MMA News

Tag: Dana White

  • Ailín Pérez Plans To Ask ‘Friend Dana White’ For Main Event vs. Kayla Harrison After UFC Paris 

    Ailín Pérez Plans To Ask ‘Friend Dana White’ For Main Event vs. Kayla Harrison After UFC Paris 

    UFC women’s bantamweight Ailín Pérez is hoping for big things to be in her future should she have her hand raised in the French capital this weekend.

    Pérez lost her UFC debut at the promotion’s very first event in Paris two years ago, falling via submission to Stephanie Egger in the second round. Since then, the Argentine has reeled off three straight wins to enter the rankings at 135 pounds.

    Now, she’ll return to France in pursuit of righting the wrong from 2022 and further advancing her ambitions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    To achieve victory inside the Accor Arena at the second time of trying, Pérez must stall the surge of Dariya Zheleznyakova, a 9-1 bantamweight who boasts history competing on French soil owing to her days under the Ares FC banner.

    Despite that, “Fiona” expects an easy night at the office come fight night on Saturday. And after making a statement, she plans to put her crosshairs on a big name in the division…

    Pérez Targeting Harrison Clash: ‘That’s The Fight I Need To Prove I’m Worthy!’

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Pérez predicted a comfortable victory in Paris and reiterated her desire to hand Kayla Harrison the first defeat of her UFC career.

    “Fiona” outlined her intention to request a maiden main event from CEO Dana White following this weekend’s event, and be it Harrison or another of the division’s high-ranked names, the 29-year-old wants to stake her claim for a title shot.

    “After finishing Darya, I’m going to ask my friend Dana White for a main event fight, preferably against Kayla Harrison,” Perez said in Spanish (translation by Danny Segura). “We’re still insisting on that fight because that’s the fight I need to prove I’m worthy of fighting for a belt.

    “If not, Norma (Dumont) if she stops running from me. She only wants to fight with people above her in the rankings, and that’s OK, but part of the reason why she’s in the rankings is that she hasn’t fought and lost to me. So Dumont or Julianna Peña, who’s a punching bag.”

    For now, Harrison has another assignment to focus on ahead of an expected title shot down the line.

    After dominating Holly Holm on debut at UFC 300, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL title winner will meet Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 early next month. The winner is expected to challenge whomever emerges from the championship co-main event between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña with the title.

    With that in mind, Pérez may be a few wins away from earning a crack at Harrison. But should she defend her spot in the top 15 against her Russian foe on Sept. 28, a bigger assignment would no doubt await her next time out.

  • Boxing Expert Welcomes Dana White Into Boxing With Open Arms: ‘We Need You!’

    Boxing Expert Welcomes Dana White Into Boxing With Open Arms: ‘We Need You!’

    This past weekend saw another huge boxing event in collaboration with Riyadh Season with Wembley Stadium drawing in a huge crowd for Joshua vs Dubois.

    Several days before, UFC President Dana White made the trip over to Ireland for Walsh vs. Runowski, a boxing event that was hosted on UFC Fight Pass amongst other major broadcasting platforms.

    White spoke ahead of the event about whether he is finally going to fully make a move into boxing which has been teased for many years at this stage.

    The sport is arguably the strongest it has been in a long time right now and could become even more exciting if the MMA leader’s CEO joins the conversation.

    Teddy Atlas Says Dana White Could Have The Same Impact As Turki Alalshikh In Boxing

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, boxing expert Teddy Atlas said that he would welcome White into the sport with open arms.

    He believes that the way that White has been able to build the UFC into what it is today is by executing one simple idea, giving the fans what they want.

    This was missing from boxing for a long time until, as Atlas states, Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority started to invest heavily in the sport.

    For a long time, the biggest fights in boxing were held back by promoters not working together or negotiations that became stand-offs.

    Atlas believes that White, like Alalshikh, would place the emphasis back on seeing the best fight the best whenever it is possible.

    “I say come on in! Come on in! We need you! Turki Alalshikh has helped boxing tremendously by making fights that the promoters couldn’t make, they didn’t want to make… Dana White does that.

    “He’s been doing that forever over at the UFC. Yeah I know it’s one guy in charge. ‘Oh but Teddy, he’s the dictator…’ Listen, if a dictator ain’t chopping heads off and he’s getting things done, sometimes maybe we can learn a little something. Maybe at least it gives us direction, it gives us rules, we could use rules in this world right now, we could use direction in this world right now.”

    Read also: Former Boxing Opponent Calls Jake Paul Out For MMA Debut After Training With Tom Aspinall

  • Steve-O Reveals Dana White ‘Dipped Out’ Of UFC Main Event To Watch Jake Paul Fight

    Steve-O Reveals Dana White ‘Dipped Out’ Of UFC Main Event To Watch Jake Paul Fight

    Stephen Glover, better known as Steve-O, recently made a stunning revelation, claiming that Dana White once ditched a UFC main event to watch Jake Paul’s boxing match instead.

    It’s well-known that for several years, Paul and White have been locked in a heated war of words, frequently clashing with starkly opposing views on a range of issues. It’s primarily “The Problem Child” who has, time and again, slammed the UFC CEO for underpaying his fighters and failing to provide adequate medical coverage.

    On the other hand, White’s frustration with Paul became public when the YouTuber-turned-boxer began taking on retired UFC fighters like Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley in the squared circle. The UFC head honcho has fiercely dismissed the 27-year-old Ohio native’s criticism of fighter pay. White has also voiced his opinion that Paul only fights opponents well past their prime.

    Although White isn’t fond of Paul’s crossover boxing exploits, according to Steve-O, the 55-year-old businessman once tuned in to watch “The Problem Child” take on one of the most prominent ex-UFC superstars.

    Steve-O Claims White Skipped UFC Nashville Main Event to Watch Paul vs. Diaz

    During a recent appearance on BS w/ Jake Paul, Steve-O, a close friend of White, revealed an interesting moment from UFC Fight Night Nashville in August 2023. While Cory Sandhagen battled Rob Font in the main event, White apparently found the fight dull and slipped backstage to his room.

    Instead of watching the UFC headliner, he tuned in to catch Paul’s cruiserweight showdown against Nate Diaz, which was happening simultaneously at the American Airlines Center in Texas.

    “I can tell you that when you boxed Nate Diaz that night, there was a UFC Fight Night in Nashville, Tennessee,” Steve-O said. “I had arranged to fly to Nashville because I was very interested in looking at properties… You know, that’s why I was in Nashville for this fight night. It was Cory Sandhagen versus Rob Font, and the main event was dreadfully boring. Dana dipped out of the arena, and after the fight, I was walking out, and we were like, ‘Oh, what’s up with Dana?’ We go into his room, and he’s just turned on you fighting Nate Diaz, and I watched you fight Nate Diaz with Dana.”

    In an interview with boxing icon Mike Tyson last year, White dispelled the widespread belief that he harbors hatred for “The Problem Child”. In fact, White clarified that he doesn’t dislike him at all.

    Instead, he’s friends with Jake’s sibling, Logan Paul, whose beverage Prime became the official hydration partner of the UFC in February 2023.

