Friday, May 20, 2011

UFC 129 postfight: Seagal’s the secret weapon, bonuses and someone’s grill got jacked

- UFC 129 delivered a UFC-record gate of $12.075 million. The attendance was 55,724.

- Dana White said there were ticket buyers from all 50 states in the U.S. in attendance, and every continent but Antarctica. He joked that he was angry that the UFC didn't have fans in that continent.

-The bonus winners got a UFC-record $129,000 each. Fight of the Night went to Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick. Lyoto Machida got Knockout of the Night. Pablo Garza was awarded Submission of the Night.

- Georges St. Pierre, Randy Couture and Hominick did not attend the postfight presser. They all went for treatment at a local hospital.

- White said Couture had a tooth loosened on the front kick by Machida. The tooth actually fell out during his postfight discussion with UFC analyst Joe Rogan.

- Steven Seagal told The Telegraph's Gareth A. Davies that "he taught Lyoto Machida the kick that KO'd and retired Randy"

- Machida repeatedly gave credit to Seagal for helping him perfect the kick.

"The technique itself, [Machida and Anderson Silva] have both known for a long time, but definitely thinks Steve Seagal being involved and influencing us and helping us perfect the kick, definitely made a difference," Machida said through his translator Ed Soares.

- White said the promotion will stick with the 9 p.m. ET start on future pay-per-views. The UFC made change after polling was done with east coast fans who said the shows were ending too late.

- Future stadium shows have to be chosen carefully. White said it has to be the right fighters and again mentioned Dallas Cowboys Stadium as a possibility.

- When answering a question about what he thought happened to GSP's eye, Jake Shields had the line of night.

"Uh, I punched him in his eye," deadpanned Shields.

- Aldo laughed when asked if Hominick had hit him harder than any previous opponent. Before the fight, Hominick said he would.

"That's just part of the fight game. I talk with Anderson [Silva] a lot and like he says, 'even a parrot can talk.'"

- White confirmed that Aldo's next opponent was probably Chad Mendes and it could go down at UFC 133 in Philly. UFC in Rio is less likely.

- On the subject of the "dream fight" between GSP and Silva, White reiterated that he's never actually spoken to either fighter about that match. He also said he thinks there's always someone new on the horizon who could face St-Pierre at 170.

- Could it be Nick Diaz or does he have to wait for his contract to end with Showtime?

"I imagine I could do whatever I wanted to if I really wanted to," White said. "I don't know. We're going to have to see how this whole thing works out."

- Shields wants to see that fight.

"He's one of my best friends. I think he's got a good shot," Shields said. "I think his style really matches up good. I think his pressure boxing could hopefully do what I couldn't and cut him off."

- Vladimir Matyushenko finally got the knockout he's long coveted. The Belarussian joked that maybe he "overdid it" by scoring the KO against Jason Brilz in just 20 seconds .

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-129-postfight-Seagal-s-the-secret-weapon-b?urn=mma-wp1902

Michael Bisping John Hathaway Mike Pyle Travis Browne

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