Dana White News
Dana White confirms Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson is still a go, event will be closed to fans
Adam Martin - March 23, 2020
UFC president Dana White confirmed Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson for the lightweight title is still a go and the event will be closed off to fans. Despite White trying his best to keep UFC events from being scrapped, the UFC was forced to suspend its operations due to the coronavirus outbreak, which led to UFC London, UFC Columbus, and UFC Portland being postponed. UFC 249 will not be allowed to take place in Brooklyn, New York, but White has remained adamant that the card, featuring the main event for the lightweight belt between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson, will still go on.
Dana White buries MMA media for pandemic worries: They're the 'weakest, wimpiest people on earth'
Tom Taylor - March 20, 2020
Dana White has been working hard to keep the UFC running during the coronavirus pandemic. While he ultimately had to “indefinitely postpone” three UFC shows, he delayed doing so until the last possible minute, and has been adamant future shows will go down as planned. White’s reluctance to bend to the coronavirus pandemic has generated some understandable criticism from fans and media alike. He has not taken kindly to that criticism.
Sam Alvey believes the United States has had a 'huge overreaction' to coronavirus pandemic
Natasha Hooper - March 20, 2020
Sam Alvey feels bad for all the people affected by coronavirus, but declared there has been a “huge overreaction” to the pandemic. With his upcoming fight against Khalil Rountree at UFC on ESPN 8 scrapped, “Smile’n” Alvey reacted to the company’s decision to cancel three upcoming shows. The news came after President Donald Trump declared no more than 10 people should gather at one time.
Dana White fires back at critics, boasts he hasn't laid off one employee during coronavirus pandemic
Adam Martin - March 19, 2020
UFC president Dana White fired back at critics of the way his promotion has handled the coronavirus pandemic, boasting the UFC hasn’t laid off any UFC employees. The UFC has come under intense scrutiny from fans for holding UFC Brasilia last weekend while rival Bellator 241 postponed its events, and for planning on going forward with UFC London and several other events until the government stepped in. While White was not able to save his cards scheduled for London, Columbus, Portland and Brooklyn, he certainly tried his best for those events to go on despite the coronavirus outbreak around the world.
Dana White has a message for fans doubting he can pull off UFC 249 event
Harry Kettle - March 19, 2020
UFC president Dana White has a defiant message for fans who believe that the promotion won’t be able to host UFC 249 next month. Following the announcement of three upcoming events being canceled, many fans have been wondering whether or not White and the UFC will be able to stage UFC 249 on April 18 — which, of course, is set to play host to the highly anticipated Lightweight Championship bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.
UFC releases official statement on 'UFC 249: Khabib vs Ferguson'
Cole Shelton - March 18, 2020
UFC 249 is still up in the air, but the promotion has now released a statement on the event. With the state of New York banning large gatherings, and in accordance with the New York State Athletic Commission, the UFC announced the event will not take place in Brooklyn.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says Dana White will send location for Tony Ferguson fight in next couple of days
Cole Shelton - March 17, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov is anticipating being sent the location of his UFC 249 fight against Tony Ferguson in the coming days. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UFC has been forced to postpone the next three events and the status of UFC 249 is unknown. It will not be taking place in Brooklyn, New York as expected but Nurmagomedov is certain the bout will happen.
Dana White explains why he fought so hard to avoid canceling UFC shows
Tom Taylor - March 17, 2020
The UFC has indefinitely postponed the next three shows on its calendar, but company president Dana White fought hard to avoid that. Speaking on SportsCenter on Monday, White explained why he was so reluctant to alter the UFC schedule—even after most other sports leagues closed up shop.
Dana White will go to extreme lengths to ensure Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson happens on April 18
Tom Taylor - March 17, 2020
On Monday, UFC President Dana White elected to cancel the promotion’s next three events amid the growing risks and restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. That means the next event on the UFC calendar is UFC 249, which is scheduled for April 18 in Brooklyn, New York, and topped by a lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. Given the current situation, many fans are worried that this Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson fight will fall through. The matchup, of course, is already the source of ample superstition, having been canceled four times previously.