  • South Africa’s Sports Minister Says Dricus Du Plessis-Headlined UFC Event In ‘Final Stages Of Negotiations’

    South Africa’s Sports Minister Says Dricus Du Plessis-Headlined UFC Event In ‘Final Stages Of Negotiations’

    South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie recently revealed that negotiations are underway for a potential UFC event in Cape Town, with Dricus Du Plessis slated to headline.

    The reigning UFC middleweight champion has been very adamant in his push to bring the promotion to his homeland of South Africa for the first time. His campaign gained momentum after he secured the title with a hard-fought split decision victory over former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 297 this past January.

    The push for the event seemed to lose steam as the UFC had already locked in most of its venues for the upcoming quarter. However, the topic gained traction again before UFC 305 last month when UFC CEO Dana White hinted that if ‘Stillknocks’ could defeat fellow African star Israel Adesanya, the promotion would seriously consider bringing an event to South Africa.

    With Du Plessis’ impressive submission victory over “The Last Stylebender,” it seems his wish is finally coming to fruition. Positive developments have been steadily aligning, especially after White, during the Noche UFC 306 post-fight press conference, confirmed that he’s “very serious” about hosting a UFC event in Africa.

    McKenzie Confirms Du Plessis As Headliner For Potential UFC Africa Event, Host City Remains Up In The Air

    According to multiple media reports, the DHL Stadium in Cape Town is in talks to construct a temporary roof at an estimated cost of R30 million (around $1.7 million) in preparation for hosting a UFC event in 2025. The 55,000-seat arena was one of the flagship venues during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    Following these reports, the South African sports minister recently took to X to acknowledge that they are on the brink of sealing the deal to bring Du Plessis’ next fight to Africa. However, he also noted that the choice of host city is yet to be finalized.

    “I see news articles about @UFCfight of @dricusduplessis happening in Cape Town,” McKenzie tweeted. “We are in the final stages of negotiating for the fight to happen in South Africa. We have not been given the green light. We will know by the end of October, no decision of hosting city can be made yet.”

    With the host city still up in the air, the question of who ‘Stillknocks’ will face in his next title defense remains equally uncertain. Rumors are circulating, with some hinting at a possible rematch against Strickland.

    Alternatively, Du Plessis has also suggested moving up a weight class to challenge reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira — or perhaps Pereira could move down to face him, a possibility he himself has hinted at.

    However, “Poatan” is already scheduled to defend his light heavyweight crown against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307 on October 5. Only time will reveal who will ultimately stand across from Du Plessis in the Octagon at the much-anticipated showdown on African soil.

  • ‘Maybe That $20 Million Wasn’t So Well Spent…’ – Fans React To Dana White Hologram At The Sphere For Noche UFC 306

    ‘Maybe That $20 Million Wasn’t So Well Spent…’ – Fans React To Dana White Hologram At The Sphere For Noche UFC 306

    The UFC has attempted to go above and beyond to make Noche UFC (UFC 306) an event for the ages that will no one will forget in a hurry.

    From the moment that Dana White started hyping the event up as a once in a lifetime spectacle, there have been high expectations for the first combat sports event that will be taking place inside the Sphere.

    Details of what fans inside the building and those watching from home will experience have certainly helped to shed some light on what exactly will be different on September 14. That being said, by the UFC CEO’s own admission, there are some things that everyone is going to have to wait and see to find out whether it works or not.

    One thing that fans who are in attendance this Saturday can expect is a greeting from the boss himself, as well as several fighters, via the use of holograms in the lobby of the Sphere.

    A press release provided more information on this additional feature for the fans.

    “Top names from the UFC roster will appear in life-size, volumetric 4K in Proto machines for fans to interact with in the lobby of  Sphere. UFC CEO Dana White will also appear in hologram form. It is the first time Proto holograms have been used in the world of MMA. It will give fans an unprecedented selfie experience with their heroes. It is also the first time Proto will be used inside Sphere.”

    MMA Fans React To Dana White & UFC Fighter Holograms For UFC 306

    There has been some criticism regarding UFC 306, even if the event sounds like it’s going to be fairly unique and distinct from regular PPV cards.

    The promotion has certainly spent a lot of money to deliver that, largely thanks to the backing of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which is sponsoring the event as part of Riyadh Season.

    Fans on social media reacted to the news that, going along with all of the new bells and whistles that have been added for Saturday night, holograms are now in on the act also.

    “If no one slips in a ‘Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi-you’re my only hope.’ Opportunity lost.”

    “Maybe that $20 million for production wasn’t so well spent…”

    https://twitter.com/TrentReinsmith/status/1834299483368161333

    “Tickets to UFC Noche: $3,000 UFC Noche Fighter Merch: $250 Food and Drinks at the Sphere: $450 Having hologram Dana White scream at you that Jon Jones is the P4P number 1 as soon as you enter the Sphere: PRICELESS!”

    “A hologram of Dana White and Jon Jones hugging probably”

    “ah yes, the star of the show”

    “Cringe lmaoooo”

  • Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ 

    Coach Ray Longo Pushes Back On Dana White’s Criticism Of Merab Dvalishvili: ‘He’s Far From A Dummy…’ 

    Ray Longo, a longtime coach for UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili, has hit back at some comments recently made by Dana White.

    Dvalishvili is set to ride a 10-fight winning run into his first title challenge this weekend, which comes in the main event of the highly anticipated Noche UFC 306 pay-per-view at the Sphere.

    While the overall card has had its critics, the headliner between the Georgian contender and reigning champion Sean O’Malley has created significant intrigue and drawn a variety of predictions.

    There was a time a few weeks ago, however, when some feared for the matchup’s place on the card after Dvalishvili revealed a deep-looking cut sustained in training on social media.

    “The Machine’s” decision to publicly display the cut caused debate, with the UFC CEO being among those unimpressed by Dvalishvili’s antics.

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    After Aljamain Sterling leapt to Dvalishvili’s defense and branded White’s reaction “over the top,” coach Longo has now shared a similar sentiment.

    Longo On Dvalishvili’s Cut: ‘One Thing Dana Was Really Wrong On…’

    During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Longo looked ahead to Dvalishvili’s long-awaited first opportunity to reach the mountaintop in the UFC.

    The veteran trainer was asked about the cut suffered by the Georgian in training, which became one of the hottest topics in the lead-up to Noche UFC 306.

    Longo dismissed the importance of revealing such a blemish to an opponent like O’Malley, and he strongly pushed back on White’s reaction to “The Machine’s” social media activity.

    “I’m not the social media guy, so I don’t get it. But you have to expect this sh*t with these kids today. They film everything. They film tying their shoelaces,” Longo said. “He’s been a camera guy since the second I met him. He’s crazy with the camera. But look, if it was a knee injury, I’d say that would be a problem. Now you’re gonna target something. (But) he’s gonna get cut in the fight. It is what it is. He’s gonna get punched in the face. … A cut’s a cut, and if it opens up, I don’t think it’ll have an impact on the fight.

    “One thing Dana was really wrong on was he called him a dummy. He’s far from a dummy,” Longo continued. “(Dvalishvili’s) very intelligent. He’s a humble guy, got humble beginnings. He’s fighting for his country. There’s certain guys that that type of sh*t means a lot. He’s one of them. He’s (O’Malley’s) gonna have to beat this kid dead, that I guarantee you.”

