SUNDAY NEWS DIGEST 2/10: Dana White shoots down Silva-McGregor talk, many more UFC 234 post-fight notes

By Michael Hiscoe, Managing Editor

Dana White (photo John David Mercer © USA Today Sports)

‘I don’t like that fight at all’

Anderson Silva came out on the losing end of Saturday’s UFC 234 main event against Israel Adesanya. But in losing, Silva proved that he can still go and keep up with the young middleweights of today. After the fight, Silva talked of fighting in Curitiba, Brazil this spring and brought up Conor McGregor as a potential opponent. A Silva-McGregor fight is one that has been casually bandied about, mostly by Silva, for several months now.

McGregor even took the time to respond early Sunday to the idea tweeting that “It would be an honor,” to fight Silva while congratulating Silva and calling him a pioneer. While there is a significant weight difference that would have to be worked out, another dream match between two of MMA’s most dynamic strikers sounds like a can’t miss, but don’t count Dana White as one of those on board with the idea.

“No, I don’t like that fight at all,” White said at the UFC 234 post-fight press conference when asked about the prospects of such a fight.

McGregor has been linked to a fight with Donald Cerrone recently, so White’s firm stance against the Silva fight may lend credence to that fight being close to a done deal. As for Silva, he also brought up the possibility of a rematch with Nick Diaz, although Diaz’s friend and teammate Gilbert Melendez recently said Diaz is retired. 

Sunday Notebook

-Here are the results from yesterday’s Bellator event from Newcastle (via MMAJunkie)

Patricky Freire def. Ryan Scope via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Corey Browning def. Aaron Chalmers via submission (heel hook) – Round 3, 0:20
Chris Bungard def. Terry Brazier via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:06
Fabian Edwards def. Lee Chadwick via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

-Israel Adesanya made the argument at the post-fight press conference that he and Anderson Silva should get pay-per-view points for headlining the event. “Maybe I’ll have to sit down with Dana and make him talk because that’s a lot of money being left on the table and it stays in the hands of the dealer when I’ve done my bit. I showed up to work.”

-Kelvin Gastelum did interviews and sat in the arena with Henry Cejudo’s UFC belt over his shoulder. Conor McGregor tweeted in response, “Why is that worm holding the 185lb belt? There are worms crawling on his skin! It was absolutely ludicrous to even consider allowing him to compete. Let alone now walk around the arena shaking our fans hands. Someone sort this, this instant. And sterilize that belt. Immediately.” Rumors circulated during fight week that Gastelum had ringworm or a staph infection. Gastelum tweeted back, “Come take it off….Little prick!”

-Israel Adesanya told reporters at the post-fight press conference that had the Whittaker-Gastelum fight happened, the plan was for Adesanya to enter the cage to face-off with the winner to set up the next title fight. “That was the plan with me and Dana. So, after Kelvin and Rob would have fought, I said, ‘What happens is, I come back out.’ Not like DC and Brock Lesnar on some fake WWE shit. I just wanted to stand there.”

-Dana White did not like the stoppage of the Jim Crute TKO over Sam Alvey in the pay-per-view opener. “The ref did a really, really bad job. Real poor refereeing in that fight.”

-Post-fight bonuses went to Adesanya vs. Silva for Fight of the Night and to Montana De La Rosa and Devonte Smith for Performance of the Night.

-They announced UFC 238 for June 8 from Chicago during the broadcast last night.

-David Branch vs. Jack Hermansson will fight at UFC Philadelphia on March 30.

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