Dana White Says Dan Henderson Wants To Be Highest Paid Fighter in UFC, Henderson Denies Claim
At Thursday’s UFC 104 press conference in Los Angeles, UFC President Dana White said contract negotiations with free agent middleweight contender Dan Henderson broke down as Henderson sought to be the highest paid fighter in the promotion (via MMAjunkie):
“We’re at a stalemate right now. The money that [Henderson] is asking for would make him by far the highest-paid guy in the UFC.
You know what’s [expletive] hilarious? I went to dinner last night, and [Henderson's] lawyer and (Strikeforce CEO) Scott Coker are sitting at dinner together last night. I said, ‘What are the [expletive] odds that out of every restaurant in L.A., the one that I go to, these guys are here?
The negotiations are done. I made [Henderson] an offer, and I guarantee you the offer that I made him, Strikeforce can’t pay.
I like Dan. We’re totally cool. You’ll never hear me say a bad thing about Dan Henderson, other than he’s ugly, and that’s just the truth.”
Henderson’s manager, Aaron Crecy, responded to White’s claims with Sherdog:
“Contracts are confidential, so that statement’s impossible to prove or disprove. However, we have done our due diligence. We certainly don’t believe that to be the case. Dan understands and we have a certain belief on where he stands in the hierarchy. Certainly there are champions and former UFC champions that deserve to be paid more than Dan.
The only reason we spoke with Strikeforce, if I’m not mistaken, was because Dana suggested we do so, at a time when he said the UFC wasn’t prepared to pay Dan what he’s asking, and that’s fine.
Right now (Dan’s) just trying to gather information, and that’s his right to do as someone who has no obligation to any particular organization. After negotiating exclusively with the UFC for the last few months, he’s exploring what options there are.
Our position has never been to argue in the media. We understand where the economy is. The last thing Dan wants to do is complain about money to fans. Ultimately, Dan does have a good relationship with and a great deal of respect for (UFC owners) Dana, Lorenzo (Fertitta), and Frank (Fertitta). He has nothing negative to say about them. Nothing’s done until a contract’s signed. Period.”
For more Dan Henderson news check out MMAFrenzy.com’s Dan Henderson tag.
Pictured: Dan Henderson
Tags: Dan Henderson, Dana White
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This could drag on and on and then you will suddenly see that Henderson has been signed up to fight Silva next and the whole thing will be forgotten, maybe. I think Hendo will only get what he wants money wise if he fights whoever Dana tells him to fight.
If Henderson really did ask to be the highest paid fighter (intentionally or unintentionally) no wonder the UFC turned that down. Henderson is a great fighter, a legend of the sport, and a great guy, but he does not have the drawing power of Lesnar, Couture, or Liddell, who as far as I know are the three best paid guys in the UFC.
Kos may be the highest paid fighter… he fights on every other card now
You see this in other sports all the time, it’s part of negotiations. Truth is UFC is the best home for Hendo, unless he wants to fight Fedor or Fihlo. Hendo alone is not a big draw, just like Franklin. Dana will try to control the high ground by using leverage to get Hendo to sign. Hendo has a little with Silva saying he’d rather fight the winner of Hendo/Marquardt than Belfort for the title(his reasons being Belfort has yet to win a fight in the UFC at 185, he’d still fight Belfort just not for the title). I still see this deal getting done sooner rather than later. No other organization makes sense unless he wants to fight mayhem until retirement…
Crecy’s statement was very professional. Nice move- doesn’t burn any bridges with the UFC while explaining their point of view, and without any name calling or over the top emotion.
agreed brucelereoy,
Dana white seems to always act like a child when he doesn’t get his way or when he feels “betrayed”. It to me is unprofessional to publicly state that dan henderson is “asking for and obcene amount of money” and that he’s “never said anything bad about dan other than he’s ugly”. Negotiations should be kept private and there should be mutual respect during negotiations. Each side is going to try and make the best deal for themselves and that’s just the way it is.
I’m glad hendo is exploring other options. Not only because the UFC isn’t giving him what he wants, but also to show dana and the UFC that they are not the only organization out there.
Sometimes it’s good to remind dana that he’s not the king of the world and that quality fighters like mousasi,shields and other fighters can continue to have success in other places.