    Dvalishvili will look to display a different type of intelligence come fight night in Las Vegas on Saturday by using his fight IQ to secure a memorable title crowning inside the Sphere.

    His opportunity to do so comes in the final fight of the 10-fight lineup, on which he’ll mark the second championship challenger to make the walk after Valentina Shevchenko’s attempt to achieve two-time status at Alexa Grasso’s expense.

    While “The Machine” trains in Las Vegas with John Wood these days, he’s still expected to have the likes of coach Longo and teammate Sterling in his corner this weekend.

  • PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

    PFL Founder Picks Dana White, Joe Rogan On His MMA Mount Rushmore

    UFC President Dana White sparked conversation this week after revealing the four figures that would make it into his MMA Mount Rushmore.

    Unsurprisingly, White picked out the names that he believes have left behind the greatest legacies in the UFC and have made the biggest impact on the sport as a whole.

    Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor and Georges St-Pierre are all incredibly deserving of their recognition for different reasons.

    After the fans had their say on who they would exchange for their own personal lists, the founder of the promotion that hopes to stand side-by-side with the UFC in the future weighed in with his thoughts.

    Donn Davis Lists Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Joe Rogan & Dana White As His Mt. Rushmore Picks

    Via a post on X, PFL founder Donn Davis revealed who would make it into his exclusive club for their contributions to the sport.

    Rather than naming four fighters, he went slightly outside the box by listing two influential figures who have helped bring the sport to a whole new level.

    Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey were the two shared picks between White and Davis for the sheer amount of attention they have brought to MMA, with Rousey being credited for breaking down barriers in women’s MMA.

    However, where they differ is in Davis’ two non-fighter picks, one of which was the UFC President, who Davis attributes with “Built the industry”.

    It’s undeniable that White has been a massively significant figure when looking at the growth of the sport and in that same vein, the PFL founder included UFC commentator Joe Rogan on his list.

    Not only does Rogan regularly feature on PPV broadcasts, his Joe Rogan Experience Podcast being one of the biggest in the world will have exposed so many new fans to the sport.

    As Davis wrote in his social media post, Rogan has played a crucial role in “Explaining the sport to masses” which has helped to remove barriers to entry and stigmas surrounding mixed martial arts.

    Read also: Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

  • Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

    Dana White Responds To ‘Experts’ Criticizing Noche UFC: ‘Talked About That UFC 300 Wasn’t A Good Card!’

    UFC CEO Dana White isn’t concerned about criticisms of the lineup for this weekend’s highly anticipate pay-per-view at the Sphere.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independence Day this Saturday, Sept. 14. Las Vegas is once again the host location, but the Octagon will be in vastly different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, this year’s edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. Ever since confirming the event, White has been consistently promising a spectacle like nothing seen before.

    While the jury is still out on whether the Sphere production will deliver on that, many have already made their minds up when it comes to the lineup set to accompany it on fight night.

    Although the top of the card boasts two championship clashes as Sean O’Malley and Alexa Grasso defend their titles, in addition to a high-stakes featherweight bout between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes, the undercard hasn’t exactly created the kind of excitement many had anticipated.

    The UFC CEO, however, sees things differently. And he’s perhaps readying up another compilation of the doubters to post following UFC 306…

    White Hits Back At Those Slamming Sphere Card

    During a recent interview with KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas, White looked ahead to his promotion’s major PPV event this weekend, which he claims has cost the UFC upwards of $20 million.

    In terms of media members and analysts expressing disappointment over the lineup for Noche UFC, the CEO recalled the negative sentiments some had about UFC 300 in the lead-up.

    “First of all, we made these fights to be badass fights that night. We want fights that represent Mexicans and the history of how they fight in Mexico. I guarantee you that we have done that,” White said. “This event is so big, so different, and so special, yes, this is the type of event you put those type of guys in.

    “I deal with this every time we put on a fight. Going into UFC 300, the critics, the ‘experts’, all the people who know about fighting talked about that UFC 300 wasn’t a good card,” White continued. “I’ve dealt with this my entire career. You hear these kind of things from, you know, the ‘experts’. All the experts about fighting are in this building (UFC Headquarters) right here. So, yeah, we’re very confident in the card and the fighters.”

    Much of the criticism surrounding UFC 300 focused on the main event, which saw Alex Pereira defend his light heavyweight title against Jamahal Hill. The bout came together on relatively late notice after other options failed to come to fruition.

    This time around, it would appear that the MMA community was expecting a deeper card than has come together for Noche UFC. But regardless, those set to be in action will look to make the most of their position on the prominent lineup and deliver enthralling violence inside the Sphere.

  • ‘Nobody’s Gonna Pay Anything’ – Mexican UFC Fighter To Dana White On High Ticket Prices For The Sphere Event

    ‘Nobody’s Gonna Pay Anything’ – Mexican UFC Fighter To Dana White On High Ticket Prices For The Sphere Event

    The most expensive event in UFC history is right around the corner, and fans worldwide are gearing up for the celebration of Mexican Independence Day through it. In the last few days, Dana White has finally revealed how the event will feature several films showcasing Mexico’s contributions to combat sports.

    UFC 306 has already become a ground-breaking event for the promotion. From rebranding because of sponsors to higher streaming quality on TV to haptic seats for live viewers, there are many never-seen-before elements to look forward to.

    However, Riyadh Season Noche UFC tickets are quite pricey, and Daniel Zellhuber thinks White’s targeting the wrong audience with a high-profile event like this…

    Daniel Zellhuber Claims Dana White Is Targeting ‘Wrong Market’ With UFC 306’s Premium Ticket Pricing

    Zellhuber appeared on the Verse Us With Eric Nicksick podcast on YouTube to discuss his upcoming fight at UFC 306. The Mexican prospect will face another rising talent in Esteban
    Ribovics in the second fight on the main card.

    Zellhuber revealed that his parents would be coming to The Sphere to watch his fight. His mother will travel out of Mexico for the first time, making the moment all the more special.

    However, when Nicksick asked “Golden Boy” about the tickets, he honestly admitted that White has relied on the wrong audience for UFC 306. He explained how unlikely it is for Mexican people to pay thousands of dollars for a ticket, especially when they can see Canelo Álvarez live for a much lower price nearby.

    “You know, it’s funny because I feel that Dana, he target the wrong market with that event. Yeah, in Mexico, we are always watching everything for free, you know, like Mexican people are not going to pay $3000 for a ticket and he’s like, yeah, $3000,the cheapest ticket. No, there’s no way and you know, we have illegal streams so yeah, nobody’s gonna pay anything, you know.”

    The UFC lightweight jokingly claimed that his coach expects him to get a quick knockout so they can watch Álvarez’s fight live.

    The Mexican fighter also mentioned illegal streams, trying to imply that the UFC CEO shouldn’t expect the PPV numbers to be exceptionally high either. Zellhuber admitted to UFC 306 being a spectacular event, though, and he’ll certainly try to make a name for himself by getting an impressive win on the main card.

  • Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White

    The UFC has been around for over three decades and the organization has held stadium shows only four times to date. These events took place in Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil.

    While tons of fans in the United States and the United Kingdom look forward to attending a UFC event in a stadium, Dana White remains adamant about using arenas. He believes that the viewing experience is hindered in a stadium, but many argue that’s not the case, because most of the audience watches the event on a screen in an arena too.

