Dana White puts an end to 165 lb. division talk
UFC President Dana White recently inked a new, seven-year deal with the Las Vegas based promotion. And he says that, so long as he’s with the company, the 165 lb. division that so many fans and fighters have been asking for is a definite no-go.
”Not in the next seven years, that I promise,” White said in a recent interview with Barstool (transcript via MMA Mania). “I’m here for seven more years, when I go they can make a 180, 165, 122, whatever they wanna do when I’m gone, they can do. It ain’t happening while I’m here. What’s the appeal in it?
”A lot of guys who know they can’t win at either 170 or 155 that would all jump ship,” the UFC boss continued. “If you look at our 170 and 155 division, they’re stacked. You’ve got Usman, Woodley, Covington, Wonderboy, RDA, Masvidal, Askren, Till, Ponzinibbio, Lawler, Edwards. That’s 170. Lightweights at 155 you got Khabib, Conor, Tony, Poirier, Iaquinta, Kevin Lee who’s moving over to welterweight to make it even better, Edson Barboza, Gaethje, Pettis now is over in the welterweight division which makes it even better. Cerrone, Felder, Gillespie, Diaz.
”You build a 165 pound division, you completely drain both of those divisions,” White concluded. “It ain’t happening while I’m here. These divisions are stacked, we’ve got tons of great fights in both divisions. We don’t need a 165 pound division.”
So there you have it. Dana White is putting his foot down.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 3/27/2019.
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Dana White UFC
