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White 'doesn't hate Machida'

ESPN staff
October 3, 2011
Lyoto Machida's monetary demands sparked his disagreement with Dana White © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has moved to heal his rift with former light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

White and Machida clashed in July when the latter asked for more money to fight Rashad Evans than had been initially agreed, claiming he deserved to earn the sort of cash that Anderson Silva receives.

White laughed off Machida's demands, but insists their frosty relationship has now thawed. "There is just nobody for Machida to fight right now," he said. "Everybody thinks I hate Machida now because of that whole Anderson Silva money thing, but with the position Machida is in right now, is like what happened with Rashad [Evans].

"Rashad turned down a fight and said 'I'm going to wait for Shogun,' right? Wait for this guy who blew his knee out to get better, and then people start getting hurt left and right and now he's out almost a year and a half.

"I don't hate Machida. Things happen, we butt heads all the time with different guys and stupid stuff is said by them or me and everything else, but I don't hate anybody. I definitely don't hate Machida. He's a nice guy."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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