    Here’s what Chael Sonnen thinks about the UFC using stadiums over arenas for events…

    Chael Sonnen Reveals Several Problems With Stadiums While Looking Back At Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle

    Sonnen discussed whether stadiums are the right venue for combat sports events on his YouTube channel recently. He was reacting to White’s latest comments about stadiums ruining the viewing experience for fans.

    “The American Gangster” brought up the time he spent $70 in 2003 to watch Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle. It is one of the most memorable matches in WWE history because Lesnar landed on his face while attempting a Shooting Star Press on Angle who was a bit too far away.

    “Brock hits this flip off the top rope, breaks this – I mean it’s this terrible thing, we had no idea. We’re asking this, so are other people with us. What, what, what is happening? And we weren’t towards the roof by the way. Like, if you looked at for the very worst seat in the house, if you were to turn around and look for it, you wouldn’t even be able to recognize the person. They were that far away, it’s just the ring was so much even further away and this is because it was in a stadium.”

    Despite being in the venue when this happened, Sonnen recalls being confused alongside tons of viewers. This was because he could not see the screens properly and the ring was very far to understand what was going on. The UFC veteran highlighted that he didn’t have cheap tickets and wasn’t sitting in the seats furthest from the ring.

    Sonnen then brought up that most stadiums in the US don’t have a roof. While other sports like soccer can continue in rain and relatively bad weather, the same isn’t true for MMA. As a viewer himself, the former UFC title challenger claims that the bigger the venue, the worse is the live viewing experience.

    “I would feel that the bigger venues you go to, the worse the experience gets. I know the further you’re going to park away, I know the longer you’re going to wait in line. I know to get a hot dog is going to take you that much more time,”

    While understanding why fighters would want to perform in sold-out stadiums, Sonnen agrees with White that the UFC should stick to arenas and refrain from stadium shows. On the flip side, many fans would still argue that most of the problems he’s mentioned exist in arenas as well, and stadiums can help many more people watch the event together.

  • Dana White Praises ‘In The Shadows’ Al Haymon For Snagging MGM Grand Canelo Fight

    Dana White Praises ‘In The Shadows’ Al Haymon For Snagging MGM Grand Canelo Fight

    Dana White recently lauded Al Haymon, the mastermind behind Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), for securing the iconic MGM Grand as the venue for Canelo Alvarez’s upcoming bout.

    On September 14, White will be in a rare showdown in Las Vegas as two major combat sports events clash. Alvarez is set to defend his unified super middleweight title against Edgar Berlanga at the MGM-owned T-Mobile Arena, while the UFC makes history by hosting the first-ever live combat sports event at The Sphere with Noche UFC.

    Over the past two years, the UFC has consistently hosted four pay-per-view events annually at the T-Mobile Arena. For years, MGM held a firm grip on all prime live sporting venues along the Las Vegas Strip. That all changed in September 2023, when the Madison Square Garden Company shattered the monopoly by unveiling The Sphere, a cutting-edge, one-of-a-kind venue featuring 16K wraparound LED screens and immersive sound technology.

    This allowed the UFC to stage one of its most expensive events on September 14, despite PBC securing the date with MGM Resorts International. Last year, White outpaced Canelo by launching the inaugural Noche UFC at T-Mobile Arena after the UFC claimed the date first. Alvarez fought Jermell Charlo two weeks later at the same venue.

    The UFC and Canelo have previously locked horns over scheduling conflicts on the same night. However, White gained the upper hand on November 2, 2019, when Alvarez’s light heavyweight title fight against Sergey Kovalev was delayed by nearly two hours to avoid competing for viewers as Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal fought for the inaugural BMF title in the main event of UFC 244.

    The UFC CEO initially wasn’t thrilled when PBC also locked in the September 14 date for a Canelo fight, but now he appears unfazed by the rival spectacle…

    White Commends PBC For Going Head-to-Head with Noche UFC

    During a recent interview with Vegas PBS, White was asked if the UFC was sending a message by going head-to-head with a Canelo event on the Mexican Independence Day weekend. The UFC head honcho, however, took the high road, praising PBC’s Haymon for his promotional acumen in securing both the September 14 date and the T-Mobile Arena for the showdown.

    “I knew that there was going to be an event. You have to assume it’s going to be Canelo that night,” White said. “It is what it is. They’re going to do their thing; we’re going to do our thing. Al Haymon slid in there and stole that date from us, which I’ve got to give him props for. Al Haymon is a boxing promoter who is very, very bright, very sharp, and what makes him fascinating as a boxing promoter is that when you think of all the promoters throughout life, whether it’s P.T. Barnum, Vince McMahon, or [Bob] Arum, you’ve seen them a million times. Al Haymon is in the shadows; he’s a guy that you’ve never seen, yet he is one of the biggest fight promoters in the boxing business.”

    White further added that if PBC hadn’t locked down the T-Mobile Arena for that same date, the UFC wouldn’t have opted for The Sphere as the venue for Noche UFC.

    “Props to him; he [Haymon] slid in and stole my date at MGM. But if that didn’t happen, I believe everything happens for a reason. If that doesn’t happen and things don’t line up the way they did, I’m not at The Sphere, I’m not first, and a lot of other things. So this was meant to happen, and the fact that we’re going head-to-head with him that night—MGM is guaranteeing the gate to them, they’re guaranteeing them the money no matter whether they sell tickets or don’t. We actually sold the tickets that we’re selling.”

    Noche UFC boasts a stacked roster of Mexican fighters and will showcase two title fights. Headlining the event, Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili. In the co-main event, Alexa Grasso will put her UFC flyweight championship on the line in a trilogy bout against former champion Valentina Shevchenko.


  • Jon Jones Reacts To Inclusion On Dana White’s MMA Mount Rushmore

    Jon Jones Reacts To Inclusion On Dana White’s MMA Mount Rushmore

    There is always going to be debate amongst the fans about who would make it onto an MMA version of Mount Rushmore.

    Even when looking exclusively at the UFC, that can be difficult to narrow it down to just four spots considering how many fighters have made huge impacts and left behind incredible legacies.

    The recent retirement of Demetrious Johnson at ONE 168 appeared to circulate this topic once again, alongside a lot of the recent conversation surrounding Jon Jones.

    On a recent episode of First Take, Dana White named his top four in UFC history, which was always going to provoke further conversation from the fans.

    He listed arguably the greatest to ever do it in Jon Jones, the biggest star the sport has ever seen in Conor McGregor, the leading pioneer in women’s MMA, Ronda Rousey, and one of the best representatives for the sport, Georges St-Pierre, as his picks.

    Jon Jones Reacts To Being Named In Dana White’s UFC Mount Rushmore

    Despite not fighting since March of last year, Jon Jones has been heavily talked about by both the fans and the UFC President in recent times.

    White has come out in defence of “Bones” several times due to questions regarding his upcoming fight with Stipe Miocic, not fighting interim champion Tom Aspinall and the debate of whether he deserves to be listed as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport.

    After being named in White’s Mount Rushmore list, Jones showed his appreciation via an Instagram story that he posted with the following caption next to the video.

    “Big compliment from the boss, he’s not talking about the best fighters. He’s talking about fighters who changed the game.”

