UFC president Dana White talks about World Extreme Cagefighting future

By Neil Davidson (CP) – 6 hours ago

PHILADELPHIA — UFC boss Dana White says the UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting may merge.

"We're talking about that right now, possibly," White told a fan question-and-answer sessions prior to Friday's weigh-in for UFC 101 at the Wachovia Center.

The UFC, which owns WEC, has already eliminated its heavier weight classes, from welterweight on up, to focus on smaller divisions.

White did not elaborate, so it was not immediately clear whether he meant folding the two into one or bringing some WEC bouts onto UFC cards.

Bantamweight champion Miguel Torres defends his title on a WEC card Sunday in Las Vegas (TSN2, 9 p.m. ET).

BIG BAD BOY: Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar's post-fight antics at UFC 100 came in for discussion during the question-and-answer session, with most fans down on the big man.

"One of the things I've respect so much about MMA and UFC is the fact it's a respectful sport. And after the last fight with him I think I'm watching the WWF now," said one female fan.

"I hear you," said White. "The thing is Brock is a different kind of guy, I definitely agree with you. I don't tell anybody how to act - unless they go over the line like the last fight he was in. I don't even know how to answer that question but he's a little rough around the edges. He's a tough guy. I think he's going to be around for a while we're all going to have to get used to it."

But not every fan there was anti-Lesnar.

"I enjoy that there's bad guys in the UFC," said a male fan.

Lesnar, to White's horror, dissed UFC sponsor Bud Lite and gave the fans the bird after beating Frank Mir last month in Las Vegas.

DESERT SHOW: After flying to the United Arab Emirates, White is excited about a possible show in Abu Dhabi.

"When we do an event there, it's going to be incredible," he told reporters. "It's the coolest city I've ever been to and they're not even done with it yet."

The UFC is looking at holding the show in an outdoor cricket stadium.

TALKING UP TORONTO: White continues to predict that a UFC show in Toronto will enter the record book.

"I agree when we go into Toronto, it will be the biggest gate. It'll be the biggest gate in North America, it'll break the record. No doubt about it," he told a Toronto fan.

The UFC is working on convincing the Ontario government to sanction mixed martial arts. A show in Vancouver may come sooner, however. The organization has already held two successful cards in Montreal and plans to continue going back there.

STRIKEFORCE: Asked about the rival organization, which just signed Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, White said: "They want to sign a guy that wants all kinds of money but doesn't want to fight anybody - and they don't have anybody for him to fight."

NOTES: White said he has received "tons of network offers" for television over the last four years. "Never been the right deal," he said. "I'm not going to jump on anything just to be on network television. We run a real business here and the business deal has to make sense." A deal "could be months," he added, however. ... Montreal ring girl Edith Larente, who made her debut at UFC 78, has left the organization. "Edith moved on," said White. ... The UFC boss confirmed Wanderlei Silva could fight in England in November. "Nothing is signed yet," he added. Michael Bisping is widely seen as the possible opponent. ... Any possible super-fight between welterweight (170-pound) champion Georges St. Pierre and middleweight (185-pound) title-holder Anderson Silva would probably be contested at a catchweight, according to White. The UFC president is not interested in a third fight between St. Pierre and B.J. Penn. "We did this fight twice. I like B.J. at 155, I've said it a million times. I love B.J. at (1)55 pounds. I never say never but I'm not thinking about it now." ... White continues to resist a Chuck Liddell comeback. "I don't want him to (come back), he still kind of wants to. We'll see what happens."

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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