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Dana White on Jack Hermansson Beating Jacare, Critiques Greg Hardy’s Performance at UFC on ESPN+ 8

April 28, 2019 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris

Speaking to reporters at last night’s post-fight press conference for UFC on ESPN+ 8, UFC President Dana White commented on the fight card, the main event, and Greg Hardy’s performance. Below are some highlights and a video of the presser. You can check out 411’s coverage of last night’s UFC card RIGHT HERE.

Dana White on Jack Hermansson vs. Ronaldo Souza: “We made that fight because we think Jack Hermansson is talented. The thing is, Jacare has this desire to win right now and to fight for the belt, and that guy just keeps moving forward. The body shots he hit Hermansson with, the fact that Hermansson wasn’t even afraid to go to the ground — even tried a guillotine frigging Jacare, I would have never guessed — nobody goes to the ground with him and tries to do that. So very impressive. Hermansson ate unbelievable body shots. Wasn’t afraid of the ground and first five round fight. The guy looked great.

White on if Jack Hermansson beating Jacare puts him in the title mix: “There’s still an interim champion and all this stuff. That’s why Jacare hasn’t got a shot. He’s had opportunities. It’s not like he’s never had opportunities. There’s guys out there who haven’t even had opportunities. He has, and this is the way the ball bounces sometimes.”

His thoughts on Greg Hardy picking up a win over Dmitrii Smoliakov: “I’m not gonna say that I loved that fight. I’ve been doing this for 20 years. We don’t do set-up fights for anybody. If I was a fan, and probably some of the media the way some of the media acts, I would think that was — I don’t know who the f— that guy beat in nine fights, but I’d like to find out the nine guys he beat. That was weird.”

White on Greg Hardy’s performance: “Not to take anything away from Hardy. Hardy came in in great shape. Hardy doesn’t make fights. Me and my guys do. Hardy came in in better shape, and he did what he had to do. He treated that guy like he was supposed to.”

Dana White on Smoliakov: “That guy’s record is 9-2. I wanna see the nine guys he beat. You know what I mean? They might be in this room right now, actually. [Reporter says, ‘I wasn’t one of them.’] Yeah. I wouldn’t be shocked, though.”

If using any of the above quotes, please credit UFC for the video, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.