    Regardless of whether he belongs at the top of the P4P list right now, it’s undeniable that Jones has had a massive impact on the sport during his long and successful career.

    Read also: UFC CEO Dana White Takes Credit For WWE’s Production Improvements: ‘A Lot Of Influence…’

  • Dana White Reveals If Interim Lightweight Title Fight For Arman Tsarukyan Is Possible With Islam Makhachev Injured

    Dana White Reveals If Interim Lightweight Title Fight For Arman Tsarukyan Is Possible With Islam Makhachev Injured

    Dana White has shut down Arman Tsarukyan’s calls for an interim UFC lightweight title to be created while champion Islam Makhachev recovers from a hand injury.

    Makhachev and Tsarukyan were originally expected to run it back for the former’s gold at the upcoming UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi next month. But a physical issue for the Dagestani forced him out.

    Soon after, the Russian-Armenian contender expressed a willingness to wait until December should their title fight be rearranged. But if a return isn’t possible for the champ until 2025, he’d like to instead compete for an interim belt.

    And in his latest comments to Red Corner MMA, Tsarukyan suggested that a 2024 comeback is indeed off the table for Makhachev, once again sparking talk of a second title in the lightweight division.

    “I was informed that this fight will not happen this year, it will take place early next year. … It’s from the UFC, but this is the nature of our sport: everything can change in a moment. That’s why I am keeping myself in shape. I am in camp now.

    “It’s not about fighting Islam for me, it’s about becoming the champion,” Tsarukyan continued. “Any of the top five could fight for the interim title – (Dan) Hooker, (Michael) Chandler, (Charles) Oliveira, (Justin) Gaethje or (Dustin) Poirier…although they don’t deserve it because all four of them are coming from a loss, at least three of them.”

    But that sentiment doesn’t appear to be shared by the promotion’s higher-ups…

    White On Interim Title Talk: ‘Islam’s Fought So Many Times…’

    During a recent interview with Manouk Akopyan, White provided an update on the lightweight title picture and addressed recent talk of a matchup for an interim belt.

    The UFC CEO suggested plans are coming together for Makhachev’s next defense. And despite Tsarukyan suggesting it won’t be until early 2025, White dismissed any notion that an interim title could be created in the Dagestani’s absence.

    “Islam’s fought so many times and is always willing to jump up and take a fight. So no, there won’t be an interim title,” White said. “When he’s ready to go, we’ll go. We have plans. We’re looking at it right now, when he would fight. … Yes, (Tsarukyan’s) the number one contender.”

    Tsarukyan previously name-dropped options like Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje when discussing a possible interim title fight. Evidently, though, that is not a possibility while he awaits a likely rematch with Makhachev in 2025.

    Interestingly, the UFC has been less firm on its avoidance of interim title fights in the past.

    The promotion previously created a second heavyweight belt to be contested by Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane in August of 2021. That was despite then-champ Francis Ngannou’s team claiming “The Predator” was ready to accept his first defense for the very next month.

    Ngannou ultimately unified the title against Gane in January 2022. While Makhachev is expected to make his return in January 2025 at the earliest, no such interim title has been created for the summer/early fall this time around.

  • UFC CEO Dana White Takes Credit For WWE’s Production Improvements: ‘A Lot Of Influence…’

    UFC CEO Dana White Takes Credit For WWE’s Production Improvements: ‘A Lot Of Influence…’

    Dana White recently claimed responsibility for the noticeable enhancements in WWE’s production quality.

    Last September, the UFC and WWE united to form a formidable force in the world of combat sports: TKO Group Holdings. Since their merger, the company has thrived, reaching new levels of success and redefining industry standards.

    WWE fans have experienced a wave of changes recently, with a dramatic shift in production quality. The exit of WWE co-founder Vince McMahon ushered in a major transformation in the company’s operations.

    Following the creation of TKO Group under the Endeavor banner, WWE continued its forward momentum. However, the departure of longtime executive Kevin Dunn marked a significant milestone for the production team.

    Taking over from Dunn, former ESPN executive Lee Fitting stepped into the role of head of media and production this past January. Under his leadership, WWE fans have witnessed a wave of fresh, dynamic camera work, with new angles and walking shots that were previously unseen in WWE broadcasts. The UFC CEO proudly attributes these changes to his own impact…

    White On WWE’s Production Changes: ‘Our Team Has A Lot Of Influence Over What’s Going On’

    During a recent interview with Johnny Resendiz, White was questioned about the possibility of the UFC adopting innovative camera angles and production techniques, similar to the ongoing changes WWE has been implementing.

    The UFC head honcho asserted that many of the recent changes WWE has undergone are largely the result of his MMA promotion’s production team playing a key role behind the scenes.

    “Don’t you find it weird that we got involved in WWE not too long ago, and now they’re experimenting with that?” White said. “Our production team has a lot of influence over what’s going on.”

    Although both combat sports powerhouses now operate under the same umbrella, White has repeatedly dismissed the idea of a competitive crossover between WWE and UFC. He emphasized that any transition between pro wrestling and MMA is handled individually, with no formal plans for cross-promotion between the two worlds.

  • Dana White Reacts To Demetrious Johnson’s MMA Retirement: ‘I Was Defending Him From The Fans!

    Dana White Reacts To Demetrious Johnson’s MMA Retirement: ‘I Was Defending Him From The Fans!

    Demetrious Johnson has long cemented his place in the minds of MMA fans as one of the greatest of all time and the greatest flyweight the sport has ever seen.

    Many in the MMA community are celebrating and reflecting on Johnson’s performances and accomplishments in the sport after he announced his retirement at ONE Championship’s event in Denver, Colorado on September 6.

    Though the latter years of Johnson’s career saw him in Asia’s ONE Championship, he is best known as the inaugural and long-reigning king of the UFC’s flyweight division.

    In an interview with John Morgan, UFC CEO Dana White was given his chance to react to the retirement of “Mighty Mouse.” White stated that he has long praised Johnson’s abilities, even claiming to be the former flyweight champ’s biggest defender.

    “If you go back to when he was here, I was defending him from the fans,” White said. “Who’s defended Demetrious Johnson more than me? Good for him. Incredible career he had, and I’ve never had a problem with Demetrious Johnson.”

    Demetrious Johnson ‘Absolutely’ Will Find Himself In UFC Hall Of Fame, Says Dana White

    Johnson made his professional MMA debut in 2007, winning 10 straight before a loss to Brad Pickett. He then won four more fights, including his first two UFC matchups against Norifumi Yamamoto and Miguel Torres, before unsuccessfully challenging then-UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz in October 2011.

    Johnson subsequently dropped to flyweight upon the UFC’s establishment of its 125-pound division in 2012, defeating Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez to become the inaugural champion.

    This would start Johnson’s six-year dominance over the weight class, going to defend the championship 11 straight times, setting a still-standing UFC record in the process.

    Johnson lost the championship to Henry Cejudo at UFC 227 in August 2018 and was traded by the UFC to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Askren.

    “Mighty Mouse” went on to win the ONE Flyweight Grand Prix in 2019 but was knocked out for the only time in his career against Adriano Moraes in their 2021 title fight. Johnson won their rematch in August 2022 to capture the ONE flyweight title.

    The American defended the title in a trilogy fight with Moraes in May 2023 — the final fight of Johnson’s career and ONE’s debut in the US.

