Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is now on the FOX network with increased exposure and the chance to blow up the mainstream sports world. There has never been a more sensitive time in the promotion's history.
Hey, I know, let's tell rape jokes!
Most of the mixed martial arts community has their panties up in a bunch over the comments Rashad Evans made at the UFC on FOX 2 pre-fight press conference back on Dec. 7 in Chicago, Illinois.
Doh!
While Evans was getting into a verbal back-and-forth with "Mr. Wonderful," much to the approval of the giggling sheeple in attendance, he tried to hit a home run -- but instead struck out swinging.
Premeditated? No. Malicious? Hardly. Tasteless? Absolutely. Or, as UFC President Dana White told media members at the UFC 140 presser earlier today (via MMA Fighting), it was simply a "stupid" thing to say.
"We talked. It's not like I'm dealing with stupid people here. It's one thing when you're dealing with dummies. When you're dealing with people who are really stupid, it's tough to talk to them. But when you call a guy who's an intelligent guy, he gets it. He knows. The whole thing with me is people are looking to me, and I saw a couple of stupid stories that were written, people who want attention -- you know who those people are. What do you want me to do? You want me to have our lawyers draw something up and I'll come out and read it to you guys? You know, he said something stupid. It's probably one of the dumbest things you could say. He gets it, and he knows it was a stupid thing to say, and we'll see what happens."
Like the man said, we'll see.
"Evans vs. Davis," emanating from Chicago's United Center, will headline the Jan. 28, 2012, broadcast, which kicks off the promotion's seven year, $100 million agreement with the network television powerhouse. Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz and Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia are also featured on the "Windy City" fight card.
To hear how it all went down at the UFC on FOX 2 press conference click here.