Dana White praises Andrei Arlovski after dreadful performance, but title shot will have to wait

If you tuned into the UFC 191 post-event press conference expecting president Dana White to slam one of the least watchable co-main events in recent memory, you probably know that didn't happen as expected.

Far from it. In fact, White took time to spin the whole affair -- like a promoter -- into a positive.

"What Andrei's done, coming back into the UFC and going on the run that he's gone on, it's amazing," he told reporters. "I mean, obviously he, you know, the judges gave him the decision tonight in this fight and his fight against Travis Browne was unbelieveable. I don't know if many people picked Arlovski in that fight, but he's been on an incredible run and unfortunately this Heavyweight division is tied up right now."

To watch Andrei Arlovski vs. Frank Mir full fight video highlights from UFC 191's co-main event last night click here.

It's true that Arlovski has compiled several impressive performances since rejoining UFC, including the aforementioned dramatic fight with Browne and destruction of Antonio "Big Foot" Silva.

However, there's no denying his putrid performance in events like UFC 174 against Brendan Schaub and the debacle we witnessed last night.

Even Arlovski seemed depressed with his performance in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, and tried to explain his poor showing in the press conference afterward.

"He kept coming and kept coming and he took me down a couple of times and for some reason I was really tired," he said. "But, I took a lesson from this and I definitely think next fight is going to be better."

As for White, he refused to criticize the performance of either fighter.

"It's not the fight that everybody expected, but... (shrugs) sometimes it doesn't turn out that way."

Although the Arlovski vs. Mir fight was pegged as a potential title eliminator, if the Belorussian wants to fight to reclaim the strap he once carried around his waist he's going to have to wait a while. White said Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez 2 probably won't happen until March 2016.

When asked why it will take so long, White simply explained that's when Werdum wants to fight next.

What do you think? Does "Pitbull" deserve a title shot after that showing? Or should he put in one more convincing win while waiting for the dust to settle in the title picture?