Dana White News
Report | UFC to start holding Fight Island events starting in July
Harry Kettle - May 21, 2020
According to a recent report from ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, the UFC could be looking to hold events on Fight Island as early as July. For weeks now fans have been hearing about the proposed private island that UFC President Dana White has purchased, with the intention being for the promotion to host a series of fights there.
May 30 UFC event to go down in Las Vegas, per Dana White
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2020
The UFC’s planned May 30 card finally has a home. As widely expected, the event will go down at the new UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC President Dana White confirmed the card’s location in a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Dana White responds to COVID-19 testing criticisms from John Oliver
Tom Taylor - May 18, 2020
Dana White has responded to a piece of criticism from John Oliver, who discussed the UFC’s operations during the coronavirus pandemic on the latest episode of Last Week Tonight. Despite the ongoing pandemic, White and the UFC recently managed to promote a trio of fight cards in Jacksonville, Florida.
John Oliver reacts to Dana White's "insane" Fight Island plan on Last Week Tonight
Tom Taylor - May 18, 2020
Count late night television host John Oliver among the skeptics of UFC President Dana White’s much discussed Fight Island plans. Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, White and the UFC recently managed to promote a trio of entertaining fight cards in Jacksonville, Florida. That being said, the lineups for these cards were composed completely of American fighters and fighters based in the United States, as travel restrictions have made it difficult to get international fighters onto US soil.
Dana White evaluates UFC's three-event week in Jacksonville
Tom Taylor - May 18, 2020
Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Dana White and the UFC were able to promote three events last week in Jacksonville, Florida. White’s decision to promote events during the pandemic generated plenty of controversy, but he repeatedly emphasized the importance the promotion was putting on safety protocols — though some doubters have pointed out that those protocols weren’t followed to the letter.
Dana White disagrees with decision in Dan Ige fight: "I had Edson Barboza winning the fight"
Adam Martin - May 17, 2020
UFC president Dana White said that he disagreed with the judges in the Dan Ige fight, saying that he scored the bout in favor of Edson Barboza. Ige won a highly controversial split decision, with the judges awarding him the bout 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28 over Barboza, who also dropped a highly-scrutinized decision to Paul Felder in his last fight at UFC 242. Many pros reacted to the decision on social media, with the majority of those commenting saying they believed Barboza had done enough to beat Ige. Count White among those who thought that Barboza won.
Dana White reacts to talk of a potential Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight
Chris Taylor - May 16, 2020
UFC President Dana White shared his thoughts on a potential heavyweight bout between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou during tonight’s post-fight press conference. Earlier this week, Jones (26-1 MMA) expressed his interest in moving up a weight class to take on the divisions most feared knockout artist in Ngannou.
Dana White reacts to Mike Tyson's comeback plans
Tom Taylor - May 15, 2020
UFC President Dana White is begging Mike Tyson to reconsider his plans to return to the boxing ring at 53 years old. Tyson, who is one of the greatest boxers in heavyweight history, recently laid out plans to return to the ring for a handful of exhibition matches. While Tyson has shared some training footage that has left jaws on the floor, White isn’t sold on his comeback plans. In fact, the UFC boss is imploring him to reconsider those plans.
Dana White reacts to Glover Teixeira vs. Anthony Smith beatdown
Tom Taylor - May 14, 2020
UFC President Dana White has shared his thoughts on the violent beatdown Glover Teixeira unleashed on Anthony Smith in Wednesday’s UFC Jacksonville main event. Teixeira brutalized Smith for the majority fight, causing a litany of injuries in the process — including a fractured orbital and multiple broken teeth. In the eyes of many fans, this lopsided fight went on for much longer than it should have, with referee Jason Herzog and Smith’s corner catching flack for their reluctance to stop the fight and spare the former light heavyweight title challenger from additional punishment.
Dana White says UFC will spend around $150,000 on COVID-19 tests
Adam Martin - May 13, 2020
UFC president Dana White says his promotion will spend around $150,000 on COVID-19 tests for the UFC Jacksonville series. White has been adamant for the last two months that the UFC’s show would go on despite the coronavirus pandemic affecting every sports league around the world. After the original UFC 249 card was canceled, White was able to find a home for the Octagon in Jacksonville, Florida, and host the new UFC 249 card there. Following a successful PPV event for the company, two more Fight Night cards will take place in Jacksonville this week.
