Dana White On Why Ronda Rousey - Cyborg Fight Didn't Happen, Rousey Being Like Mike Tyson, Jon Jones
On episode 723 of The Joe Rogan Experience, UFC President Dana White claimed that Cris Cyborg never tried to make weight to face Ronda Rousey. White called Rousey "the female [Mike] Tyson" following her stunning loss to new UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm. Also, White expressed his excitement over the UFC return of Jon Jones.
During the podcast, White said that he always tries to put on the best fights and suggested that he believed that Rousey versus Holm was the best fight that could be made at the time in spite of criticisms from fans prior to UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm that the fight would be an easy win for Rousey. When UFC color commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan pointed out that Rousey versus Cyborg may have been the fight that fans wanted to see, White claimed that Cyborg's refusal to make weight was the reason Rousey versus Cyborg never happened.
"Make the weight! Cyborg has had every opportunity for this fight. All she has had to do is make the weight. She hasn't tried with that much money on the line and all the things that are going on." White continued, "the opportunity has been there for Cyborg this whole time. Her and Tito [Ortiz] got out there and said all that crazy s–t that they said and she'd die if she made weight and all that stuff that was going on. What? Was Ronda supposed to go to 145 [lbs.] or fight her to catch weight? For what? Ronda [was] the 135 lbs. champion. Like it or not, that's her weight division and that's where she fights!"
Although Rogan admitted that Holm's victory over Rousey was not as much of an upset as 'Buster' Douglas defeating Mike Tyson in 1990, as Holm is a highly decorated and experienced fighter, White called Rousey the Mike Tyson of women's MMA.
"Ronda is, I guess now you could say, she was really the female Tyson for the sport because the way everybody's reacting to her loss. But [Holm] has a lot of experience. It's a big deal." White continued, "this was a great fight. This was the fight to make."
As for Jones, White agreed that he is the most talented fighter the sport has ever seen. White expressed his optimism over Jones's upcoming return to the Octagon.
"[Jones]'s in his prime. He's so big, so talented, [and he is] such a gifted athlete. I mean, you look at, like you said, what he [has] done in the sport and then you look what he's doing now. He gets into powerlifting and he's benching 500 lbs. and quadding and deadlifting 600 lbs. I mean, it's crazy!" White added, "if he keeps powerlifting, he's probably going to have to [go up to the heavyweight division]. It's cool. It looks like he's doing the right thing. He's doing what he's supposed to be doing for his community service. It looks like he's working hard in the gym. It looks like his head is into it and he likes it."
In addition to these topics, White discussed the backlash he received for calling professional wrestling 'fake', whether CM Punk will ever fight for UFC, and much more. To check out the rest of the show, click here.
Source: The Joe Rogan Experience