VIDEO | Tony Ferguson showcases wild exercises ahead of UFC 249, Khabib Nurmagomedov responds
Natasha Hooper - March 17, 2020
Tony Ferguson has showcased the unique exercises that are keeping him busy in the run up to his UFC 249 bout. However, his upcoming opponent, Khabib Nurmagomedov is not a fan. “El Cucuy” is scheduled to return to the Octagon on Saturday, April 18 for the first time since beating Donald Cerrone by TKO in June 2019. His upcoming opponent is none other than the undefeated lightweight champion, “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov.
Dana White and UFC willing to sign new fighters to take short-notice fights at former UFC London card
Adam D Martin - March 15, 2020
UFC president Dana White and the promotion’s matchmakers are willing to sign new fighters to take short-notice fights for the former UFC London card. While the majority of the sporting world is bunkering down and not holding its events for the foreseeable future, the UFC continues to operate the status quo. Though no fans were in attendance, the Octagon was still there for UFC Brasilia. White is adamant that the upcoming cards that were set for Ohio and Portland will also find new homes, as will the card that was scheduled to be UFC 249 in Brooklyn.
UFC President Dana White announces next weekend's event is being moved from London
Adam D Martin - March 15, 2020
UFC president Dana White has announced that next weekend’s card scheduled to take place in London will be relocated to another venue due to coronavirus. The threat of the coronavirus outbreak has caused numerous sports leagues around the world to postpone or cancel their seasons. The NHL, the MLB, the NBA and other sports leagues in North America, as well as numerous sports leagues in Europe and Asia, have decided to pull the plug on their events. For the UFC and White, though, it’s been mostly business as usual as White has been adamant the promotion won’t cancel its events despite most other leagues doing just that.
Dana White addresses the coronavirus and the future plans for UFC events
Harry Kettle - March 13, 2020
UFC president Dana White has provided fans with an update regarding the immediate future of all UFC events in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Sports leagues all around the world have experienced widespread postponements and cancellations as a result of COVID-19, with the anticipation being that this is just the beginning for many countries.
Bob Arum trashes MMA, but admits Dana White feud is fabricated for mutual benefit
Tom Taylor - March 10, 2020
It’s no secret that boxing promoter Bob Arum is not an MMA fan. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Arum once again disparaged the entire sport.
Why women's MMA is here to stay
Natasha Hooper - March 9, 2020
Women’s MMA is needed now more than ever before. At UFC 248, fans witnessed an all-out war from strawweight royalty Weili Zhang and Joanna Joanna Jędrzejczyk. The pair collided in an action-packed brawl that seemingly overshadowed the main event between Israel Adesanya vs Yoel Romero. Out of left field, MMA fighter Islam Makhachev disregarded the female athletes with a now-deleted tweet, “this is not a women’s sport” he stated. Even Dana White previously dismissed the idea of a women’s division in the UFC. The MMA anti-female rhetoric attracts criticism but nevertheless highlights an ongoing perception that females should not fight.
Dana White: Weili Zhang will get same push from UFC as McGregor, Rousey
Tom Taylor - March 9, 2020
Dana White is very high on UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang, who defended her belt in an absolute war with the former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the co-main event of last Saturday’s UFC 248 card. White gushed over Zhang at the UFC 248 post-fight press conference, announcing that the Chinese champion has become a major needle-mover in her homeland, a territory the UFC is working hard to break into.
Dana White calls Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk one of the greatest fights in MMA history
Adam D Martin - March 8, 2020
UFC president Dana White called the co-main event at UFC 248 between Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk one of the greatest fights in MMA history. Zhang and Jedrzejczyk bruised and battered each other all over the Octagon for 25 minutes of pure carnage in a fight that saw Zhang retain her women’s strawweight belt via split decision. Fans, media, and fellow fighters lauded the performances of both women on social media, with many commenting it was one of the greatest fights of all time, regardless of gender.
Dana White reacts to Israel Adesanya's UFC 248 victory against Yoel Romero
Natasha Hooper - March 8, 2020
Dana White has reacted to tonight’s UFC 248 main event title fight between Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero. In the highly anticipated headliner, “The Last Stylebender” defended his belt for the first time against the division’s “boogeyman”, Yoel Romero. “The Soldier of God” was riding a two-fight losing streak prior, and suffered a similar fate in his Adesanya showdown.