Wednesday morning, Sports Illustrated released its list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Sports.  At number 45, right behind the President of the United States, Barrack Obama, sits UFC President Dana White.

While these rankings are somewhat tongue-in-cheek (see No. 10, “Hedge Fund Dude”), the fact that Dana White is on this list indicates that MMA continues to increase its presence in mainstream sports.    It is easy to buy into the premise that those in power are corrupt and are tyrannically controlling the athletes.  Looking past Dana White as an individual, this is indicative of a strong growth in the fan base and legitimacy of MMA in the international sports community.  For the UFC in particular, with Dana White’s rise in power and wealth, the organization also rose.  In the last few years, the organization has seen the addition of lighter weigh-classes, it has branched out to a worldwide market, and most recently, it has offered a huge pay-per-view venue for women’s fighting.

What do you all think?  Is Dana White’s power good or bad for MMA?  And is he really number 45?

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