Dana White: "The mafia is keeping us out of Japan"

Ever since UFC president Dana White and his business partners, the Fertitta brothers, purchased Pride and subsequently closed its doors, the scorn has rained down on them. The MMA hardcores have been particularly forgiving.

"Our goal was to keep Pride alive and running (in Japan)," relayed White as part of a fundraising radio-thon on ESPN 1100 radio in Las Vegas on Friday. The event was held to raise funds for The Caring Place cancer support center.

"I’ve talked about the corruption over there and, basically, the mafia over there is keeping us out of Japan," he explained. "It’s a whole 'nother world over there. It’s a tough place to navigate.

"We’re gonna get to Japan. We just did another television deal over there and we’re gonna figure it out."

Zuffa -- the UFC's parent company -- has kept the brand on life support, even featuring it as part of the UFC Fan Expo that was a large part of the promotion's recent UFC 100 weekend.

But despite their commitment, it hasn't been easy.

"It’s rough though, its’ rough doing business over there," said the brash leader of the UFC.

UFC Launches Japanese Web & Mobile Sites

PRESS RELEASE:

In a move to bring the UFC experience one step closer for mixed martial arts fans in Japan, the Ultimate Fighting Championship officially launched the first Japanese-language UFC web and mobile sites. Japanese fight fans can now access UFC via the new and only UFC branded Japanese PC and mobile sites across all three major carriers’ 3G networks in Japan.

The UFC Official Mobile sites will offer the latest news and enhanced content of the UFC to 3G network users of all three major mobile carriers – NTT Docomo, KDDI and Softbank in Japan. Content such as breaking news, fight previews, video interviews, photos and editorial columns will be offered on a daily basis.

Japanese fighter Yoshihiro Akiyama is the latest addition to the UFC, with his debut fight taking place at the historic UFC 100 event Saturday, July 11 in Las Vegas. In addition to Akiyama, UFC has a steady stream of talent coming out of Japan including Yushin Okami, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, and Caol Uno.

To access the UFC Japanese site on your web mobile device, please visit http://m.ufcjapan.jp

To access the UFC Japanese site on your desktop PC computer, please visit UFCJapan.jp

JZ and Shaolin on Course for NYE in Japan

There is a star-studded cast of international fighters in Chicago this week for UFC 90, including a strong contingent of Brazilian fighters. A couple of the more prominent fighters from Brazil informed MMAInsider that, not surprisingly, they are heading to Japan for New Year's Eve.

Gesias "JZ" Calvancante said that he has healed up from his injuries and will be fighting during Japan's biggest MMA time of year. The deal hasn't been completely finalized yet, but he plans on fighting Dream champion Joachim Hansen, as previously reported by MMAWeekly.com.

Of course, with Japan's penchant for changing up fights at the last minute, you never know.

In town to corner Thales Leites, Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro said that he whole-heartedly plans on fighting in Japan on New Year's Eve as well. He still is under contract with Dream and will fight, but he has yet to be given an opponent.

Kind of sliding in under the radar is Shaolin's recent decision to pull up roots and come to America. About four months ago, according to him, he moved to Jersey City, N.J. and now has his own academy open in mid-town Manhattan.