“Nothing happened behind the scenes,” White said. “They’re both great guys who have had incredible careers here. First of all, people get cut every week. I think those two are pretty self-explanatory. It’s nothing negative, it’s just part of the sport. If you look up what they’ve done recently, you look at their age, you look at everything that’s going on, it’s pretty self-explanatory.”
Dos Santos and Overeem are just the latest in a series of high and low-profile releases by the UFC. In December, White promised “serious cuts” were coming to the roster that had swelled to over 700 fighters. Since then, the UFC has parted ways with names like Anderson Silva and Yoel Romero and as with those two, White insists that there was absolutely no animosity in the decision to release dos Santos and Overeem. In fact, White he had nothing but good things to say about the two legends.
“Not even close,” White said when asked about bad blood playing a factor. “100 percent (this was amicable). We’ve had a great run and love Alistair and the same with Junior dos Santos. Alistair Overeem never said no to a fight. Never turned down a fight, never said no, would fight anybody. And Junior dos Santos is one of the nicest human beings in the sport. So nothing but amazing things to say about both guys.”
Dos Santos is a former heavyweight champion who has competed for the UFC for the last 12 years; however, recently he has fallen on hard times inside the octagon, losing his last four fights in a row, all by KO. That being said, it’s also worth noting that his previous four opponents are currently ranked first, third, fourth, and sixth in the world respectively in the UFC’s rankings and dos Santos himself was ranked number 12. Conversely, Overeem has actually been on a good run lately. Currently the seventh-ranked heavyweight according to the UFC, last year Overeem scored a pair of stoppage wins over rising prospects before getting knocked out by Alexander Volkov in February.
It seems the sticking point for the UFC though was the age of the two future Hall of Famers. At 37 and 40 respectively, dos Santos and Overeem certainly don’t have many years left in their careers and the ones they do are unlikely to bear the same sort of fruit as their younger years did. As is always the case in sports, Father Time remains undefeated.
“It’s not even that (our relationship) ran its course,” White concluded. “The one thing, age gets us all. Those guys are getting - I’m sitting here talking about how good they are, I don’t want to sit here and s*** on them, but listen, we all get old. We cut people every week. Every week, people come and people go.”
For their parts both dos Santos and Overeem have taken the split well, with each publicly commenting and thanking the UFC for their time in the organization.
[h=1]TOP STORIES[/h]Potatoes. The contents of Ottman Azaitar’s mystery bag finally revealed.
Fans. Dana White already working on taking UFC to Texas now that state has re-opened, UFC 260 ‘could’ move there.
Borz. Dana White: ‘I have no idea what’s going to happen with Khamzat Chimaev’.
LPP. Jan Blachowicz: After first punch, Israel Adesanya will understand the difference of ‘the legendary Polish power’.
Farewell. Alistair Overeem issues statement on UFC release: ‘The final run has come to an end’.
Bubble. PFL announces Atlantic City venue for 2021 regular season events, ‘bubble environment’ quarantine protocol.
[h=1]VIDEO STEW[/h]Between the Links.
Presser Staredowns.
Press Conference Live Stream.
Embedded.
Run it back with Israel Adesanya.
[h=1]LISTEN UP[/h]Jack Slack. Discussing the big fights at UFC 259.
[h=1]SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE[/h]Family.
Ready.
Can’t wait to be locked in the octagon with him https://t.co/N5NVxYoNVX
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) March 4, 2021
Props.— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) March 4, 2021
khabib will always be a champion ? pic.twitter.com/IVD9B5JpnY
— Askar Askarov (@askar_mma) March 4, 2021
Excited about fans.— Askar Askarov (@askar_mma) March 4, 2021
Beef.
Askren taking time away from boxing to fire shots at Colby.
Wonderboy.
Still waiting to hear back about my hand but until then I’m channeling my inner Ninja with these kicks! #YuriBoyka #SlowMoKicks #CobraKai #Karate #WhoNeedsHands #IDo #UFC259 pic.twitter.com/onKimT7oM9
— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 4, 2021
Good additions.— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 4, 2021
You asked and @EASportsUFC listened
@Trailblaze2top & @VicenteLuqueMMA are in the game. pic.twitter.com/RdPi7V6jD9
— UFC (@ufc) March 4, 2021
@Trailblaze2top & @VicenteLuqueMMA are in the game. pic.twitter.com/RdPi7V6jD9
— UFC (@ufc) March 4, 2021
[h=1]FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS[/h]Damir Hadzovic (13-6) vs. Nikolas Motta (12-3); UFC Fight Night, May 8.
[h=1]FINAL THOUGHTS[/h]Thanks for reading, enjoy the fights, and see y’all tomorrow.
[h=1]EXIT POLL[/h]
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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