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Dana White has a HUGE opportunity to milk this Mayweather business...
There are so many different things that the UFC could do to milk this Mayweather versus MMA controversy, and I will be disappointed if Dana White doesn't take advantage of this before the De La Hoya fight.
First off, I think Dana and Zuffa SHOULD pay Mayweather an equal amount to what he is making for the De La Hoya fight to fight Sean Sherk, and I honestly think they would. The amount of publicity and exposure of MMA/UFC, showing the skill and credibility of MMA, the amount of money the PPV would generate, etc, would in the end be worth it IMO.
Not only that, but it would be a safe bet that Mayweather would never agree to it anyway. This would be a further gain for MMA exposure if Mayweather refused to accept the bout because the UFC could bring out quotes from Mayweather that he'd beat any MMA fighter in his weight class in 10 seconds and how they are unskilled. Dana could then ask him why he would refuse a De Le Hoya payday for a fight he could win in 10 seconds? By refusing the fight Mayweather would not only be exposed as a braggart, but also as someone who cannot back up his mouth, which would further show that the UFC fighters are in fact better FIGHTERS than straight boxers. It's a win/win IMO.
I think when Mayweather was scheduled to be on ESPN, Dana should have worked behind the scenes to either get a phone call into the studio to talk to Mayweather on air, or he could hold an independant Press Conference offering this fight and big payday to Mayweather. Even if that is not the case, perhaps Dana White could use his extensive boxing connections (and they run deep) to get himself along with Sean Sherk to sit ringside at the De La Hoya fight and perhaps even a little time for an inside ring announcement to issue such a challenge for Mayweather to back his words and step into a MMA match if he's so much more skilled and can win in 10 seconds. These, or any other number of ingenius ideas they could come up with to milk this huge opportunity.
I do think that if the fight did take place, that it would be worth the price tag that the UFC woudl have to pick up in order to make it happen. Despite this, the chances of Mayweather accepting the fight would be next to nothing, so the mere fact of offering the fight and calling out Mayweather for his earlier comments would be a huge (and cost free) opportunity for more exposure. Mayweather could so easily be made to look afraid when he has to turn down the payday he's been accepting for other fights for this fight when he's repeatedly said that MMA fighters have low skill and he could beat any of them. In such a scenario it makes no sense for him to turn down the bout without looking like a braggart and getting UFC free air time and exposure.
Come on Dana! Don't let this opportunity pass by untapped!
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#1 Dana White fan
He's not always right but I think the guy does a great job, is a smart businessman, and loves the sport. Dana isn't anywhere near the evil corporate CEO like the tools pretend.
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