Savvy east coast fight fans were not shy about broaching tough subjects to UFC president Dana White during a UFC Fight Club Q & A session Friday. They grilled him on Brock Lesnar's behavior, the recent rift with Strikeforce, the breakup of Pride, and a network TV deal.
They also asked about mending fences with old enemies. For anyone not named Strikeforce, White has been in the make-up mood lately, burying the hatchet with Tito Ortiz.
A fan asked if Josh Barnett or Frank Shamrock--two guys not on White's Christmas card list--would get the same treatment.
"Josh Barnett's gonna be a tough one," White said with a laugh, no doubt thinking about the heap of trouble the former UFC champion caused due to his third positive test for steroids.
For Shamrock, who didn't make the UFC's top 100 fights of all time list (White said fans didn't vote him in), he was a little more positive.
"Made up with Tito? Maybe I can make up with Frank."
Shamrock was not available for comment, as he was fending off the advances of pundits who felt MMA should be buried under a rock and forgotten.
MMA Live talks about Josh Barnett's failed drug test, Kimo Leopoldo's whirlwind week, the possibility of Tito Ortiz and Fedor to the UFC, and a look back at DREAM.10. King Mo Lawal joins the program to discuss his feud with Quinton Jackson
In a media teleconference for Affliction's "Day of Reckoning" on Wednesday, Affliction Entertainment VP Tom Atencio said he, as well as Josh Barnett, are ready for anything when it comes to Gilbert Yvel's trials with the California State Athletic Commission.
On Tuesday, Yvel was cleared to apply for a California license to fight, though his paperwork needs to be approved before he gets in the ring.
Atencio said he expected Yvel to clear the commission, but had fighters on standby.
"He's been approved to move forward in the licensing process, and that's pretty much where we're at," said the spectacled fight promoter. "Yeah, I have people in line if this doesn’t work out, but as far as Josh is concerned, it’s approved. Once again, like anything else, you never know what’s going to happen, there’s a process to go through. Hopefully, he makes it through all his medicals and if he does, then the fight’s on. I know that Josh is preparing for him, but Josh will fight anybody out there, so it’s not so much a concern for me."
Atencio declined to name any fighters waiting in the wings, but expressed confidence that Barnett would face any of them.
"When we approach that bridge, we'll cross it," said Atencio.
Gilbert Yvel, the controversial Dutch fighter scheduled to face Josh Barnett at Affliction's "Day of Reckoning on Jan. 24, has cleared one hurdle to fighting in California.
Bill Douglas, Assistant Executive Officer of the California State Athletic Commission, on Tuesday night informed MMAInsider he had granted Yvel permission to apply for a fighter's license in the Golden State.
Last year, Yvel was denied a license to fight in Nevada after its athletic commission reviewed several inflammatory incidents in his career including knocking a referee out, biting a referee, and eye gouging an opponent.
Douglas stressed the action was only a first step to Yvel fighting on Jan. 24.
"He must meet all of the licensing requirements, as would any other applicant, before he can be considered 'approved,' Douglas wrote. "If he is fully approved, the rest will be up to Gilbert."
Yvel will now be required to submit the necessary paperwork for licensure, including bloodwork, EKG, current neurological exam, opthamological exam, a pre-fight medical questionnaire, and physical.
Should his paperwork be acceptable to Mr. Douglas, Yvel will be on his way. Douglas gave no timetable for when the paperwork was required. However, since California began regulating MMA in March of 2006, the commission has on several occasions balked at last minute submissions. Several fighters, including Joe Riggs, Nick Diaz, and Hong Man Choi, were denied licenses when their paperwork was turned in late or with details deemed to require further investigation.
You can bet if Yvel wants to make his trip worthwhile, he will have the documents hand delivered.
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