulling their weight. You cant just pay someone more money because of something they did years ago, you have to justify your payroll by paying those people who are fighting often. Dana might be an ass, but he is a good businessman and he is one of the reasons why these fighters are making so much money and why the UFC and mixed martial arts in general has gotten to be almost a "household name".
i agree i dont like dana white iether who is this guy. the ufc is not all that. ide rather watch other fighters, the ufc is too weak.
Buddy I dont know what you think your are watching MMA is a sport UFC is the only successful business of MMA Fighting. OF course Dana Cares about making money thats his Job. Without Dana where would MMA be in the US heck the world !. Is the guy perfect NO ! but he better than anybody out there at what he does. which is grow the sport and make himself and fighters more money
Keep stroking that ego Dana. Coker will continue to take the high road, put on free cards that blow your ppv's away and attract fighters away from the UFC.
Rampage is next and then Anderson Silva when his contract is up.
Dana is cutting his nose off to spite his own face.
Dana is classless punk and karma is a b!tch. It's not just fighters but also fans and media who are getting sick of his act.
LOL let's see how those TUF 11 ratings go with two has beens in Chuck and Tito hyping a fight no one wants to see.
Mark my words: Rampage will go to SF when his forced UFC labor ends.
Havent you heard? Rampage is back with the UFC
have'nt you heard?? rampage wants no part of dana white or ufc. he's fighting to get out of his contract asap. he wants to be free from anything they associate themselves to him. its all bad bro. dont get it twisted. anderson silva isn't the happiest fighter on earth too. he seems annoyed with dana too.
Dana's an ass. First his middle weight division sucks. Second Hendo on any of the last 4 or 5 cards would have made then better. Dana said he could get anybody like Ortiz, Trigg, Baroni, Gracie are you F'n serious. Good thing he locked them up wouldn't want Strikeforce to sighn them.
yeah, and you forgot to mention kimbo. dana acts like he could've but didn't want him?? how could you not want a top fighter on your team and pick bums like baroni and tito over him?? dana talks like a fighter, lets see him get in the cage and fight someone. i swear on everything holy i can't go 1 f'in week without despising this f'in prick dana white. he has turned the ufc into a popularity contest. a fraternity for rich pukefaces and has turned the ufc off to competitive mma at the top level. the top level of ufc has been a damb soapbox with this weasel making excuses, lying his face off and talking trash about anything that isn't stamped with the ufc logo on it. gross, he's inflating his ratings and will probably sell to the highest bidder and retire a filthy rich weasel who successfully stole mma at the cheapest price and sold it at the peak. and the peak is grossly inflated with drama and controversy in kimbo who doesn't deliver not a drop of good quality mma. i'm even a kimbo fan but all he has is the brawl, and if his opponent (houston) doesn't brawl, then there's nothing. thats a clown show. not what i expected years ago when i knew the ufc was up to big things in mma. this is just more proof that ufc doesn't give a crap about quality. just ratings. sad. and good for strikeforce.
Funny how Tuf 11 is Middleweights and Dana just let one of the top 3 MW's go. I will be glad to see Hendo become MW and LHW champ again, Shields must be getting scared. Possible match-ups with Mousasi, Le, Manhoef, and Fedor Im ok with that.
If he really didn't want him, why tender an offer? What he didn't like was the way Henderson didn't jump at his offer and weighed his choices.
And I agree, Rampage is gone. Dana pissed him off waaaay too much to stay.
i guess what hes trying to say is i wasnt smart enough to sign one of the best middle weights in the world, but my competition is smart enough.
i'd pay to watch this worm bleed. he's got access to some of the best trainers in the world but has never fought. makes his money off others blood. tells you all you need to know about this guy.
dude!! dana is the bloodsucker. that would be his nickname if he ever had the balls to fight.
i agree with dana 100%. there's no way strikeforce can put on enough events to keep the fighters they have happy. plus they lose money with each event they are able to put on. it just doesn't add up.
and to be honest, henderson has more than lost a step and isn't really worth the money he wanted. he'll do okay with lesser competition in strikeforce, but he's slowing down and i'm not even sure he can beat sheilds...who's a natural WW.
good luck to him though.
Pug-Leez
Strikeforce has much better MW's than the UFC. It's just most people don't know who they are. Manhoef, Le, Shields, Miller, Henderson, Souza, Lindland, Smith, Diaz, Villasenor and Lawler are better tHan the top heavy UFC which consists of Silva, Marquardt & Belfort. Don't even start with Bisping & Kang. Let's also not forget the Dream fighters as well.
SF will continue to put on shows and build it's brand. The UFC saturated the market with to many substandard ppv's that aren't worth the money.
The fact of the matter is SF is gaining marketshare and the UFC is losing it.
Would you rather work for Coker or White? Nuff said!
What does not add up is the fact that Dana white wants people to pay to see fights no one cares about..Lesnar vs Carwin?,Penn Vs Florian?Penn vs Sanchez..Gonzaga vs Santos,Nogueira vs Valasquez? Why the hell would anyone want to pay big cash to see any of them fight? And i like Bj Penn..But if i have to choose between paying to see that and watching Henderson or Fedor fight for free.Its a no brainer.
First let me say that Henderson is one of my favorite fighters. He is a class act and a world class fighter.
Henderson was asking for ALOT of money, right? Are wins of Franklin (split), Bisping, and Palhares really that impressive? The KO of Bisping was magnificent, but at the same time Bisping is extremely overrated.
Dan is 39 and lost both of his belts immediately when he entered the UFC. He is a superb fighter, but he isn't the future of anyones middleweight division.
If Dana had more tact, people would see that he made the right decision with Dan. Dan wanted to make big bucks (likely more than he is worth), and the UFC wasn't willing to pay ... at the end of the end those are the facts. Unfortunately Dana has to defend his pride every chance he gets instead of just reporting the facts.
White is the last guy I would want running the show for me.
It's good to be the King!!
S.F. is nothing but pimple on Dana White's ass!!!lol