Dana White News
Dana White drops timeframe for UFC fights on 'private island'
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
UFC President Dana White is determined to keep his international fighters busy during the coronavirus pandemic. The obvious obstacle he faces is getting those fighters to their fights amid the growing travel restrictions associated with the pandemic. Earlier this week, White surprised the sports world when he announced his planned solution to this issue: he’s working on securing a “private island” where he will allegedly be able to promote fights.
Dana White responds to reports of UFC 249 happening at Tachi Palace Casino
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
On Tuesday night, the New York Times reported that UFC 249, which has been without an official location for several weeks, will go down at the Tachi Palace Casino on tribal land in California. UFC President Dana White refuses to confirm that report, insisting that all that matters is that the card will be viewable on ESPN. “We’re going to be live from ESPN,” White told ESPN Get Up! host Mike Greenberg when asked where UFC 249 will occur. “It doesn’t matter where it is. First of all, no fans can come. You can’t come to the fight, you can’t buy a ticket. The only place to watch this in the United States is on ESPN and that’s the only thing that matters.
List of UFC's coronavirus-related precautions for UFC 249 revealed
Tom Taylor - April 8, 2020
Dana White and the UFC will go ahead with the UFC 249 card despite the coronavirus pandemic. The event will go down at the Tachi Palace Casino on tribal land in California on April 18. Given the current global health crisis, the UFC will promote this event and any future pandemic-era shows while adhering to a list of important precautions. Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports obtained those precautions, and Bloody Elbow converted them into a nice, reader-friendly list.
Report | UFC 249 set for Tribal Land in California
Cole Shelton - April 7, 2020
It appears the UFC has found the location for UFC 249 and it will be on Tribal Land in California. Although Dana White said he would be securing a private island, UFC 249 will not be happening out at sea. Instead, according to a report from Jeff Sherwood and later confirmed by the New York Times, UFC 249 will take place at the Tachi Palace Casino Resort on Tribal Land in California. It will also serve as the location for the next several UFC events.
Eddie Hearn believes Dana White's determination to promote UFC 249 is "bad taste"
Tom Taylor - April 7, 2020
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has been vocal about his admiration for UFC President Dana White in the past, but he can’t get behind White’s determination to promote the UFC 249 card amid the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s unbelievable, I’d like to think that in boxing, there’s no-one more roll your sleeves up and get on with it than me,” Hearn told Express Sport. “But even I wouldn’t consider staging an event right now. I’m not even thinking about options, not even on the radar.
Dana White says UFC 249 fighters will be safer than people sitting at home or going to the grocery store
Adam Martin - April 7, 2020
UFC president Dana White claims that the fighters competing at UFC 249 will be safer than fans sitting at home or going to the grocery store. White made UFC 249 official on Monday, booking 12 fights for the card including an interim lightweight title bout between Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson for the main event. The event will go on as planned despite the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, though White has not yet released a location for the card, instead deciding to keep it a secret.
Dana White explains why he's keeping the location of UFC 249 a secret
Adam Martin - April 7, 2020
UFC president Dana White explained why he’s keeping the location of UFC 249 a secret despite the event being less than two weeks away from happening. White announced the full card for UFC 249 on Monday, which includes a tremendous interim lightweight title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje at the top of the card. However, while the UFC announced 12 fights that will take place at the event, one thing the promotion did not reveal was the location of the event.
Dana White discusses UFC 249's impact on Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - April 7, 2020
UFC President Dana White isn’t sure what’s next for former two-division champ Conor McGregor, who is far and away the promotion’s biggest star. Things are quite chaotic at the top of the lightweight division at present, as undisputed champ Khabib Nurmagomedov is stuck in Russia due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions, and Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje are set to battle for the interim title in the short-notice main event of UFC 249 on April 18. It’s difficult to say where McGregor, the lightweight division’s biggest name and one of its top contenders, fits into this situation.
