Tito Ortiz vs Vitor Belfort UFC 51
© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
UFC President Dana White is excited. And he has a lot to be excited about. There are the DVD releases of UFC 49: Unfinished Business and Ultimate Knockouts 3, which, judging by sales, appear to be ideal Christmas presents for MMA fans.
And The Ultimate Fighter, a 15-part MMA series on Spike TV, goes to air internationally on January 17, 2005, which coincidentally will be Muhammad Ali's 63rd birthday. The reality-based series culminates in a final two-fight episode, between two middleweights and two light heavyweights, being shown Live on television. Winners of these two bouts will receive sic-figure contracts to fight in the Octagon for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
"I feel The Ultimate Fighter series went very well. I actually get the first episode on Thursday (Dec.9, '04). I've seen rough cuts of it, but I'll have the final version on Thursday. And I'm happy with the way it came out. I'm happy with the cast we had. And I think it's going to be a great show," says Dana.
All sixteen fighters involved in the series were divided into two teams, with half the fighters being coached by Chuck Liddell and the other half coached by Randy Couture. At UFC 52, to be held in April 2005, Couture and Liddell will face off for the UFC light-heavyweight title.
"What 's weird is they've spent a lot of time together and worked together on the show, and in April they're going to have to fight each other again. The funny thing is, when they do get in the Octagon, they'll look as though they never knew each other. They'll go at it."
Dana says the professionalism of Couture and Liddell will override their friendship, and MMA fans will be in for a great battle. "The thing that I like about Chuck and Randy is that they're both serious competitors and hate to lose."
UFC 49 weigh in: Ken Shamrock, Chuck Liddell, Vernon White, Big John & Bruce Buffer
Since Randy's decisive victory over Vitor Belfort at UFC 49: Unfinished Business, Japan's PRIDE organization has been promising a bout between their 205-lb champion, Wanderlei Silva, and UFC's 205-lb champion, Couture. But White believes the match is still unlikely.
"You know, I've heard PRIDE talking about it and everything else. I think everybody knows where I stand with that. I'll put my fighters up against their fighters any day of the week. I've done it before, and I'll do it again. So it's up to PRIDE."
In the meantime, the Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to grow worldwide. International DVD sales indicate that a health ration of UFC footage is one of life's necessities. And at the time of this interview, Canal, a company from France is doing a documentary on UFC, which Dana is assisting with. Japanese fans will also get another firsthand look at the Octagon's best fighters when UFC returns to the 'Land of the Rising Sun' in June.
"In America, we're sanctioned in every state you'd want to hold an event in. It's sanctioned in California now, but not in New York. I don't think I'd want to do a show in New York anyway. Places like Madison Square Garden, where we'd want to hold it, are far too expensive, the cost of hotel rooms… Las Vegas – everybody wants to come to Vegas. It's pretty cheap to stay here. It's cheap to get here. It just makes more sense."
UFC 50 weigh in: Dana White with Tito Ortiz & Patrick Cote
Dana, I receive many emails similar to this one from Tristian in Ohio, and he says:
"I grew up watching fighters like Ken Shamrock and Mark Coleman, and ever since then I knew I wanted to be a fighter, but I don't know how to go about it. I did study karate and a little judo, but I don't think it is enough. I need real information on where to go to train and other information on how to get my shot at becoming a fighter. I realize that this is something not to mess around with, but I am dedicated to it. If I get my ass beat that means I have to try harder and train harder. I thought of doing a toughman contest, but boxing isn't for me. Being an MMA or Full Contact fighter is. So could you please tell me the steps I need to take to make this dream come true."
What advice do you have for him?
"How old is he?"
He doesn't say, but I get a number of emails from readers wanting to know how to get into UFC and other MMA events. My reply was to suggest Tristian start out in some of the lesser competitions first, because it's just not that easy to get into UFC anymore. And he's better to test his skills in the lesser shows first.
"That's right. That's exactly what you do. You get into the smaller shows first. Probably have to hook up with a manager who can get him…you know, a guy who has a lot of fighters already…get him into the show and start building his way up. And I'd say the biggest way to do it is to start beating some guys with names."
Like Paul Buentello?
"That's exactly right. I mean, there are a lot of guys out there who we've heard a buzz about, because they were talented: like Dave Terrell. You've heard about him for years and then he got into the UFC…Paul Buentello, Justin Eilers, Chris Lytle…"
King of the Cage, IFC, Rumble on the Rock, Rage in the Cage, are they still some of the big, but lesser-known MMA events under UFC?
"Yes. Those are the kind of shows you build up in."
UFC 49 weigh in: Dana White with Yves Edwards & Josh Thomson
Any more news regarding UFC coming back on in Australia?
"If you don't think I want UFC back on in Australia, you're crazy. I'd love it. It's going to happen though. We keep chipping away. It's going to be on everywhere. Everywhere."
So will The Ultimate Fighter TV show be aired in Oz?
"We're working on it. We have a company out there that's selling the stuff internationally. And a lot of countries have picked it up. We're in England, Germany, France, Japan, New Zealand and Brazil."
Are you saying that company is working on Australia?
"They are definitely working on Australia!"
Andrei Arlovski – are we going to see him in UFC 51?
"Absolutely. He'll be fighting Tim Sylvia."
Is that definite?
"Well, Tim Sylvia fights this weekend at Super Brawl 38 in Hawaii. So if he wins that fight, he'll definitely be fighting Arlovski."
What if he doesn't win?
"Well, that would be bad."
Do you know who he 's fighting at Super Brawl?
"Wes Sims. It's a grudge match."
Yeah, Wes has said in previous interviews with knucklepit that they're definitely not friends. So will it be the winner of that one against Andrei?
"Yes."
Now, Paul Buentello vs Justin Eilers – that should be a big fight.
"That's a great fight, isn't it? I love any time that two bangers get in there and fight. I love watching that. They're both big strikers and they've got great chins. They're perfect examples of athletes working their way up through the lesser competitions. Paul Buentello has been arouind for a while. He's been fighting in a lot of small shows and so has Justin Eilers. They're perfect examples."
The other question I get all the time: Any sign of Tank Abbott returning to the Octagon?
"I don't think so. But you never know. I never say never."
Dana, anything you'd like to add to this article?
"The next show is going to be dynamite, and we're really excited about it. Looking forward to seeing Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort square off. Robbie Lawler and Phil Baroni should be another big show."
UFC 49 weigh in: Vitor Belfort, Dana White & Randy Couture
For more on UFC 51: Super Saturday – www.ufc.tv
LATE NEWS: Tim Sylvia defeats Wes Sims in Super Brawl 38 by KO, Round 1.
