When the UFC negotiates fighters' contracts, it's usually careful to make sure that all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed, and that nothing slips through the cracks. But in the case of Mirko Cro Cop, who a couple weeks ago agreed to fight at UFC 99 on Saturday, it was just a verbal agreement with UFC President Dana White.
When asked on a conference call Tuesday how many fights Cro Cop had on his new UFC contract, White said it was up in the air.
"Mirko and I are working on that still," White said. "Mirko Cro Cop ended up on this card last minute, weeks before the event, and this whole deal was done verbally over the phone with me and him."
Obviously, that's not how the UFC usually does business.
"I've never done this in the history of the company with anybody, ever," White said. "I respect Mirko. He knows how I feel about him and I know how he feels about me and I know what his goals are as far as the UFC and the heavyweight title. We did this over the phone. I've never done that, ever, in nine years of being in this business."
For his part, Cro Cop said White explained their agreement correctly, but he was quick to add that he's sure he'll agree to additional fights with the UFC down the road.
"As Dana explained, we talked just on the phone, we didn't meet," Cro Cop said. "But this is definitely not my last fight in the UFC. You have my word for it."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-09-2009 @ 5:20PM
Mike said...
There is something I don't like at all about White. He started off okay, but now reminds me of Don King, V. McMahon and others of their ilk. there is something very sleazy about this guy.
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6-09-2009 @ 9:01PM
jctequila55 said...
Agreed....Now, if he makes a phone call deal and has no legit plans or contract for future fights for Cro Cop, Why is is so hard for him to give Fedor a one fight contract and possibly more in the future??? Hypocritical I think.
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6-10-2009 @ 2:26PM
neozoo said...
the dude has a business to run, you want him to give fedor a one fight deal that would be moronic. no matter how you look at it UFC is king of the mountain no one is even a close second.
so why should he cower to fedor, so that fedor could come in, be seen by all the ufc fans,
probably beat whomever he fights and then leave and take all that casual fan notoriety with him.
that would be stupid. and even if you don't like dana the one thing that he is not is stupid.
dana has always tried to bring the best in and for the most part has succeeded in doing so.
just because us smart mark fans want it does not mean it has to get done no matter what.
dana to me, comes across as a smart business guy
and to me, not a bad guy. maybe not always politically correct but i like that. i think it would be fun to meet and talk with him.
i'd also love to meet joe rogan, imo, he is without a doubt one of the most intelligent, fascinating and real persons on the planet.
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6-14-2009 @ 11:23AM
Glenn said...
Joe Rogan Is A total Fag
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