Dana White details “total mishap” which lead to Khabib Nurmagomedov being removed from UFC 249
Harry Kettle - April 7, 2020
Dana White has revealed the mishap which caused Khabib Nurmagomedov to be removed from the UFC 249 main event. It’s been public knowledge for a while now that Nurmagomedov would not be able to compete at UFC 249, where he was scheduled to defend his UFC Lightweight Championship against Tony Ferguson with the fight being arranged for the fifth time – and subsequently falling apart for the fifth time.
Dana White confirms that the winner of Justin Gaethje vs. Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov next
Christopher Taylor - April 6, 2020
Dana White has confirmed that the winner of UFC 249’s new main event between Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson will receive the next shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Eagle’ was originally slated to put his undisputed UFC lightweight world title on the line against Ferguson in the April 18 headliner. However, due to travel restrictions, the undefeated champion was forced to withdraw from the card while remaining in Russia.
Dana White securing private island for events, adds UFC 249 fighters will be tested for Covid-19
Adam Martin - April 6, 2020
UFC president Dana White is working on securing a private island for upcoming UFC cards and also said fighters at UFC 249 will be tested for coronavirus. TMZ Sports reported on Monday night that White is close to locking up a private island to host upcoming UFC events. This would not include UFC 249 and UFC Nebraska, which are both tentatively scheduled to move to another location that hasn’t been announced. After the next two months of UFC cards are held in that mystery location, White plans on holding UFC events on a private island every week after that.
BREAKING | Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje official for UFC 249
Tom Taylor - April 6, 2020
Tony Ferguson will officially battle Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 249 on April 18. Both fighters have signed their contracts for the fight. The pair will collide for the interim lightweight title in the card’s main event. UFC President Dana White announced this news on Twitter on Monday.
UFC President Dana White responds to extortion lawsuit
Chris Taylor - April 4, 2020
UFC President Dana White has responded to the extortion lawsuit that was filed against him by Ernesto Joshua Ramos late Friday evening. As first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, White was named in a lawsuit filed late Friday that alleged the UFC boss was victimized in a $200,000 sex-tape extortion.
UFC President Dana White named in sex-tape extortion case
Chris Taylor - April 4, 2020
Dana White was named in a lawsuit filed Friday that alleged the UFC President was victimized in a $200,000 sex-tape extortion. According to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, White was named in the Clark County District Court suit filed against the UFC boss by the man who served time for the sensational crime.
Khabib Nurmagomedov still willing to fight, pleads with Dana White to send him location
Chris Taylor - April 2, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov is still willing to leave Russia for a fight with Tony Ferguson on April 18, but he needs Dana White to give him some answers. The promotions undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Khabib, had hinted on Wednesday that he would be unable to participate at UFC 249 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Dana White says “everyone knew” Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t fighting at UFC 249
Cole Shelton - April 2, 2020
UFC president Dana White says everyone knew Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t going to fight at UFC 249. Earlier this week, Nurmagomedov announced he was stuck in Russia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then took to social media again to say he would indeed be off the card which Tony Ferguson was not happy about. He called for the champ to be stripped of his belt and said the undefeated Dagestani champion was scared of him.
Dillian Whyte open to UFC move, tells Dana White: "hit me up"
Natasha Hooper - March 31, 2020
Boxing star Dillian Whyte is ready to make a transition into the UFC and has already called out his first opponent. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has spelt disaster for all combat sports, including boxing. The British heavyweight Whyte was scheduled to fight Alexander Povetkin on May 2 in London. His upcoming fight against the Russian has been rescheduled for July 4.
Chael Sonnen on criticism toward Dana White: He "can never win"
Tom Taylor - March 31, 2020
Chael Sonnen recognizes that the coronavirus pandemic is a serious issue, but he’s also having a hard time wrapping his head around the criticism directed at UFC President Dana White. While most other sports leagues — and many MMA promotions — have closed up shop to minimize the spread of of the virus, White has been defiantly attempting to promote events as normal in the early weeks of this crisis.