After UFC 100, now comes the hard part

Following the success of Saturday’s event, what’s next for Dana White’s business?

By Brett Okamoto
Mon, Jul 13, 2009 (2:05 a.m.)

Dana White will always be the first to say that his press conferences are a little different. But even he had to admit that the one following UFC 100 on Saturday night was especially awkward. For the final 15 minutes of the news conference after the milestone event, only White and Dan Henderson graced the stage. Empty seats lined up on either side of the two. Usually, fighters getting up and leaving in the middle of a press conference is enough to receive a verbal lashing from White. But this time when Brock Lesnar and Georges St. Pierre stood up to make an early retreat, they had a good excuse. SportsCenter was calling. Keep reading »

• Post fight UFC 100

  July 13, 2009 · 2:55 p.m.

  Recap UFC 100 with Alex Adeyanju and Christine Killimayer

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  Lesnar wins, puts on WWE-style show afterward

  By Andy Samuelson · July 11, 2009 · 5:30 p.m.

  Brock Lesnar unleashed a series of hammer fists to end Frank Mir's night in the second round, but the show was far from over. Lesnar about got into with Mir afterwards, then proceed to salute the booing crowd with a couple of hand gestures. "Keep going, I love it. Keep going," Lesnar said. Keep reading »

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  UFC 100: Can anyone beat Brock Lesnar?

  By Brett Okamoto · July 12, 2009 · 8:00 a.m.

  As insane as Brock Lesnar's behavior was following his win over Frank Mir at UFC 100, it shouldn't overshadow the first show he gave the fans Saturday night. That one was actually more impressive. Lesnar completely battered Mir the entire fight. Really, Lesnar has completely battered everyone. Keep reading »

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  St. Pierre dominant despite injury

  By Andy Samuelson · July 12, 2009 · 3:00 a.m.

  Georges St. Pierre wants to leave a legacy in mixed martial arts, but after his latest victory Saturday night the UFC welterweight champ may be running out of room to improve. Despite a severely injured groin or abductor muscle, the popular Canadian fighter completely dominated the division’s top contender by scoring a lop-sided unanimous decision victory over Thiago Alves at UFC 100 at Mandalay Bay. Even the judge’s scores (50-45, 50-44, 50-45) couldn’t describe how flawlessly “GSP” executed his Greg Jackson-constructed game plan. Keep reading »

• Photogallery

  Octagon Girls

  By Justin M. Bowen · July 11, 2009 · 6:25 p.m.

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  UFC co-owner addresses fans at Expo

  By Steve Silver · July 11, 2009 · 4:42 p.m.

  A few hours from the start of perhaps the most important fight in UFC history, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, Lorenzo Fertitta, took time to address fans at the UFC Fan Expo inside the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Saturday morning. Fertitta delivered a short keynote address, which can be heard in its entirety here, about the creation of the UFC and its strategy moving into the future. Before clearing the stage for 40 bikini-clad women hoping to become the next Maxim/UFC Octagon Girl, Fertitta spent nearly an hour answering questions from a group of about 300 fans. Keep reading »

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  Liddell, ‘Mask’ ushered into UFC Hall of Fame

  By Andy Samuelson · July 11, 2009 · 1:30 a.m.

  Ultimate Fighting Championship events are never short on emotions, but usually the electricity in the air is one of energy and excitement for a big fight. Keep reading »

• UFC fan expo set for Mandalay Bay

  By Ray Brewer · July 9, 2009 · 5:11 p.m.

  The action inside the Octagon will be only part of the mixed martial arts related attractions this weekend at Mandalay Bay. Keep reading »

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  Thousands turn out for UFC Fan Expo

  By Steve Silver · July 10, 2009 · 9:00 p.m.

  If the UFC 100 Fan Expo is any indication of the popularity of mixed martial arts, then UFC 200 might be right around the corner. Tens of thousands of MMA fans packed the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Friday for the start of the first ever UFC Fan Expo, which runs until 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Keep reading »

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  UFC 100: Fan Experience

  By Sam Morris · July 10, 2009 · 11:25 p.m.

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• All In: UFC 100

  July 9, 2009 · 11:07 p.m.

  See all the videos from All In: The Vegas Sports Scene Presents UFC 100

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  UFC 100 Weigh-In

  By Sam Morris · July 10, 2009 · 9:40 p.m.

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• Blog: Sports: Upon Further Review

  UFC 100 Weigh-in — Brock Lesnar: ‘See you tomorrow night’

  By Brett Okamoto · July 10, 2009 · 4:42 p.m.

  During the UFC 100 press conference Thursday, Brock Lesnar told everyone he was done talking. Had nothing left to say. After tipping the scales at his usual 265 pounds at Friday's weigh-in, the heavyweight champ made one final comment to his opponent Frank Mir. Keep reading »

• Photogallery

  UFC 100 press conference

  By Sam Morris · July 9, 2009 · 5:36 p.m.

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  Dana White along with the key fighters for UFC 100 took part in a media luncheon and press conference Thursday at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues.

