MMA Live Recaps UFC 97 and Discusses Chuck Liddell's Pending Retirement

Dana White Adresses Video Blogs, E:60, Controversy, and More...

(Courtesy of Steve Cofield of ESPN 1100 and Cagewriter.com)

GSP Addresses Potential Fight With Silva

Though middleweight champion Anderson Silva's stock has taken a big hit, it's hard to argue that a superfight with Georges St. Pierre wouldn't be big business.

UFC president Dana White thought December might be a good time to do it, in Toronto no less, if the welterweight champ got past Thiago Alves in July.

In a recent appearance for UFC Fight Club fans prior to UFC 97, St. Pierre weighed the idea of a fight with "The Spider."

"It would be interesting, but it depends on the outcome of my fight and his fight," he said. "We'll see."

One fan broached the idea of making the two coaches of opposing teams on "The Ultimate Fighter," leading to the super fight.

"I would have to sit down and see what the opportunity is," he continued. "How long I have for the fight. Because if I fight at 185, if I do it, I want to do it well. I want to put some extra muscle on me, some extra weight. I would have to go on a I would have to go on a diet for a couple extra weeks, and it would take me some extra time, but I'm always excited for a new challenge."

Dana White's UFC 97 Video Blog - Arpil 18 (Parts 1 & 2)

Dana White Embarrassed by UFC 97 Main Event

(Courtesy of Steve Cofield of ESPN 1100 and Cagewriter.com)

Dana White's UFC 97 Video Blog - Arpil 17

Dana White's UFC 97 Video Blog - Arpil 16

The Crow Talks About His Return at UFC 97

White Comments on Snafu With Montreal Commission

For a while, it looked like the UFC might not be headed to the Bell Centre in Montreal for UFC 97. The Canada-based Sportsnet reported that rule changes instituted by the Quebec Athletic Commission were at strict odds with the Unified Rules employed by the promotion, and with no compromise forthcoming, things appeared grim.

But in a rebuttal that's become a recent theme, UFC president Dana White said the media got it wrong, again.

UFC officials, including Lorenzo Ferttita, White, and Marc Ratner, flew to Montreal in mid-February to speak with the QAC, and according to White, there was no reason for alarm.

"The entire thing was blown out of proportion," White said at the pre-fight press conference for UFC 97 at the Bell Centre. "The fight was never in jeopardy, never in danger. There was a new commission, and we needed to come up here and talk to them and sit down--we hadn't done that yet. Soon as we did it it was fine.

"We love Canada, we love Montreal. Other than UFC 100, this is the fastest sell-out. The difference is there's 12,000 seats in Mandalay Bay, and there's 22,000 seats here. Believe me, we love Montreal. We're not going anywhere."

MMA Live Previews UFC 97 and Reviews Shamrock vs. Diaz

Anderson Silva Talks at the UFC 97 Workout Day

(Courtesy of Steve Cofield of ESPN 1100 and Cagewriter.com)

The Return: Dana White's UFC 97 Video Blog!

In a cone of silence (Dana White did not utter a word in this, his return, blog) this could be the funniest Dana White video blog ever. It's sure to go down as a classic.

Chuck Liddell Video Blog - April 2009

The Iceman Talks About The Old Days

On a media teleconference for Saturday's UFC 97, the topic of retirement hung over former UFC light heavyweight Chuck Liddell.

It was against his will, of course. No matter UFC president Dana White's order that Liddell "show him something," he had no intention of retiring any time soon. If he won his title back, maybe.

But he's fighting Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in Montreal on Saturday, and that's all that matters.

"What keeps me motivated?" Liddell asked a reporter. "I love fighting. I get paid a lot of money to do what I love for a living. I don't think there's much motivation past that."

Perhaps for the first time since he hit a rough patch in the division he once ruled, Liddell admitted he was getting older.

"You've got to train smarter," he said. "I think this fight is almost different than the last couple of fights as far as age training goes. A little more warming up."

Gone are the days where he could show up and go.

"I remember when I was twenty-two, you'd walk out and put your gloves on, to warm up for sparring," he continued. "Now, I make sure to get a good fifteen, twenty minute warm-up before I start doing anything."

Rua faces his own questions going into the fight. The former Pride champion was dreadfully out of shape for his UFC 93 appearance against Mark Coleman.

As far as Liddell, he's pretty sure that if he puts Rua to sleep, he'll still have a job on Monday.

"I'm planning on coming out and performing like I normally do, and I plan on coming out and knocking him out so, hopefully that will be enough to keep him interested in me fighting," said Liddell.

