UFC’s White says 2012 was ‘interesting, challenging’

UFC president Dana White couldn't be blamed for bidding good riddance to 2012, a year that featured an unprecedented number of injuries, particularly to champions and main event fighters, and the first canceled event in the modern era of the organization.

The Las Vegan prefers to take a different view of the past year, however.

"It's been a very interesting and challenging year for us, but as demented as it sounds, I actually liked it. I like new things being thrown at us and trying to figure it all out," he said. "We made it through. We lived. We're getting smarter now."

White said the Ultimate Fighting Championship had never been able to plan for so many main events having to be altered in one year. Now they see anything is possible.

"What's going to happen this year? Every main event is going to fall out? That's what it would take to beat last year," White said.

Overall, he said it was another positive year for the company, particularly since it was the first full year working with the Fox network, a relationship White called "un-(expletive)-believable."

"It's been a good year," he said. "The best way to sum up this year is that all the naysayers who said, 'The UFC can't do this, the UFC can't do that,' this year proved the UFC is here to stay, and we can basically get through anything."

He also gave a hint at one major goal for 2013, which includes the 20th anniversary of UFC 1 in November 1993.

White said despite major resistance the company has faced getting sanctioned in New York, he wants that historic event to take place at Madison Square Garden, and he believes it can happen.

"If I didn't think it was possible, I wouldn't be telling you this," he said.

■ CRUISIN' - When Jose Aldo was injured riding his motorcycle and had to pull out of an October title defense, White was critical of his bantamweight champion's choice of transportation.

The comments have led to charges of hypocrisy, since one of the UFC's major sponsors is Harley Davidson and the winner of each season of "The Ultimate Fighter" is given a new bike.

That conversation ramped up again last week when it was announced Cain Velasquez was awarded a new Harley for beating Junior dos Santos in the main event of UFC 155 on Saturday.

White cleared up the difference in a conversation with reporters at the MGM Grand Garden.

"When you own a motorcycle, here's the difference, OK?" he said. "You take a guy like Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, right? They've got plenty of transportation - Junior dos Santos has got a pimped-out Range Rover and God knows what else he has. Cain Velasquez has a bunch of cars; you don't want it to be your means of transportation."

White said the practice is particularly dangerous on the chaotic streets Aldo drives in Brazil.

"Let me tell you what, Jose Aldo has plenty of money, OK," White said. "He can buy a car or a bus or an SUV. You can't have a fighter and his main means of transportation be a motorcycle, that's crazy. But, if one of these guys wins a Harley Davidson? Harley Davidson is a bike you take out on the weekend, you cruise around, you know, completely different."

■ ALVAREZ UPDATE - All indications suggested that when former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez became a free agent last month, he would be headed to the UFC. White says that is not a slam dunk, however.

Though Alvarez is technically free to negotiate with other organizations, Bellator has a window in which it can match any offers Alvarez receives elsewhere.

Alvarez reportedly got an official offer from the UFC. Bellator executives are believed to be in possession of the specifics of that deal and in the process of deciding whether to match.

The situation could turn into a battle between the organizations.

"I don't know if I can talk about it," White said. "If I could talk about it, I would. I think it's going to get ugly."

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.