I hope henderson does sign with the ufc because he imo still has a shot at being a champ @ 205 or 185
Mousasi would have likely signed with the UFC if his management didn’t lie to him, though.
Shields doesn’t apply here because he believed he would be signed by the UFC but couldn’t as EliteXC refused to officially close their doors. He took the original terms of the EliteXC deal with Strikeforce as they had the right to officially negotiate first. Happened with a lot of the EliteXC guys, they had to either take a quick deal to make money after not being able to for so long or continue to go broke.
Negotiations…I bet Hendo’s squad came in with a high number, and just hasn’t finished exploring their options. Once they realize they won’t get that high number, they’ll come down to reality. It makes sense to explore all options.
Maybe some of the fighters from elitexc didn’t have much time or room sign the deals they wanted or to join the organization of their choice, but they are still fighting, still working and earning money while furtehring their careers.
I’m just not a fan of the bully tactic that dana white uses. The way he and the ufc seem to do business is not one that will last for long. Arlovski,huerta,fitch,tito,rampage and now hendo have all had issues with dana and the ufc when it comes to “business”.
Hypothetically speaking, if henderson signed with strikeforce i’m sure that would give other fighters the courage and or idea of also leaving to another organization. If he left i’m sure rampage and others would follow.
Rampage already left, but he’s still under contract.
Jazz if guys left while under contract and tried to sign with another you’d have a Randy Couture situation.
I love the fact that Dana is very honest and outspoken and doesn’t sugar coat things. But it’s times like this when I wish he would just keep his mouth shut for once. It’s not like Dan is putting online comments out there like “Dana, you promised me a title shot, now you’re going back on your word. I want more money.” Even though many fans see this (rightly) as a huge issue. He’s taking care of business quietly and professionally, and makes me respect him even more. Which would make me even more bummed to not see him in the UFC.
Another great point bruceleroy!
Dan has not once publicly said anything about how he got screwed out of his PROMISED title shot.
Actually he did when he refused to fight Marquardt, there’s a precedent of not giving title shots even though they were “promised.” If you really want to look at it Maia was “promised” a shot if he beat Marquardt, Nate emphatically ended that run so technically he deserves the chance as well.
Dana if you at his words promises to look at a possible championship fight, he words himself very carefully when discussing these things.
The title shot can be worked into the contract like they reportedly did with Shogun but asking for more money because of that reason is pointless until the precedent is set and it won’t be with a 38 year old fighter whose a mid-level draw at best. Note I said said draw, he’s a great fighter, but not a great draw.
Dana posted this to let us know WHY Dan isn’t fighting. But yeah Dana does lil bull$h!t like this all the time. It’s childish but what can we do about it? Nothing If Dan wants anything close to what he’s asking for it would be wise to keep his mouth shut!
Dana didn’t “post” this, when asked by MMAJunkie, this is the answer he gave.
Thanks JH
I think its being over blown. Dana doesn’t shy away from a question. I’m sure he was asked what’s the situation with Dan and he gave a honest answer. Everyone always trips over the pay of fighters. Listen in the end all the fighters Jazzkok named are all still currently employed by the UFC (with the exception of AA, but he’s on Bully beatdown…so realisticly how well is he fairing outside the UFC), throw Randy on the list. They all learn real quick what there market Value is. Rampage like Huerta will find that movie roles aren’t that plentiful for untrained actors. And to their credit other Orgs learned you can’t be like affliction and burn through cash. Giving AA 500K isn’t good business. Neither is giving Dan that much. Dan is a icon to hardcore fans. However casual people kind of know him from TUF, but aren’t really interested in him. He’s not polarizing in anyway, which is why I think 350/350 would be a fair salary.
Good point anztar.
Just to clarify, it isn’t the amount dan is asking for that I was talking about. It’s the way dana white just sort of “outs” fighters and publicly talks about negotiations as a tactic to ultimately get fighters to sign HIS contract. Dan’s salary isn’t the issue i brought up. It’s the way business is conducted. I respect dana white like hell for what he’s done with charity and for the sport, BUT i don’t respect his childish reactions and unprofessional comments about someone personal life and career. Like i said, he should respect hendersons thoughts on a new contract even though he doesn’t agree with them.
