Dana White News
Dana White on Khabib Nurmagomedov comeback: "I’m a little confident that I can talk him into it"
Tom Taylor - December 17, 2020
UFC President Dana White is feeling confident that he can convince UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight again. Nurmagomedov retired in November, after he submitted Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi. After the fight, the unbeaten Russian shocked the MMA world by announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts, citing the recent death of his father and mentor Abdulmanap and a promise to his mother as the reasons.
Israel Adesanya will get light heavyweight title shot before Glover Teixeira, confirms Dana White
Adam Martin - December 16, 2020
UFC president Dana White confirmed that Israel Adesanya will get the next light heavyweight title shot before Glover Teixeira does. Adesanya knocked out Paulo Costa in the main event of UFC 253 in September to defend the UFC middleweight title, and in the co-main event of that card, Jan Blachowicz knocked out Dominick Reyes to win the vacant UFC light heavyweight title. Following UFC 253, White surprised a lot of fans and media when he said the promotion liked the idea of seeing Adesanya move up to 205lbs to take on Blachowicz in a bid to become a double champion.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega targeted for February, says Dana White
Adam Martin - December 16, 2020
The upcoming match between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega is being targeted for February, says Dana White. Volkanovski is coming off of a controversial split decision win over Max Holloway back at UFC 251 in July on Fight Island, which was his 19th straight win overall. The UFC thought about booking a trilogy fight with Holloway after two close decisions, but after Ortega shut out The Korean Zombie on the scorecards in October, “T-City” stole the title shot back. White previously confirmed that Ortega was the new No. 1 contender for the belt but until now we didn’t have a date for the bout. We now have a better idea of when it will happen.
Team Rose Namajunas refutes Dana White’s claim that she does not want a title shot vs. Weili Zhang
Adam Martin - December 16, 2020
Team Rose Namajunas has refuted UFC president Dana White’s claims that she does not want a title shot against strawweight champ Weili Zhang. After beating Jessica Andrade by split decision at UFC 251 in a “Fight of the Night” performance on Fight Island this past summer, White said that Namajunas was next in line to fight Zhang. Very recently we heard that the UFC was close to figuring out a date for this bout, but it appears that it might not happen now. On Wednesday, White made comments to BT suggesting that Namajunas isn’t interested in a title shot against Zhang and that the promotion is considering giving the next title shot to former champ Carla Esparza instead.
Dana White responds to Jake Paul: "I'm thinking of letting Amanda Nunes knock his ass out"
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2020
Dana White has some interest in letting Jake Paul fight a UFC fighter but it is not who he wants. On Monday, Paul sent out a vulgar video where he claimed Conor McGregor was scared to fight him and roasted Dana White.
Dana White says Charles Oliveira is "without a doubt" one of the top three lightweights in the world
Adam Martin - December 14, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that Charles Oliveira is “without a doubt one of the top three lightweights in the world right now.” Oliveira had a brilliant performance at UFC 256 this past weekend, as he completely dominated former interim UFC lightweight champ Tony Ferguson for 15 minutes. Oliveira has now won eight straight fights and is banging on the door of a title shot. The Brazilian said that he believes UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will stay true to his retirement after he was told he swore on his father’s grave, so Oliveira is now targeting the winner of UFC 257’s Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier.
Kamaru Usman "will go down as one of the all-time greats" when he retires, says Dana White
Cole Shelton - December 14, 2020
UFC president, Dana White has high expectations for the current welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman. When Usman was making his run up the welterweight division, White criticized him a ton. He called him boring and ripped him apart when Usman said he only fought at 30 percent when he defeated Emil Meek. However, since then, “The Nigerian Nightmare” has dominated opponents like Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal. The champ also had a fantastic fight with Colby Covington in what was one of the best fights of 2019.
Conor McGregor vs. Jake Paul type fights are "not what I do," says UFC's Dana White
Tom Taylor - December 14, 2020
UFC President Dana White says there’s “zero” chance that YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul will get his desired fight with Conor McGregor. At least not right now. Paul has been the talk of the combat sports world of late, after he knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard last month. In the buildup to and fallout of that fight, Paul called for a showdown with McGregor, who is the biggest star in MMA history and one of the UFC’s top lightweights. He even claimed his team has reached out to the Irishman about this potential showdown.
Dana White says he plans to meet with Khabib Nurmagomedov the week of UFC 257
Adam D Martin - December 13, 2020
UFC president Dana White confirmed that he plans to meet with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov the week of UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi. Following his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Nurmagomedov retired from MMA, citing a close relationship with his deceased father Abdulmanap as one of the reasons why he wanted to hang up his gloves. However, in the weeks since then, there have been rumors that Nurmagomedov could fight again. Indeed, White has said that he believes Nurmagomedov will step into the Octagon one last time in an effort to go 30-0 in his professional MMA career. Right now, he’s one win away from that mark.
