Dana White Acknowledges Fedor Emelianenko's Win at Affliction

UFC president Dana White has been relentless in his criticism of ex-PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko over the past several years.

White has criticized and mocked the popular Russian for failing to face top competition and taking on inexperienced and even smaller fighters over the past three years.

But upon learning that Emelianenko had submitted ex-UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia on Saturday in Anaheim, Calif., in less than a minute, White unflinchingly admitted he was impressed.

“It does (change my opinion),” he conceded. “Tim Sylvia was a real opponent.”




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That's a big step for Dana to admit that. But no one can deny Sylvia as a top 10 heavyweight in the world. Especially only having lost to former champions in the form of Frank Mir, Double A, Couture, and Nog.

Good solid win for Fedor.

Dana's talk is all bluster. He NEVER thought Fedor was garbage and in my opinion it is WRONG for a PROMOTER to trash a fighter just because he couldn't sign him. We are talking about a guy TRYING to sabotage and weaken a fighter's career simply because he couldn't be his promoter. I think that's weak. While I say cool if you want to play hardball business, I think there are moral lines that shouldn't be crossed and trying to devalue fighter's whose ONLY asset is their name and ability, is wrong.

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Posted by EliasG

Dana's talk is all bluster. He NEVER thought Fedor was garbage and in my opinion it is WRONG for a PROMOTER to trash a fighter just because he couldn't sign him. We are talking about a guy TRYING to sabotage and weaken a fighter's career simply because he couldn't be his promoter. I think that's weak. While I say cool if you want to play hardball business, I think there are moral lines that shouldn't be crossed and trying to devalue fighter's whose ONLY asset is their name and ability, is wrong.

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I agree.I just wonder what all the Dana nuthuggers are thinking now.
I remember when Dana came out and said he thought Fedor was in the top 5. they said very little after that.

There is no way Dana did not think Fedor was #1. Not possible. Getting him to admit that, also not possible.

I think people can do good business without trying to bury everyone that isn't 'them'. I like the UFC. I don't want them to treat everyone else like crap and cause me to dislike them. I just want to see good fights. If "Don King" has all the great fighters I'll watch him but if there are other fighters promoted by different promoters I'll watch them. That's all I'm saying. THey keep trying to bury everyone at the beginning and it might end up backfiring on them. A cross promotion, UFC and Afflicition with Fedor v. Couture would make HUGE money. It would bring out ALL of the stars if it was done in LA or Vegas at a big venue, and it would be as big for MMA as say a Mayweather v. Dela Hoya was for boxing. But Dana's fear is that it would also make Affliction.

Not much Dana can really say after Fedor just molestered one of his former champs.