    Though Johnson’s UFC run ended in the trade and in ONE Championship, White said that with his accomplishments, there is no doubt he’ll be in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    “Absolutely,” White said matter-of-factly.

  • Jon Anik Labels Noche UFC At The Sphere The ‘Sickest Sh*t’ He Has Ever Seen

    Jon Anik Labels Noche UFC At The Sphere The ‘Sickest Sh*t’ He Has Ever Seen

    Jon Anik is now hyped for Noche UFC after witnessing the impressive production quality of the upcoming pay-per-view event at The Sphere.

    UFC 306, known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, is scheduled for September 14 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, in honor of Mexican Independence Day. The landmark event will represent a significant milestone for the promotion, as it will be the first time a sponsor secures the prestigious title partner status in UFC history.

    The fight card, stacked with a lineup of Mexican fighters, will feature two title bouts. In the main event, Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight crown against Merab Dvalishvili, while the co-main event will see Alexa Grasso put her UFC flyweight title on the line in a highly anticipated trilogy bout against Valentina Shevchenko.

    Noche UFC could be Dana White’s most extravagant venture yet, with the UFC CEO reportedly investing over $20 million to craft an unforgettable experience. The event is set to be the first-ever live sporting spectacle at The Sphere, a massive arena featuring stunning wraparound LED screens in 16K resolution and immersive sound technology.

    With cutting-edge audio and visual technology at its disposal, the UFC plans to deliver a groundbreaking production level at Noche UFC. Anik, having already caught a sneak peek, is buzzing with anticipation…

    Anik Blown Away by Noche UFC’s Spectacular Production At The Sphere

    Anik recently took to X to share a report from MMA Fighting, unveiling that the UFC, in partnership with ESPN, will premiere a series of six short films during Noche UFC, celebrating Mexico’s profound impact on combat sports.

    These 90-second vignettes, crafted to air between the main card fights, are helmed by acclaimed director Glenn Weiss, known for producing major live events like the Oscars and Emmys, with Carlos Lopez Estrada contributing his talents to bring the project to life.

    In another post, the UFC’s play-by-play commentator revealed that he got an exclusive preview of what the promotion has in store for their upcoming event, and he’s absolutely stunned by the sheer scale and brilliance of the production.

    “Earlier this week, I got my first look at some of the visual experiences for the UFC’s September 14th Sphere show,” Anik tweeted. “Maybe the sickest sh*t I’ve ever seen. This is the most involved, sophisticated live broadcast of which I’ve been a part. Gonna be absolutely nuts. #NocheUFC”

    The Sphere, located just off the iconic Las Vegas Strip behind the grand Venetian and Palazzo resorts, was brought to life by James L. Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden, in collaboration with the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Construction began in 2018 with a jaw-dropping $2.3 billion price tag.

    The venue’s LED exterior covers a massive 580,000 square feet, towering 366 feet tall and stretching 516 feet wide. Inside, an astonishing 167,000 individually amplified speakers fill the space, while the video wall boasts 173 million individual LED light nodes. The Sphere can accommodate 17,600 attendees for concerts, though the seating will be slightly reduced for Noche UFC, holding around 17,000 for the historic event.

  • Dana White Compares DWCS Lightweight War To Miocic vs. Ngannou

    Dana White Compares DWCS Lightweight War To Miocic vs. Ngannou

    Week four of this year’s instalment of Dana White’s Contender Series delivered some big upsets and one of the show’s most memorable knockouts.

    Whilst it was Yuneisy Duben that stole all the headlines with her one-punch knockout over Shannon Clark, the evening’s opener set the tone.

    The first fight between Quillan Salkilld and Gauge Young was a high-level and super competitive three-round affair in the lightweight division.

    Though Salkilld earned the win and thus, his place on the UFC roster, the UFC boss went into the Octagon after the fight to give praise to both men – something he rarely does.

    Dana White Says The Shots Landing Between Salkilld & Young Were Comparable To Ngannou vs Miocic 2

    In his post-fight press conference after the event, Dana White spoke about how impressed he was by this fight from both men’s perspectives.

    The opening bout of the card has delivered great fights or moments across season 8 of the series and this one was no different.

    To emphasize how powerful and durable both men were, White described the impact of some of the shots that they were both landing and receiving across the 15-minute duration.

    He compared the sound of these strikes to when Francis Ngannou met Stipe Miocic in a rematch for the heavyweight title back at UFC 260, which took place in a near-vacant UFC Apex due to the restrictions for hosting live events at the time.

    “Both of those kids were 24 years old and you know, my thing was however the judges score this fight, however this plays out, both of you have a bright future in this sport. Both durable, tough guys, well-rounded no matter where the fight went. Head kicks, eating nasty head kicks, the body shots that both of those took, the punches. I mean when they hit each other with some of those right hands, it sounded like heavyweights. It reminded me of the night that Francis and Stipe fought in here. When Francis and Stipe were hitting each other that night and you were just like God damn! Those two were throwing those kind of punches at each other, it was a great fight.”

    Read also: Merab Dvalishvili Doesn’t Regret Social Media Post That Angered Dana White: ‘This Is Who I Am!’

  • Merab Dvalishvili Doesn’t Regret Social Media Post That Angered Dana White: ‘This Is Who I Am!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Doesn’t Regret Social Media Post That Angered Dana White: ‘This Is Who I Am!’

    Should top bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili sustain more cuts in the lead-up to major UFC fights, Dana White can expect them to be broadcast across social media.

    Dvalishvili is currently gearing up for about as big an assignment possible, with the Georgian scheduled to challenge for Sean O’Malley’s title in the main event of Noche UFC at the Sphere next weekend.

    But a few weeks out, concern arose when the challenger displayed a worrisome cut sustained to his face during a training session on social media.

    While Dvalishvili and his team eventually clarified that the blemish was by no means a threat to his monumental headliner going ahead on September 14, that didn’t stop “The Machine” catching the wrath of his boss.

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    Despite that, though, Dvalishvili has no regrets.

    Dvalishvili On UFC Backlash For Cut Post: ‘It Wasn’t A Big Deal’

    During a recent interview with Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie, Dvalishvili addressed his post revealing the cut suffered in training and the subsequent reaction from White.

    While he noted that upsetting the promotion and its higher-ups is by no means a desire of his, the Georgian contender did suggest that such actions are simply part of who he is as a fighter.

    “I never regret what I did, you know? I post this because I post everything on my social media. It wasn’t a big deal because I had more than three weeks after I got cut,” Dvalishvili said. “This cut (had) no effect on my training, my sparring. As you see, I healed up and everything is good.

    “Yeah, when I see Dana was upset, of course, like, I don’t want to upset Dana White and the UFC. But I was very calm and relaxed because it wasn’t a big deal,” Dvalishvili continued. “I don’t regret nothing. This is who I am. This is what I do. This is my life. I am a fighter.”

    Fortunately, Dvalishvili’s confidence regarding the cut’s healing time proved not to be misplaced, with the Georgian quickly being able to resume normal training as the lead-up to his first title challenge nears its conclusion.

