Here's Chris Howie's write-up from the UFC 75 media conference call held earlier today with Dana White, Quinton Jackson, Dan Henderson, Michael Bisping and Matt Hamill:
-Dana says he has been meeting with Fedor's people for months and will be today. Hopes there could be a release by the end of the day but can't say that for sure.
-Rampage is ready.
- Hendo says Rampage is very atheletic and a great striker. He's going to have to be on his A-game.
-Bisping says he isn't too keen on Hamill.
-Dana says the UFC is doing the complete opposite of what boxing has done. Will be offering free fights that people want to see instead of "****ty" fights with people no one has heard of.
-Guys from TUF will fight on Fight Nights and new talent will be on on Fight Nights and prelims.
-Rampage says that even though he is champion he can't take the belt in the cage so it doesn't change anything.
-Hendo says that training for top level fights is tough. Saya Quinton is tough in all aspects and he is expecting a 25 minute war.
-Dana on Babalu: if it had of been an arm or an ankle he probably wouldn't be on fighting anywhere ever again. At this time he has been cut from his contract.
-If Dan goes to 185 it's possible he gets a direct shot at Silva but he may have one fight first.
-Rampage says that he would've liked to take the belt from Wanderlei
-Pride belt is gone after this fight. There will be one champion after this fight.
-Dana has no clue what he'll be doing with the Lightweight title.
-The fact Rampage and Hendo have trained before doesn't play a factor in Hendo's training. It was so long ago that there would be nothing he could look back at and pick up.
-Rampage says training went excellent. Bisping was there helping him train. Says he was still in good shape from the Chuck fight because it wasn't that long ago.
-Rampage says his biggest concern is that Dan is very tough and unpredictable.
-Rampage says he is a different person when he gets in the cage.
-Says he is taking this more serious than any fight.
-Dana confirms that Randy's arm was broke by the kick and he won't be able to train for at least 6 weeks.
-Bisping says that fighting at home provides a big advantage.
-Hamill says that he has no big concerns about Bisping, all that worries him is his kicks.
-Dana says the last thing he wants to do is bury Pride but it is going to take some time to sort things out.
-Dana says that dealing with Japan is tough.
-Dana says the two coaches on this seasons TUF did not get along well at all.
-Hendo says he has gotten busier since he won the title. He is the same person just with little time. Hendo had a new baby girl last night.
-Dana says that the Pride name is not very good in Japan anymore because of everything that happened. Says they are lucky to even get office space in Japan.
-Rampage says when he knew Hendo would KO Wanderlei when he heard Dan was fighting him. Says that Dan didn't fight the same Wanderlei that everyone was use to, not to take anything away from Dan.
-Rampage doesn't think he'll have an edge over Henderson because of the cage.
-Dana says they did not sign Ryo Chonan but there was a pause before he answered.
-Dana puts over how big this fight is. Rampage KO'd Chuck and Dan KO'd Wandy - now they are on a free fight on Spike TV. Could you ask for anything better?
-Bisping says that fighting Hamill is a fight that everyone wanted to see from watching TUF.
-Dana: "Nobody gives a **** about Josh Barnett, especially me".
-Dana says Shogun is a contender for the title right now. Says they have "everyone" from Pride. When asked about Denis Kang, Dana says Denis isn't one of the big stars from Pride.
-Hendo says that he doesn't really care about a rematch with Wandy he'll fight anyone.
-Bisping says by beating Hamill it lets him know that he can do well against world class wrestlers.
-Hamill says that he has been doing a lot of work on his striking.
-Dana says that he assumes Babalu "isn't too f*ckin happy".
A few other things I've read -
Sergei Kharitinov has signed with K-1 Heros and that Joachim Hansen was offered and rejected a UFC Contract.
The Press I have been reading suggests that if the UFC does'nt get the former Pride Fighters soon, that the majority will be signing with K-1 Heros, apart from Fedor, who wants to stay a free agent if he does not make a deal with the UFC very soon.
