Contract talks between UFC president Dana White and fighter Dan Henderson have come to an impasse with neither side coming close to making an agreement.

As is Dana White’s fashion, the president has come out saying that Henderson is asking for way too much money.

“We’re at a stalemate right now,” White said. “The money that [Henderson] is asking for would make him by far the highest-paid guy in the UFC.”

Whether this is part of White’s tactics of airing contract negotiations in the media to put more pressure on Henderson remains to be seen. This seems very reminiscent of this summers failed negotiations with Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.

“The negotiations are done,” White said. “I made [Henderson] an offer, and I guarantee you the offer that I made him, Strikeforce can’t pay.”

“I like Dan,” White said with a smile. “We’re totally cool. You’ll never hear me say a bad thing about Dan Henderson, other than he’s ugly, and that’s just the truth.”

Meanwhile, Henderson and his manager, Aaron Crecy, have both responded to White’s comments in an article by Sherdog.com.

“I’m not comfortable discussing contract negotiations in a public forum, but I’d have to respectfully disagree with both statements,” said Henderson through a representative on Thursday. “I am neither seeking to be the highest paid athlete in the UFC, nor am I ugly.”

Aaron Crecy is Henderson’s manager and business partner and provided these statements on the contract negotiations.

“Contracts are confidential, so that statement’s impossible to prove or disprove,” said Crecy. “However, we have done our due diligence. We certainly don’t believe that to be the case. Dan understands and we have a certain belief on where he stands in the hierarchy. Certainly there are champions and former UFC champions that deserve to be paid more than Dan.”

Crecy added that Henderson’s counteroffer to the new contract presented to him last July likely wouldn’t even place him among the top 10 athletes in the organization in terms of pay.

“Our position has never been to argue in the media,” said Crecy. “We understand where the economy is. The last thing Dan wants to do is complain about money to fans. Ultimately, Dan does have a good relationship with and a great deal of respect for (UFC owners) Dana, Lorenzo (Fertitta), and Frank (Fertitta). He has nothing negative to say about them. Nothing’s done until a contract’s signed. Period.”