Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White insists he's not upset about losing his Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey rematch later this year, which may have turned out to be the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) event in the history of the promotion.
Watch the incredible video highlights from UFC 196!
Watch the incredible video highlights from UFC 196!
He does, however, feel sorry for "The Preacher's Daughter." Not because she was defeated by Miesha Tate at UFC 196 last weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, but rather because she probably doesn't even realize the kind of money that went up in smoke as a result of manager Lenny Fresquez and his not-smart decisions.
White elaborates to ESPN's Russillo & Kanell (via MMA Fighting):
"The sad part about that whole thing is, and listen, he's an old boxing guy who thinks he's smart and he isn't. The thing I feel bad about is I feel bad for Holly because I don't know if Holly really knows what she lost. I think she has so much faith in the people that surround her she feels like, 'Well, they've got me here.' We had this meeting and Holly wasn't even in it. Holly, that's your life! You should be in that meeting. Don't leave it to these people, this guy. Oh my god. Listen, Holly made a lot of money, she accomplished great things, she beat Ronda Rousey, but it could have been so much bigger for her. The sad part is I don't [think she even knows.]"
White has been critical of Fresquez long before Holm ever stepped foot inside the Octagon, to the point where the former boxing champion was blackballed (so to speak) from UFC. Cooler heads (read: Lorenzo Fertitta) prevailed, but the relationship was strained, at best.
Fresquez responds to White's assessment by way of ESPN:
"Of course, she knows. It was a team decision, and Holly is the boss. She wanted to fight, and she got her wish. I think she'll fight Miesha or Ronda next. That's my personal feeling, but who knows what the UFC has cooking? All I can speak to are Holly's wishes. Holly wants to fight Miesha right away. She wants to fight Ronda Rousey. Even with the title, a fight between Miesha and Rousey doesn't have the glamour a fight with Holly and Ronda does. Yeah, Holly lost. She made a mistake, but she'll learn from it. Everyone saw she's a warrior."
At this point, Holm may have to take another fight if she wants to stay busy, as she could be on the sidelines for several months waiting for the winner of Tate vs. Rousey 3.
For more results and fallout from UFC 196 click here.