Dana White discusses the future of Junior dos Santos following fourth consecutive TKO loss at UFC 256
Adam D Martin - December 13, 2020
UFC president Dana White discussed the future of Junior dos Santos following his fourth consecutive TKO loss at UFC 256. Dos Santos suffered yet another brutal knockout loss, this time to Ciryl Gane at UFC 256 in the main card PPV opener. After getting outstruck in the first round, dos Santos was nailed with an elbow behind the ear in the second round and knocked out. It’s the fourth straight TKO defeat for the former UFC heavyweight champion after having lost to Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Curtis Blaydes, and Francis Ngannou previously. At age 36, it’s hard to know how much dos Santos has left in the tank after yet another TKO loss.
Dana White discusses what’s next for Tony Ferguson following UFC 256 loss to Charles Oliveira
Adam D Martin - December 13, 2020
UFC president Dana White discussed what’s next for Tony Ferguson following his unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 256. Ferguson was the betting favorite entering the fight with Oliveira, but the fight turned out to be a mismatch the other way. Oliveira began the fight extremely aggressively with a wild striking attack on the feet, and soon he was able to get a takedown and control Ferguson on the mat. Although Oliveira wasn’t able to get a finish in the fight — he came close with an armbar at the end of the first round — he dominated the bout for three complete rounds. BJPenn.com scored the fight 30-24 in favor of Oliveira.
Dana White reveals Deiveson Figueiredo has been hospitalized for the second night in a row following UFC 256
Christopher Taylor - December 12, 2020
Dana White revealed some rather shocking news about reigning UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo following tonight’s UFC 256 event. Both Figueiredo and Moreno were making quick turnarounds for tonight’s UFC 256 event headliner, as both men had competed at last months UFC 255 event.
Dana White says double weight cut "impacted" Tony Ferguson in loss to Justin Gaethje
Adam Martin - December 11, 2020
UFC president Dana White believes that a double weight cut “impacted” Tony Ferguson when he lost by knockout to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. Ferguson was originally set to fight UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov back in April. However, the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, yet Ferguson decided to stay on schedule and make weight. The UFC was then able to hold an event in May in Jacksonville and Ferguson was matched up against Gaethje. Ferguson cut weight for a second time in a short period of time and then suffered the worst loss of his UFC career as he was beaten to the punch and TKOed in the fifth.
Dana White names the fight he wants to see most in 2021: "It’s impossible for me not to love Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya"
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2020
UFC President Dana White has named the fight he’s most hoping to see in the New Year, and it’s unlikely that many fans are going to disagree with him. During a recent interview with Aaron Bronsteter of TSN, White was asked to name one fight, above all others, that he’s hoping will come together in 2021. After a moment of consideration, he had his answer ready.
Dana White says the UFC has talked about five-round co-main events
Adam Martin - December 11, 2020
UFC president Dana White confirmed the promotion’s top executives have talked about the possibility of booking five-round co-main events. This weekend at UFC 256, the co-main event is an incredible lightweight matchup between Tony Ferguson and Charles Oliveira that could very well determine who fights for the UFC lightweight title next. However, despite the high stakes for the bout, it’s only set at three rounds, something which has left fans unsatisfied. Had Ferguson vs. Oliveira headlined its own Fight Night card it would have been five rounds, but being the co-main event behind Deivieson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno means it’s three.
Dana White estimates current market value of the UFC is "probably nine or ten" billion
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2020
UFC President Dana White claims the UFC is now worth nine or ten billion dollars—a massive increase from the amount the promotion sold for in 2016. The UFC was sold by Zuffa LLC to WME-IMG in 2016 for a heaping $4 billion. Since then, the promotion has staged a long list of blockbuster events, many of which have sold more than a million pay-per-views. The promotion also signed a lucrative broadcast deal with ESPN, which commenced in 2018, and has many other sources of income.
Dana White outlines massive cost of UFC's COVID-19 testing in 2020
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2020
UFC President Dana White has been able to promote dozens of UFC cards in 2020 despite the pandemic, but it hasn’t been easy—or cheap. Speaking to TSN on Thursday, White opened up on the sheer volume of COVID-19 tests the promotion has facilitated this year, and on the massive cost of those tests.
Dana White open to Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler as backup fight for UFC 257 main event
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2020
Dana White is looking to book another lightweight fight to serve as a backup for UFC 257. In the main event of the first pay-per-view of 2021, McGregor is set to return to the sport in a highly-anticipated rematch against Poirier. It is obviously a very important fight for the lightweight division so White is hoping to add another lightweight fight to the card.