LAS VEGAS – UFC president Dana White spoke to the media Saturday night following the completion of UFC Fight Night 224.
He addressed various topics at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, including the main event between Mackenzie Dern and Angela Hill, booking Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev, the return of the BMF title, and more.
You can watch White’s full post-event news conference above, plus check out a transcription of some of the topics he covered below.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.
Reaction to Dern vs. Hill main event
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 20: (R-L) Mackenzie Dern faces Angela Hill in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“So badass. I’m so glad that’s the fight we moved to the main event here tonight. Let me start with: First of all, Mackenzie Dern looked unbelievable tonight. So aggressive. I don’t know what you guys thought, but I thought this was going to be one of those fights where Angela Hill came out stand up, try to take it to her, and Mackenzie was going to do everything in her power to get it to the ground to try and submit her. To see Mackenzie’s stand up – the punches, the knees actually hurting Angela Hill, who’s tough as nails – then on the flip side, Angela Hill, who’s so tough and durable getting into these positions. … It was a badass fight. It was as good of a main event as you could ever hope for.”
Will Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler date be announced during TUF airing?
“That’s correct. There’s a fight. Well, he (Conor McGregor) has to get in the USADA pool first. He’s filling out the paperwork. I don’t know how soon that will be done or what’s going on, but that’s his business that he’s handling with USADA. But it’s all in motion.”
Will the fight be in 2023?
“Yeah, that’s what we’re shooting for. Hopefully, we have a big fight at Madison Square Garden in November and then a big fight in December.”
The BMF title returns
“We thought that Poirier and Gaethje is such an awesome fight. Masvidal retired, so we put the BMF up. You have no idea how many of these fighters want to fight for the BMF title. They all want to fight for that belt. It’s fun, it’s different, so we’ll do it again.”
Will the BMF title be defended?
“Yeah, I don’t know. When you think about coming up with it the first time, those were the two right guys and so are these. These are the two right guys for that too. Whether that thing is in play or not in play, that fight is what it is. Everybody wants that belt, so, what the hell.”
On death of former UFC commentator and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown
“Obviously, he wasn’t around during my era, but he’s a guy who helped launch the UFC. We paid respect to him tonight, not only on the broadcast, but all over social media too. But the guy lived a great life. I think he was 87 when he passed. He obviously has some history here at the UFC, so we showed him the love and respect tonight.”
Will Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev happen?
Kamaru Usman UFC 286 ceremonial weigh-ins
“It’s a fight that Usman wants, that’s no secret. Usman literally came to the office to lobby for that fight. I told him I love him. Usman is one of the best guys we’ve ever worked with. I love working with the guy. Look at all the things he’s accomplished. I don’t do catchweights. Don’t do it. So, you know how Khamzat is. If you talk sh*t to Khamzat, he’s going to go right at it with you and doesn’t care who he fights and all that stuff. I don’t know. Obviously, we’ve been making a lot of announcements lately, we haven’t made that announcement yet because we don’t have the fight done yet. But we’re working on stuff for Khamzat.”
Dana White discusses McGregor vs. Chandler, Usman vs. Chimaev, more - MMA Junkie
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