Dana White has responded to Junior dos Santos’ recent criticism.
The former UFC heavyweight champion recently opened up on his UFC release and said had he not taken the fights with Jairzinho Rozenstruik or Ciryl Gane, he would’ve been released. He also said Dana White hasn’t talked to him in years, instead, they told Dan Lambert he was cut and that was all.
“The UFC didn’t even talk to me. For example, Dana White, I haven’t talked to him in years. Not to ask anything or know anything. They didn’t even talk to me. (They) texted Dan (Lambert) of American Top Team, and it got to me that their decision was to release me from my contract,” Dos Santos told MMAFighting.com. “I reacted with surprise. I was a little bit impressed by the coldness of how they treated the case.
“I know it’s a business, (but) they just don’t care. The history we did in there and everything else, the dedication and how everything has always played out, was totally disregarded,” dos Santos continued. “They were really unprofessional, let’s put it this way, with the way they treated (me), like they (treat) everybody else. I wasn’t the first and won’t be the last. The last two fights I got were on those terms, ‘You take it or you’re out.’”
Now, after Junior dos Santos’ recent comments, TSN caught up with Dana White to get his response. To no surprise, White said the release was more about the Brazilian’s losing skid but did tell him to go to another promotion and make crazy money.
“So Junior dos Santos said some stuff the other day that, you know, that he was upset and that I was all about money and the way that he left. Listen, how old is he? I mean he is in his forty’s now. He was on a four or five-fight losing streak and there comes a time and a day where I have to make a decision when a guy keeps losing and he’s at a certain age,” Dana White explained. “This just isn’t the place to be anymore. There are tons of other places where you can go fight and where you can make a lot of money. A lot of these guys, you know, once they’ve built and established their name here, move on to these other promotions and make crazy money. And, umm, good for them. That’s just how it works.”
As of now, dos Santos hasn’t signed with any MMA promotion but has been working with AEW.
