Dana White appeared on UFC Tonight to talk about a bevy of topics going on in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), more specifically, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
One of the issues he tackled was the ongoing question pertaining to whether or not current UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw would ever step inside the Octagon to face friend and teammate Urijah Faber.
According to the outspoken promoter, the two talented 135-pounders have made it very clear that they are willing to fight one another.
His words:
"That's possible. Those guys have made it very clear that they will fight each other. We'll see what happens. I mean, that's not the plan right now, today, but it's definitely a fight I'd like to see."
While that's all good and dandy, "The California Kid" is painting a very different picture.
Though he didn't necessarily slam the door shut on a potential scrap against his Team Alpha Male comrade during his conversation on The MMA Hour, he isn't particularly keen on the match up, either.
Often times, you hear training partners say they would be willing to put their friendship aside for one night if it means both parties are going to get paid handsomely for their efforts and sacrifice. So when Faber was asked if he agreed that a fight between he and Dillashaw was the biggest "money fight" to make at 135 pounds, he didn't disagree, but did say that all of that "big money" isn't going to go in his pockets.
He explains:
"Well, for the record, my money stays the same regardless of who I fight. Makes the most money for who? Yeah, I would say that (UFC). I have no idea, we haven't had any discussions about it. What it has been is, it's the phantom question, it hasn't really been talked about with me or the UFC brass. So, I don't really have an answer at this point. My gut instinct is, no, I wouldn't fight T.J. It would be a conversation for us to have. (If they offered me the fight today) it would be a no. I think T.J. feels the same way."
Of course, right when you thought Faber was completely slamming the door shut, he kept a little crack open big enough to give fight fans hope.
"But, like I said, this question hasn't been posed. I never wanted to buy a custom suit, either. And now I got this guy, Joe Suits, in my house and I ended up getting four of them back in 2007. The question hasn't been asked, man."
You're killing me, Faber.
Still, the question is an important one to ask -- and fast -- as the bantamweight division is currently in dire straits.
Former division kingpin Dominick Cruz was supposed to get next crack at "Viper," but another unfortunate injury has sidelined him indefinitely. The next man up, Rafael Assuncao, is also out with an injury.
That leaves either Faber or Renan Barao as the top two candidates to fill the void left behind by "The Dominator" and "Rapha." But by the sound of it, it seems the logical step would be to book the much-anticipated rematch between Dillashaw and Barao.
Because Faber isn't in a hurry to take on his friend and training partner.
Yet.