Dana White rejects Bellator's 'weird' offer on Ben Askren, doesn't care about their (expletive) games

Another shot was fired in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White's ongoing public battle with Bellator MMA CEO Bjorn Rebney this past Thursday (Oct. 17) in Houston.

While fielding questions at the UFC 166 pre-fight media scrum, White was asked about Rebney's offer to waive the matching rights stipulated by Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren's contract if the two-time NCAA champion wrestler was granted an immediate shot at UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre.

His response was, as Rick James would say, cold as ice.

"I don't give a shit what they're doing," said an obviously disgusted White. "They don't matter and I don't care."

Rebney's offer (read it here) has been widely regarded as little more than a bit of thinly-veiled gamesmanship. If UFC were to grant Askren an immediate title shot, that alone would lend legitimacy to Bellator's claim its fighters are among the best in the world.

If Askren were to actually beat St. Pierre and capture the UFC welterweight belt? Not only would that make Bellator's roster look a lot more legit by proxy, it would also give Rebney bragging rights over White.

White evidently understands how little he has to gain by taking Rebney's offer at face value.

"They're playing fucking games," White said. "When you're willing to let your fucking champion go, it's weird," White observed.

For more from this past Thursday's UFC 166 pre-fight media scrum click here.

Latest From Our Partners

• Most Bitter Fighter Breakups (BR)
• Worst UFC PPV Buyrates Since UFC 100 (BR)
• Best Fighters Never to Fight for UFC Title (BR)
• Best One-Round Fights in UFC History (BR)
• Worst Title Fights in UFC History (BR)
• Greatest Rounds in MMA History (BR)
• Top Bantamweight Prospects Outside TUF 18 (BR)