Dana White reacts after Joe Rogan expresses frustration with UFC 249 commentary setup
Christopher Taylor - May 12, 2020
Joe Rogan expressed his frustration over not being able to sit beside fellow commentators Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik multiple times during the UFC 249 broadcast. The longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship commentator in Rogan said it made no sense that the commentary team should have to work apart after they each endured and passed multiple tests for Covid-19.
Dana White wants Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Justin Gaethje on UFC Fight Island
Cole Shelton - May 12, 2020
Dana White is hoping Khabib Nurmagomedov can defend his belt against Justin Gaethje on Fight Island this summer. This past weekend, Gaethje TKO’d Tony Ferguson in the fifth round to win the interim lightweight title. It was a phenomenal performance which has setup the ‘Highlight’ for a title unification bout with Nurmagomedov. That contest will take place on Fight Island, according to Dana White.
Dana White reacts to Conor McGregor telling Nate Diaz to "sign the contract"
Tom Taylor - May 11, 2020
UFC President Dana White says there are no plans on the table for a trilogy fight between former two-division champ Conor McGregor and his long-time rival Nate Diaz. McGregor and Diaz are tied 1-1 across two fights, both of which occurred in 2016. Diaz won the first fight, springing the upset with a submission win. McGregor evened the score in the rematch, defeating Diaz by majority decision. Ever since, fans have been dying to see the pair meet in a tie-breaking trilogy fight.
Dana White says Uriah Hall and Ronaldo Souza will be paid following canceled UFC 249 fight
Adam Martin - May 10, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that Uriah Hall and Ronaldo Souza will be paid after their fight at UFC 249 was canceled at the last minute. After Hall and Souza both successfully made weight for the event, the UFC announced late Friday night that Souza had tested positive for COVID-19 and he was immediately pulled from the card. Souza and his two cornermen all tested positive for the coronavirus and the UFC’s testing procedures were able to catch their positive tests before the event took place, though the fact Souza was present at the weigh-ins is controversial.
Dana White reveals plans for bantamweight division following Henry Cejudo retirement
Adam D Martin - May 10, 2020
UFC president Dana White has revealed his plans for the bantamweight division following the sudden retirement of champion Henry Cejudo. “Triple C” announced his retirement in shocking fashion just moments after knocking out Dominick Cruz in the co-main event of UFC 249. It was another massive win on the resume of Cejudo, who has now defeated the likes of Cruz, Demetrious Johnson, and TJ Dillashaw. So when he announced his retirement right after the fight, it came as a shock to everyone watching, though White says Cejudo had recently told the UFC he was thinking about it.
Dana White reacts to Justin Gaethje defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 249
Chris Taylor - May 9, 2020
Dana White was on hand to witness tonight’s epic UFC 249 main event title fight between lightweight standouts Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. Ferguson and Gaethje squared off for the promotions interim lightweight title in tonight’s pay-per-view event headliner in Jacksonville, Florida.
Dana White guarantees excitement in Ferguson vs. Gaethje fight
Tom Taylor - May 8, 2020
UFC President Dana White is guaranteeing excitement when Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje step into the cage together in the UFC 249 main event. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up! this morning, White claimed that, while he’s generally reluctant to ever promise excitement from a particular matchup, he’s absolutely confident he can do so with respect to Ferguson vs. Gaethje.
Dana White: "I take responsibility" for Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrawing from UFC 249
Tom Taylor - May 8, 2020
Dana White has taken responsibility—at least in part—for Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrawing from UFC 249. Nurmagomedov, the undisputed UFC lightweight champ, was originally expected to defend his title against Tony Ferguson on April 18. Unfortunately, Nurmagomedov ultimately wound up getting stuck in his native Russia due to travel restrictions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The UFC then called upon Justin Gaethje to step in against Ferguson in an interim title fight, which will go down in a rescheduled UFC 249 card on May 9.