  • Tyron Woodley Reveals How Nate Diaz Backtrack Led To Dana White Feud

    Tyron Woodley Reveals How Nate Diaz Backtrack Led To Dana White Feud

    Tyron Woodley recently opened up about how the fallout over a proposed fight with Nate Diaz sparked tension between him and Dana White.

    “The Chosen One” has always had a rocky relationship with the UFC CEO, with both men frequently exchanging sharp words about one another. Following Woodley’s one-sided defeat to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235, White didn’t hold back, openly criticizing the 42-year-old former welterweight champion for his fighting style.

    White was one of Woodley’s harshest critics, even after his victory over Demian Maia at UFC 214. The UFC head honcho chastised the Missouri native for what he perceived as a lackluster striking performance, ultimately costing Woodley the chance to fight Georges St-Pierre. In response, Woodley publicly fired back at White, demanding a public apology for the harsh treatment.

    The tension between the two became even more evident when White publicly dismissed any rumors that a Woodley vs. Nate Diaz fight was ever planned for UFC 219 in December 2017—a matchup that “The Chosen One” had previously claimed was on the table…

    Woodley Opens Up About Diss Track On White After Diaz Fight Fallout: ‘That Was My Way Of Expressing Myself’

    During a recent appearance on the Overdogs Podcast, Woodley shared the backstory of his frustration. After his victory over Maia, White and Hunter Campbell approached him with the idea of defending his title against Diaz, who was then competing in the lightweight division. Despite suffering a torn labrum in the previous bout, Woodley agreed to the challenge.

    However, when Woodley publicly announced the fight in an interview, he was met with a fiery denial from White, who swiftly dismissed the matchup. The UFC CEO’s abrupt U-turn left “The Chosen One” so infuriated that he chaneled his anger into creating a diss track aimed at White.

    “Why the f**k would you make me look stupid on air when you just asked me to fight this dude?” Woodley said. “Then I was so mad, but I recognized I don’t own the UFC—this is their promotion, they do what the f**k they want to do. I’m thankful and I’m blessed that I can go out there and show I’m the best. So, I couldn’t beat his a, but I surely went into the studio and made a song called ‘I Beat Your A**.’ When I made that song ‘I Beat Your A**,’ the story behind that song—it was really for Dana because I wanted to beat his a**.”

    “I wrote that song because that was my way of expressing myself. At that time, when I tried to speak on it, Fox would cut me off—they cut my microphone. They told me, ‘You can’t speak on this.’ Because after he made that statement, I was prepared to go back to work and defend my motherf**kin’ self.”

    Woodley parted ways with the UFC in March 2021 after enduring a tough stretch of four consecutive losses from 2019 to 2021. Before this challenging period, he was riding high on a seven-fight unbeaten streak, during which he successfully defended the welterweight title four times.

  • Torrez Finney Shares How Third Contender Series Call-Up Stopped Him From Signing Elsewhere

    Torrez Finney Shares How Third Contender Series Call-Up Stopped Him From Signing Elsewhere

    Torrez Finney recently disclosed that his third opportunity to join the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series ultimately stopped him from committing to another promotion.

    Despite securing a unanimous decision victory over Cam Rowston at DWCS 68 on August 20, Finney found himself overlooked for a UFC contract by Dana White for the second time. The UFC CEO harshly criticized “The Punisher” in a segment that swiftly made headlines for its blunt severity.

    Additionally, White expressed disappointment that Finney had only taken one fight since his initial DWCS appearance last October, where he secured a second-round submission against Yuri Panferov. However, the door hasn’t closed on Finney just yet. He’s set to make his comeback on October 1, facing Abdellah Er-Remy in episode eight.

    Finney will have a rare third chance to clinch a UFC contract—an opportunity granted to only a select few fighters. However, this chance comes at a cost, as he had to forgo a more lucrative deal to chase his UFC dreams…

    Finney On His Third DWCS Spot: ‘I Didn’t Think Twice About It Too Much’

    During a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Finney revealed that just before receiving a call from his manager for the DWCS fight, he was on the verge of finalizing a deal with another promotion. However, he decided to walk away from it, choosing instead to chase his ultimate dream of fighting in the UFC.

    “Not going to point them out, but I was actually almost in the process of signing with another promotion,” Finney said. “Big deal, great pay. I was actually getting close to making that announcement, and then I get a phone call from Malki [Kawa] from First Round Management, and he’s like, ‘Have you signed that contract yet?’ I said, ‘No, not yet.’ He’s like, ‘Well, hold on,’ and I was like, ‘All right, what is it?’ ‘Cause there’s only one thing, there could only be one possible promotion that could hold me off from that. And I said, ‘What?’ And there was the opportunity. He told me all the details behind it, and I talked with my team. You know, I’m gonna be honest, I was happy.”

    “The Punisher” went on to express his excitement for the upcoming fight but admitted that his family is no longer supporting his pursuit of the UFC dream, especially after White’s harsh criticism.

    “My team was behind me, but my family—they are not the biggest Dana White fans—and they were no longer on the side of me ever pursuing the UFC. Necessarily, like, obviously, they would support wherever I fight, but with the UFC, it was like, ‘Man, forget that,’ based off his comments. But I didn’t feel that way; I never have any personal issues with Dana… If you look at the opportunity, based off of what you see—an opportunity to be the first guy ever to go 3-0 in the Contender Series—the story, it hit so big. Right now, I’m 25, so let’s go for it. I didn’t think twice about it.”

    Finney boasts an undefeated 9-0 record in his MMA career, with seven of those victories coming by way of stoppage. He made his professional debut in February 2022, taking on Wesley McCracken under the Conflict MMA banner.

  • UFC Veteran Joe Lauzon On Limbo Status: ‘I Don’t Exactly Know A Valid Way To Get Out Of The Contract…’

    UFC Veteran Joe Lauzon On Limbo Status: ‘I Don’t Exactly Know A Valid Way To Get Out Of The Contract…’

    Joe Lauzon recently opened up about the lingering uncertainty surrounding his UFC career.

    Lauzon is a name that might not resonate with newer MMA fans, but he was once celebrated as one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC lightweight division of his era, holding the third-highest number of post-fight bonuses in the company’s history.

    “J-Lau” has been absent from the Octagon since delivering a first-round TKO victory over Jonathan Pearce in October 2019, a win that ended his three-fight losing streak. In August 2023, Lauzon lobbied for a spot at UFC 292 in Boston, but the promotion declined, signaling that his services were no longer required. Even UFC CEO Dana White publicly urged him to hang up his gloves for good.

    The 40-year-old Massachusetts native has considered himself semi-retired during his five-year hiatus, admitting that he’d only return to active competition if a truly compelling matchup came his way. However, with no such opportunity on the horizon, Lauzon now finds himself at a crossroads…

    Lauzon Still Training While Not Actively Seeking A Fight

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Lauzon opened up about his time away from the Octagon. The seasoned UFC lightweight admitted he’s unsure about the future of his career, yet he remains committed to training regularly despite not actively pursuing any fight opportunities.

    “I’ve been focused more on my gym than I have on training,” Lauzon said. “Everyone’s always asking, like, ‘Oh, are you going to fight again? Are you not going to fight again?’ and my answer is always kind of ambiguous—I don’t really know. I wanted to fight Chase Hooper last summer when they were going to come to Boston, but that didn’t work out; they didn’t want to do that. So, I don’t know. If they came to me with a fight and a matchup that I liked… I’m still training all the time, but I’m not pressing the issue.”

