In the lead-up to this weekend's (Sun., Jan 18, 2015) UFC Fight Night 59 event in Boston, Mass., Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has rolled out one promotional tool after another backing top featherweight contender, Conor McGregor.
See proof of that here, here and here.
Left out in the cold is Dennis Siver, the other half of the evening's main event bout, who hasn't felt much love from UFC's public relations machine.
In a last-ditch effort to back the German kickboxer, UFC president Dana White says that Siver has the tools and skill to "ruin" the Irishman's momentum thanks to the punching power he packs.
His words (via The The Download):
"Nobody thought that Conor could beat Poirier, and that he was taking too big of a step up. He wins, and then now for anybody to think that Siver couldn't ruin this whole thing is nuts because the kid can punch."
While that may very well be true, Siver hasn't knocked out an opponent in his last seven win, with his last win via strikes coming agaisnt Paul Kelly back in 2009. He did have a submission victory over Andre Winner the following year, but you get the point.
Still, he doesn't hide the fact that Siver has the tools and the power to shock the world come Sunday night, something White knows all-too well.
That, or UFC's head honcho wants to give Siver some love, you know, just in case.