Dana White
Dana White responds to fan criticism regarding the scheduling of Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland against unpopular opponents
UFC president Dana White has explained his thought process behind Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland’s next fights. Across the last few months, Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland haven’t been afraid to go back and forth with one another on social media. Both are considered to be big personalities, especially within the context of the middleweight division.
In the eyes of many, it would’ve made sense for them to compete against one another at some point this year. Instead, though, Dana White has opted to go in a different direction. Sean Strickland is set to face Abus Magomedov in a Fight Night main event at the start of July. Then, later in the month, Paulo Costa will collide with Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291. When asked about these match-ups against unproven new faces in the division, Dana White had the following to say.
“Costa hasn’t fought in a long time, Strickland’s been fighting a lot,” White said. “We like to bring guys in and see where they’re at. The dude that Paulo Costa is fighting is tough as nails, you don’t know how good some guys are until you get them in there against the Top 15. When we’re in the matchmaking room, we think some guys are ready for that step, and some guys we don’t know…we challenge people. No. 8 doesn’t always fight No. 6 or No. 5, it’s just not the way it works.”
In the immediate aftermath of UFC 285, the event in which Alexa Grasso stunned the world and submitted long-reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko, UFC president Dana White was noncommittal about an immediate rematch. Since then, however, it appears he has made up his mind.
White told reporters at a post-fight news conference for UFC Vegas 73 on Saturday that the promotion intends to schedule the rematch as the division’s next championship bout.
White did not disclose a timeframe or location for the rematch. Grasso (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) became UFC women’s flyweight champion in Round 4 of her March 4 title fight against Shevchenko when she submitted the then-champion in spectacular fashion. Discussing the rematch, White stated:
“We’re working on that, too. That’s one of the fights we’re definitely working on right now.”
With the triumph, Grasso extended her winning streak and became the first woman in ten bouts to defeat Shevchenko, who had dominated the division since December 2018.
Manon Fiorot, Taila Santos, and Erin Blanchfield are also within striking distance of title contention. None of the three are scheduled at present.
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