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TMZSports.com
“Nothing happened behind the scenes. Both are great guys, who have had incredible careers here.”
That is Dana White saying TMZ Sports your decision to release Alistair Overeem and Junior dos santos UFC was not personal, just business … and everyone is still doing well.
Junior dos Santos signed with the UFC in 2008. Overeem has been in the UFC since 2011.
The two were removed from the UFC squad this week – so when we spoke to Dana on Thursday … we asked why.
“People are cut off every week … I think these two are pretty self-explanatory. It’s nothing negative, it’s just part of the sport.
40-year-old Alistair comes from a defeat for Alexander Volkov – he was 6 and 4 years old in his last 10 fights.
37-year-old JDS is in a four-game losing streak – most recently, he suffered a loss by TKO to Ciryl Gane in December 2020.
“If you look at what they’ve done recently … you look at their age … you look at everything that’s going on, it’s pretty self-explanatory,” said White.
White praised the two guys as super tough and consummate professionals.
“Alistair Overeem never said no to a fight, never refused a fight … he would fight anyone.”
“And, JDS is one of the coolest human beings in the sport, I have nothing but incredible things to say about the two.”
In short – “Age, that takes us all, man.”
Have more …
Dana is ready for UFC 259 on Saturday – especially in the main event, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya vs. Jan Blachowicz.
White says the winner of the middleweight title fight will rise to the light heavyweight division to face the champion of that category.
So, great opportunity for those who win !!
TMZSports.com
“Jan Blachowicz may not be well known, but I feel that this is his debutante party,” says White.
“If he manages to defeat undefeated middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, everyone will meet him and talk about him on Sunday.”
Another great fight is the UFC star Amanda Nunes vs. Megan Anderson.
“What makes this fight really fun is that these two women have knockout power. We will see a lot of fun female fights that are very technical, fast paced, etc. – these two women can make other women unconscious and the fact that they have that kind of power, makes this fight very tough. “
DO NOT. LIES. DETECTED!