Dana White: “this is a Rocky story right here”

by Matt Erickson | Source: MMAJunkie.com

Asked earlier this month in Nottingham, England, if those ripping the matchup should relax a bit, White said certainly – that not all main events will be title fights, and sometimes it’s just OK to have a fun fight that doesn’t have a belt riding on it.

“You’re absolutely, 100 percent right (that it’s OK to have fun fights sometimes),” White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “The fact that the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world steps up and says, ‘Somebody’s hurt? I’m in’? Second time he’s done it, too – he came in late after i’d already canceled the Jones fight. It’s weird (fans are down on it).”

But White also believes that despite odds as high as 14-to-1 in favor of Silva, the pieces are in place for a Bonnar upset. The UFC boss believes Bonnar’s career has been a good one – but that the runner-up from Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter” still hasn’t had that one fight to put him over the top from mere fan favorite to superstar.

“Bonnar is vowing to shock the world,” White said. “It’s one of those deals, you wanna talk about a Rocky story – this is a Rocky story right here. This means everything in the world to this guy that he’s getting this fight. He’s been on this (three)-fight win streak and felt like there was nothing there for him – like he feels his career is winding down, and he hasn’t had his moment.

“He had it with Forrest (Griffin) and lost that thing by this much, and now he’s getting this opportunity. It’s going to be interesting to see what Bonnar does, but I agree with you 100 percent – there’s nothing wrong with having a fun fight.”

 Read the article at the source…