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  Lesnar-Mir rematch tops tonight’s UFC 100

  By Brett Okamoto · July 11, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  Rematches will always be highly anticipated, but rarely does a first fight leave so many questions that need answering in a second meeting. The anticipation for the truth of what Mir-Lesnar I meant and what will be revealed this time in the Octagon is part of what has made the countdown to UFC 100 so electric. Tonight, we'll all have our answers. Keep reading »

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  Fighter’s dream turns reality with UFC title bout

  By Brett Okamoto · July 10, 2009 · 3:09 a.m.

  At the age of 15, most kids daydream about driving licenses and prom. Thiago Alves dreamnt a little bigger. “I never thought I’d be here today,” said Alves, who will fight Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 100. “But in the back of my mind, since I was 15, I played with it that at the age of 25 I would be a world champion. Here I am, at 25.” Alves has traveled one wild road that will place him in the octagon Saturday night. Keep reading »

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  Rivals fighting for shot at middleweight champ

  By Brett Okamoto · July 9, 2009 · 2:13 a.m.

  You wouldn’t think that a man with an 18-1 MMA record, a United Kingdom fan base that rivals that of Ricky Hatton and a family ancestry that traces back to royalty would have any trouble earning respect. And yet, somehow, Michael Bisping says he does. Keep reading »

• Photogallery

  UFC 100 Workout

  By Sam Morris · July 8, 2009 · 1:56 p.m.

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  All six combatants in the three major fights for UFC 100 took part in a media workout Wednesday at Mandalay Bay.

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  UFC’s Dana White: His way or the highway

  By Andy Samuelson · July 7, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  Dana White’s not hurting for money. If the blacked out Ferrari the UFC president revs off in one of his recent video blogs doesn’t offer enough proof, there’s always that little 10-percent ownership clause for a company that Forbes recently valued at a billion dollars. So why not just speed off into the sunset after Saturday’s historic UFC 100 show and leave the everyday headaches of the world’s fastest-growing sport behind? White is the fiercest fighter in a sport based on the primal instinct. The more he’s challenged, the harder he fights back. Keep reading »

• Video

  Walk Up to UFC 100

  By Alex Adeyanju · July 7, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

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  Dana White sits down with 702.tv's Alex Adeyanju to talk about UFC 100 and his personal life. Watch more with Dana White and UFC 100 on All In: The Vegas Sports Scene Presents: UFC 100 Thursday 10:30 on VegasTV.

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  Wrestlers now have two choices: Olympics or UFC

  By Brett Okamoto · July 8, 2009 · 8:00 a.m.

  U.S. National Greco-Roman coach Steve Fraser remembers he wasn’t upset when one of his wrestlers, Randy Couture, decided to leave the sport for mixed martial arts. Likewise, he didn’t mind when Dan Henderson and Matt Lindland left for the same reason. However if star pupil Joe Warren chooses the Octagon over the mat now, that one’s going to sting. Keep reading »

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  Prep wrestling coach recalls high school career of Frank Mir

  By Ray Brewer · July 7, 2009 · 11:59 p.m.

  Long before Frank Mir became one of the more notable mixed martial arts fighters in the world, the native Las Vegan was a struggling wrestler at Bonanza High. Mir started wrestling during his junior year and lost his first nine matches while becoming familiar with the sport Keep reading »

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  ‘GSP’ prepared for greatest challenge

  By Andy Samuelson · June 26, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  Georges St. Pierre has squared off in super fights and fought arguably the sport’s top champion, but the popular Canadian says his biggest challenge will come from Thiago Alves on July 11 at UFC’s historic 100th event. “Skill-wise he’s bringing a lot more problems to the table than everyone I’ve fought so far,” said St. Pierre, the welterweight champ. Keep reading »

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  Lesnar’s passion in MMA, but he won’t pass on paycheck

  By Andy Samuelson · July 6, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  Physically, Brock Lesnar is already the UFC’s biggest star. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Lesnar looks to be made more of granite than flesh. A win at Saturday night’s historic UFC 100 event at Mandalay Bay could easily place the behemoth right at the top of the list of mixed martial arts’ biggest stars in terms of financial success and stardom. Keep reading »

• Video

  The Man in the Mir

  By Alex Adeyanju · June 29, 2009 · 8:24 p.m.

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  As Frank Mir prepares for his UFC Heavyweight Championship match against Brock Lesnar, he sits town to talk about his family life. Mir and his wife just welcomed a new baby boy Ronin born on June 9th.

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  Mir ready for Lesnar

  By Leila Navidi · June 29, 2009 · 6:00 p.m.

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  UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir takes on Brock Lesnar in a unifying match for the UFC heavyweight title at the company’s historic 100th show Saturday, July 11, 2009.

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  Mir jokes about new baby boy, serious about Lesnar

  By Andy Samuelson · June 30, 2009 · 12:00 a.m.

  Frank Mir didn’t do much smiling when talk turned to his UFC 100 opponent Brock Lesnar at his open workout last Friday at Striking Unlimited. The one question that did raise a smirk on the UFC interim heavyweight champ’s face was whether or not there is a possibility for Lesnar-Mir III in a couple of decades. The 30-year-old Mir just had his fourth child, son, Ronin Maximus, on June 9. The next day Lesnar had a baby boy. “Maybe, but I sure hope they don’t. I want my kids to all have jobs where they wear ties,” Mir said with a chuckle. Keep reading »