Ex-UFC fighter talks Dana White's 'no-f***s-given' mentaliity announcing next LHW title fight moments after UFC 282
Dana White announced a new light heavyweight title fight between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill in the immediate aftermath of the UFC 282 main event between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev. Former UFC lightweight and Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson recently noted that White "never gave a f**k" while announcing the new title matchup.
The UFC 282 headliner between Blachowicz and Ankalaev was controversially declared a split draw, leaving the light heavyweight title vacant again. Thomson believes White is now hell-bent on having a champion crowned at 205 lbs. The 45-year-old said on the Weighing In podcast:
"Dana never gave a f**k. These guys are still in the back getting stitched up and putting ice on their shins and f***ing Dana's announcing the next title shot in the weight class they just fought for. He never gave a shit. He's like, 'I need a champion man. Can't market all these pay-per-views without a champion. I need a champion.'"
Watch Thomson's comments on White below (1:53):
The majority of the MMA community had Ankalaev winning the UFC 282 headliner, including his opponent Blachowicz. The Russian, who voiced reservations about competing in the UFC ever again, is likely to be even more disgruntled at being left out of the new title matchup altogether.
Dana White was unhappy with the UFC 282 main event
While Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev went toe-to-toe in the opening round, Blachowicz started getting the better of the Russian in round 2 with some heavy leg kicks. After having both his legs badly damaged, Ankalaev changed his strategy in round 3 and resorted to his wrestling background. He then continued to dominate the former champ on the ground in the last two rounds as well.
However, Dana White was seemingly bored with the fight to the point of zoning out during the championship rounds. The UFC president also did not pay much heed when informed of Ankalaev's discontent with the decision. The 53-year-old said during the post-fight media scrum:
“I don’t even know. I started to zone out after like f****** three rounds. I heard Ankalaev is upset or whatever... What do you want me to do? You got beat up the first two rounds. You took him to the ground. What are you going to do? What are you going to do? I thought the main event was terrible. What are you going to do? You do Glover vs. Jamahal Hill in Brazil for the vacant title. Done.”
Watch Dana White's comments below (1:23):