UFC President Dana White insisted that Amanda Nunes' "dramatic late withdrawal from UFC 213 was '90% mental'" and vowed never to place Nunes in a main event again, according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. White was "left frustrated when the Brazilian star pulled out of her bout with Valentina Shevchenko just hours before its scheduled time slot on Saturday, leaving a significant gap at the top of the card." Nunes claimed that she was "too unwell to compete." But White said that doctors had "cleared her to fight after conducting numerous checks." The UFC will now try to "reschedule the event for UFC 215 in Edmonton on Sept. 9." Shevchenko was "paid a discretionary $70,000 to offset her disappointment, while Nunes received nothing" (USA TODAY, 7/10). In L.A., Lance Pugmire cited sources as saying that Nunes was "asked to reconsider her withdrawal Saturday morning." But even with the doctor’s approval to fight, she "didn’t budge," citing chronic sinus issues. Her decision is "especially puzzling considering that she opted to skip a guaranteed $150,000 purse instead of risking a loss against a fighter she’d already defeated." Even absorbing a defeat would "certainly lead to a still-lucrative trilogy bout" (L.A. TIMES, 7/10). ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto noted it marks the "third consecutive year that the UFC has been forced to cancel the main event" of its annual Int'l Fight Week show "on short notice" (ESPN.com, 7/9).
WHITE NOISE: YAHOO SPORTS' Dave Doyle writes White’s "curious knack for denigrating his own product came to the fore again this weekend." White has been "quick to attack his drawing cards in public when he feels aggrieved." His verbal "sparring with his charges are largely glossed over when business is booming." But things "aren't looking so rosy" this year. If ever there has "been an impetus for White to hype his fighters as stars worthy of your attention, it is now, when new UFC owners WME-IMG have to defray" a $4B bill for their purchase. But White "seems to have doubled down on his penchant for ripping into his champions." However, White's approach has "reached the point of diminishing returns" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/10).
SUBJECT TO CHANGE: In Las Vegas, Case Keefer wrote the Nunes ordeal was a "sobering reminder to never get too excited about a fight until both combatants are locked in the cage together" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/9). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote there are "four words, usually placed in an out-of-the-way spot in the smallest type size possible, on fight-related advertising and marketing materials that have served as a warning to fans for decades." Iole: "Card subject to change." Nunes' withdrawal "sparked outrage among the fan base," but this kind of thing is "one of the unavoidable issues in combat sports" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/9).
NEXT MAN UP: USA TODAY's Rogers noted despite a "rugged tussle" for the interim middleweight belt between Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero that went five rounds, UFC 213 will "go down as one of the organization’s most disappointing recent major events" (USATODAY.com, 7/9). In Las Vegas, Adam Hill wrote Whittaker and Romero were "bumped up the marquee and were up to the task of filling the spot" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/9). CBSSPORTS.com's Brian Campbell wrote during a year in which UFC has been "short on stars capable of making must-see pay-per-view fights, it may have stumbled into a rising one" in Whittaker, who "outworked top contender" Romero over five rounds. Whittaker "secured a future unification bout" against Michael Bisping (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/9).
TROPIC THUNDER? In Honolulu, Ferd Lewis reported Aloha Stadium is "working through an intermediary in an attempt to have the UFC bring a card featuring featherweight champion Max Holloway to the facility next year." Aloha Stadium Manager Scott Chan said state Sen. Glenn Wakai is "going to make the ‘ask’ for us and say, ‘Hey come to the stadium and then we’ll go from there.'" Wakai has "reportedly had a conversation with one UFC official and there are plans for additional discussions" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 7/8).