Who he cares about how dana thinks dan is “ugly” and that what he’s asking for is “obcene”?
I only care to see the man compete and compete against the best.
Jazz, I’m certainly not disagreeing with you, or with most of what has been posted here today.
Hendo is a legend, and not too many here at the frenZy have more respect for him than I do, but there is no reasonable way Hendo can be considered a big enough draw to justify asking for “highest paid UFC fighter” jack, if that is indeed the case.
As it relates to Dana White, we’ve been thru all of this before.
The man is both this sport’s premiere sinner and saint, MMA angel and demon.
Yes, he’s made the sport what it is today, yes, he took a down and out NHB/shoot-fighting promotion and turned it into the planet’s premiere MMA organization worth anywhere from 500 to 750 million dollars, and yes, he’s made dozens of fighters not only wealthy men but respectable sportmen as opposed to the near-poverty level truckstop NHB thugs they were perceived as a decade ago.
He’s also ruined lives, strained relationships, pitted fighters against each other outside of the cage for reasons known only to himself, underpaid deserving men and swerved other desrving men, like Pat Miletich, Nate Marquardt, and Hendo, just to name a few.
Also, if you tend to believe some Dana White accounts, he disrespected fighters like Randy Couture in favor of Pedro Rizzo, and brought a piece of sh!t like Brock Lesnar into MMA not because he thought it would be good for the sport, but because it would be good for business.
That being said, Dana White is a d!ck, and we all know it. he often admits it himself.
To date, I think his comments have been tame as they relate to Hendo, when you contrast them with the sh!t he shot on men like Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, and Fedor…
As far as the Ugly comment I think you misread what Dana was trying to say. He was joking about how this isn’t personal, its strictly business they are still cool and he won’t say anything bad about him…other than the fact that he’s ugly. It was a joke folks relax.
I think people are really overacting to the comments. He didn’t bad mouth Hendo at all. I can only assume that he was asked “what up with Dans situation?” he responded honestly.
All good points. I agree giving him like 500k is not good business. Especially for someone who’s 38, and like you said is more of a hardcore fan draw than someone like Lesnar who will attract the casual/ new fans. Not everyone is a Couture and can fight forever, so it’s reasonable to assume he only has a few good fights left and won’t be fighting for too much longer. But I do hope he gets well taken care of.
I also agree it’s probably being overblown a bit. Dana gave an honest answer to a question that was asked of him. Can’t really fault him for that, although he could have worded it better. Pretty tame though as he can really fire verbal shots at guys that piss him off during negotiations.
Please tell me you aren’t saying he should get 350k to show and 350k to win are you?
Actually yes I am. I believe he made 250/250 with his prior deal, guys like chuck make 500/500. So I thinks he shouldn’t make more than that. He’s older, he isn’t a draw, and he isn’t a champ. 350/350 and maybe some points is the max I would go.
Actually I think his previous deal was 150/100, but I’m not quite sure. I did see it somewhere though.
Uh no Dana you and the 2 brothers you work with want to be the highest paid in the ufc. The forbes list has the brothers on the richest peoples list and claims the Ufc as the bread and butter of their operations. Let’s be truthfull we don’t know what the pay per view rev’s are do we? Your profits are made off the backs of these fighters and you should pay these guys off the ppv profit not the live gate.
My friend you are way off base, some fighters do make a percentage off the ppv when it’s negotiated into their contracts. However, if you aren’t a big draw on your own like Hendo then it’s better to try and get a larger base.
The UFC isn’t the bread and butter of the Fertitta’s money, it’s a contributing factor but most of their wealth is off the casinos and other various investments they bought the UFC with casino money.
It is interesting that Dana decides to say he is asking to be the highest paid knowing full well it is something that can’t be publicly disclosed or researched by anyone. I agree that this is a underhanded tactic used by Dana to try and push Dan into signing.
In situation like the Rampage incedent it is fully respectable (or somewhere thereabouts) to see Dana act the way he does. On the other hand when dealing with someone that is only showing you respect and has never said or done anything against the org (he did BTW say he would fight Nate) sometimes just lumping his actions under “being outspoken” is not acceptable and he should be accountable for it.