2008-06-11 05:00:56
Speculation About Dana White's "Big Announcement" Reaches Fever Pitch
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You have to give Dana White credit - when everyone was talking about EliteXC and "Kimbo Slice", White wrested back control of the spotlight by announcing that he would be making an epic announcement this Thursday. An announcement, that in his words, will come "completely out of left field" and will be "an indicator of where this business is going over the next five years". He has claimed that even his employees don't know what the news is as of yet. He also says that he will be renting out some space so that he can tell all of his employees at once what the news is, before informing the rest of the world. Sounds like major news, right?
There have been many different possible scenarios put forth, ranging from the probable to the absolutely ridiculous. Here is a list of the rumors that I have heard so far:
1. TV deal with FOX, ESPN or NBC.
2. FOX will be buying the UFC.
3. Dana White and a group of investors, including Vince McMahon, will be purchasing the UFC.
4. Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be signed to a $200 million dollar deal. He will also be given equity in the company.
5. New weight classes will be created.
6. WEC will get the lighter weight classes (featherweight, lightweight and Welterweight) while the UFC will host the heavier weight classes (middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight).
7. MMA will be legalized in New York, and the UFC will announce a massive show at Madison Square Gardens.
8. Liddell vs Silva at UFC 88.
Apparently, according to Dave Meltzer, the announcement won't be made on Thursday, as originally promised. It will be made next Tuesday.
Everyone has an opinion as to what they think that the announcement will be, and everyone thinks that they are right. Mayweather Jr. recently retired, so that must mean that he is signing with the UFC. The WWE (and Vince McMahon) are also having a press conference on Thursday, so this must mean that the stories of the WWE's involvement must be true. It goes on and on.
White, for his part, has tried to debunk as many of the rumors as possible. According to White, it won't be a TV deal, it won't be Mayweather signing with the UFC, and it won't be Vince McMahon investing in the company.
This doesn't leave too much that could be "mind-blowing". Either White is lying in order to keep the announcement a true surprise, or this "big" announcement next Tuesday will be a let-down. Let's just hope that the announcement isn't that the UFC has a new sponsor or something. We'll all find out next week (hopefully).
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