Dana White is never one to be quiet on any issue and if pressed, well, he goes even further on most issues. So of course Gilbert Melendez fielding offers from Bellator is a big issue and Dana White found it prudent to not only comment on the issue, but then to use it to assault those critical of both himself and the UFC in general. [source]
“Gilbert is out there testing the market. Good for him,” he said. “I don’t have any hard feelings towards Gilbert Melendez. Not a big fans of the guys I was dealing with, but this happens sometimes. So you know what happens? I don’t deal with it.”
Melendez fought only twice under the UFC banner, losing a narrow split-decision to then-champion Benson Henderson last April, then rebounding in a unanimous decision over Diego Sanchez in a Fight of the Year candidate. White said given his worth, he understood Melendez’s decision, and couldn’t quite understand all the uproar of whether he would return.
“It’s free trade,” he said. “He’s out there testing the waters, seeing what he’s worth, and now it’s like some big f—ing issue. ‘He’s the No. 1 guy and they’re not going to sign him!’ He’s out there testing the waters, man, this is how this s— works. Is it a bad thing? I thought this is what everybody wanted?