UFC 97: Redemption Video Preview

Chuck Liddell Training wilth Boxing Olympic Gold Medalist

PRESS RELEASE:

Chuck Liddell is getting some extra help on his boxing skills from 1976 Boxing Olympic Gold Medalist Howard Davis Jr., who has been in Chuck"s training camp for the past month.

"I"m helping Chuck with his striking and making sure that he uses his hand power to the fullest," said Davis Jr., who serves as Boxing Director for American Top Team & is Co-Founder of Fight Time Promotions in Florida.

Howard Davis Jr. says he"s providing Chuck with the strong training regimen that professional boxers use. Davis joined John Hackleman, who is Chuck"s longtime trainer of 16-years, a month ago and plans to stay in California for another 2 weeks.

Davis Jr. is a busy man. When he gets back to Florida, he plans on putting together his first MMA show as promoter and is inviting all interested sponsors to contact him at: howarddavisjr.com. Davis" first show is appropriately dubbed "Brazil VS USA."

Chuck Liddell takes on Brazilian superstar Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 97 in Montreal in what promises to be one of the most explosive bouts of 2009! The 39-year-old former light heavyweight champion won an amazing 14 out of 15 UFC matches from 1999-2006, and is now focused on winning the title back from Rashad Evans, who defeated Liddell at UFC 88. Liddell is making sure that his renewed boxing skills can assure him a win.

(Photo courtesy of fighttimepromotions.com)

Dana White Believes UFC 97 Will Happen in Montreal

Amidst a firestorm of controversy surrounding the Quebec Athletic Commissions change in philosophy over enforcing its own rules that govern mixed martial arts, UFC president Dana White spoke with CKAC Sports 730AM in Montreal about the possibility that UFC 97, scheduled for Montreal in April, could wind up not happening in the city.

He insisted that they are trying to work things out with the athletic commission there, believing that his promotion would have a projected $12 million impact on Montreal.

White said that one of the UFC's owners, Lorenzo Fertitta, is headed to Canada later this week to meet with officials in an attempt to iron out the situation.

"I don't think it's something that we can't work out... and get this thing fixed so that we can continuously come to Montreal to hold events," he told the show's host. "I can't see (UFC 97) not coming there."

Click here to listen to the interview.
(It is a French-speaking show, but the interview with Dana White is conducted in English.)

Sherk Possible For Roger Huerta's Send-Off

MMAInsider has learned from several sources close to former UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk that a meeting with fellow Minnesotan Roger Huerta is possible for UFC 97 in Montreal, Canada.

Huerta recently elected not to sign a contract extension with the UFC, deciding instead to focus on recent opportunities in acting and modeling. He has reportedly signed a three-film development deal with Lions Gate Films, and is working on a book about his life.

A meeting with Sherk would be the last fight on Huerta's current contract.

In a recent interview with MMAWeekly.com, the soon-to-be-thespian said he'd be open to a fight up north.

"Actually, I would kind of like to fight in April, the Montreal card, cause a lot of the Canadian guys want me to fight on that card," he said. "So it'd be kind of cool if I did that. In the meantime, I'm doing other things."

Sherk is currently in training at Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts. In his last appearance, he outpointed up-and-comer Tyson Griffin at UFC 90, showcasing an improved stand-up game. The former champ has repeatedly stated he only wants to fight contenders and names, and a bout with Huerta appears to fit the latter half of that bill.

"I want to push myself and challenge myself," he said. "I've got 41 professional fights. I feel like I've accomplished everything in this industry a guy could ever dream of accomplishing, and now, at this point in my career, I only want to fight the best guys. That's all I'm interested in. I'm not here to collect paydays. I just want to test myself and finish my career knowing that I fought the best of the best and beat them."

Jardine Pushed To UFC 97

UFC light heavyweight Keith Jardine will not make an appearance at UFC 96 in Columbus, Ohio after all. Jardine was widely rumored to be in the running for a rematch with former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, but MMAInsider in late December confirmed that was not the case.

On Wednesday, a source close to Jardine said the Greg Jackson-trained fighter was recently moved back to UFC 97 on Apr. 18 in Montreal, Canada. No opponent has been named for his appearance.

So far, no match-ups have been confirmed for the UFC's second incursion into Canadian territory, but a rumored bout between Anderson Silva and Thales Leites remains a possibility. Canadians David Loiseau and Jonathan Goulet are also expected to be on the card. Goulet is rumored to face Tamdan McRory.

Jardine last took home a split decision victory over Brandon Vera at UFC 89. He is 6-3 in the organization after his stint on the second season of "The Ultimate Fighter."