Dana White Regrets Booking Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero
The bout was considered one of the worst championship encounters in UFC history and UFC President Dana White says he regrets booking the title fight.
“When I’m sitting here today talking about this, the matchmakers didn’t love that fight and didn’t want to make that fight,” White said at the post-fight press conference (via MMA Junkie). “They didn’t want to make Romero vs. Adesanya, but the goofy fan in me said, ‘Are you sh*tting me? Come on, this will be a fun fight to do. And the fact that (Adesanya) wants to fight a guy that nobody else wants to fight.’ Now hindsight is 20/20, probably shouldn’t have done that fight and should’ve waited for (Paulo) Costa, but oh well, we did it.”
Romero had entered the title bout on a two fight losing streak and has now failed to capture UFC gold on four total attempts.
White now looks forward to booking Adesanya against Paulo Costa, which he promises is going to be a much better fight.
“Costa vs. Adesanya will be a ridiculous fight,” White said. “I guarantee it, I absolutely guarantee it. He got what he wanted, he got him (Romero) on his resume, he beat him, and onto Costa.”
There is no word yet on when Adesanya versus Costa will happen, as Costa was reportedly just cleared about a week ago to train again after getting bicep surgery.