    “J-Lau” also revealed that, despite his inactivity, he’s still under contract with the UFC. However, he admitted that he’s unclear on how to exit the agreement, especially since he’s not actively pursuing a fight.

    “I don’t exactly know a valid way to get out of the contract—not that I’m trying to—but I think that there’s a bunch of reasons it can kind of freeze or get prolonged, right? So I think it’s if you turn down a fight, if you are injured, or if you retire—you know, those things all prolong and extend it, right? So, from my perspective, I’m not really trying to fight anywhere else, so I don’t really care. I’m still in the USADA pool, which is not even annoying, but a little bit annoying.”

    “I still have USADA—or not USADA, but Drug Free Sport—show up, and they test me every once in a while. But otherwise, I mean, I think it’s just extended perpetually, like until whenever. I’m in a weird spot where I don’t really care about actively fighting.

    Lauzon stands as the longest-serving fighter on the current UFC roster. Since his promotional debut at UFC 63 back in 2006, he has stepped into the Octagon 27 times.

    “J-Lau” has faced numerous hurdles in securing fights over the years. He was set to clash with Donald Cerrone on three separate occasions, but the bout was postponed once and canceled twice, all before “Cowboy” eventually called it a career.

  • Jake Paul Tries To Broker Multi-Million Dollar Payday For “Bones” To Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Jon Jones Doesn’t Dodge Anyone’

    Jake Paul Tries To Broker Multi-Million Dollar Payday For “Bones” To Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Jon Jones Doesn’t Dodge Anyone’

    Jake Paul recently attempted to broker a multi-million dollar deal to entice Jon Jones into a showdown with Tom Aspinall.

    Since capturing the interim heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023—an opportunity that arose after “Bones” had to withdraw from his undisputed title clash with Stipe Miocic due to injury—Aspinall has been unabashedly outspoken about his desire to test himself against Jones in a title unification bout.

    However, Jones has consistently dismissed the challenge, even going so far as to disparage Aspinall’s standing as the interim champion. Rather than entertain a clash with Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight titleholder has made it clear that his sights are set on rekindling his bout with Miocic, a showdown that is rumored to headline UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden this November.

    “Bones” has frequently hinted at the prospect of retirement after defeating a legendary heavyweight champion like Miocic, thereby cementing his GOAT status. Many speculate that this might be why Jones is hesitant to risk his legacy against a formidable contender like Aspinall.

    However, “The Problem Child” suggests that the real reason Jones is sidestepping the Brit’s challenge is the lack of a lucrative payday on the table…

    Paul Claims Jones Would Accept Aspinall Bout If The Paycheck Fits

    Paul, well-known for his frequent critiques of UFC fighter pay, recently took to X to refute the narrative that Jones is avoiding a fight with Aspinall. The YouTuber-turned-boxer argued that Jones isn’t one to shy away from any opponent but suggested that the real issue lies in the financial incentive.

    He believes that if the right financial deal is presented, tapping into both the American and English pay-per-view (PPV) markets, Jones would be more than willing to step into the Octagon with Aspinall.

    “Jon Jones doesn’t dodge anyone. He knows exactly what he’s doing,” Paul tweeted. “Show him the money – that real money. Not that spin the narrative money. Him versus Aspinal is massive as it hits two big PPV markets. A $25M guarantee plus PPV seems about right. @JonnyBones”

    During a post-event press conference for DWCS, UFC CEO Dana White suggested that, despite Jones’s occasional talk of retirement, he is confident that “if the Aspinall thing is really flying out there,” Jones would rise to the occasion and accept the matchup.

  • Randy Couture On Whether Saudi Arabia Can Make UFC vs PFL Happen: ‘That Kinda Money…’

    Randy Couture On Whether Saudi Arabia Can Make UFC vs PFL Happen: ‘That Kinda Money…’

    Randy Couture recently offered his thoughts on whether Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority head, Turki Alalshikh, possesses the influence to bring the highly anticipated super fight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones to life.

    For years, the most monumental heavyweight bout the UFC could have delivered was a showdown between Ngannou and then-light-heavyweight champion Jones, who declared his intent to move up a weight class in 2020. However, a bitter contract dispute with UFC CEO Dana White led to “The Predator” entirely parting ways with the organization. Ngannou later inked a multi-fight deal with the PFL, which included the freedom to explore his passion for boxing.

    White has repeatedly asserted that it was Ngannou who blocked the eagerly awaited matchup, while the former heavyweight champion countered by saying that it was “Bones” who was reluctant to fight him as he tried to negotiate a new contract to remain with the UFC. In the end, any negotiations that were in place fell through.

    However, now with Saudi Arabia owning a modest share in the PFL, Alalshikh seemingly has the sway to potentially orchestrate this long-dreamed-of clash. Even White, who has traditionally opposed cross-promotion, was questioned about the possibility during the UFC 303 post-fight press conference in June, and surprisingly, he didn’t dismiss the notion outright.

    “The Natural” thinks the UFC would never gamble with their reigning champion by jeopardizing a loss to someone like Ngannou, whose stock continues to soar. However, he believes the Ngannou vs. Jones clash could become a reality if authorities higher than White step in to make it happen…

    Couture Sees TKO CEO & Alalshikh As Key To Ngannou vs. Jones Fight

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Couture shared his thoughts on the likelihood of a Ngannou vs. Jones showdown ever materializing. The former two-division champion expressed his doubt, stating that it’s highly improbable the UFC would ever agree to a cross-promotion bout.

    “I don’t see the champ in the UFC ever getting a shot at fighting the champ from PFL or any other organization for that matter, and that’s unfortunate,” Couture said. “That’s a shame that the fans are never going to get to see those types of matchups. That’s one of the flaws and issues in our sport right now.”

    However, “The Natural” added that a bout of such magnitude could only come to fruition with the involvement of UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, under the leadership of CEO Ari Emanuel, along with the influence of Alalshikh.

    “At the end of the day, I think Ari [Emanuel] is the one calling the shots. He’s the one who bought the company from Zuffa. It’s his business. He has shareholders and people he has to answer to, and he needs to do what’s best for the bottom line for that company, which includes WWE and UFC and everything that’s going on there.”

    “Certainly, what the Saudis are holding and what they’re doing with LIV Golf, and all the other things that they’re doing to build culture and create opportunity for their citizens and their athletes in their country, that [fight] could very well happen because that kind of money can make a lot of things happen.”

  • Francis Ngannou Clears The Air On Dana White Claiming He Ducked Jon Jones: ‘The Guy Who Control The Narrative…’

    Francis Ngannou Clears The Air On Dana White Claiming He Ducked Jon Jones: ‘The Guy Who Control The Narrative…’

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s common knowledge in MMA circles that Francis Ngannou and Dana White have a rocky relationship. After being the UFC’s biggest heavyweight superstar for quite some time, Ngannou left due to contract-related conflicts, and White has never been happy about it.

    Since Ngannou’s departure, White has frequently taken jabs at the former UFC heavyweight champ. The UFC President has blamed him for not fighting Jon Jones and has discredited his boxing career as well.

    In the press conference for his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia, Ngannou finally fired back at White’s latest comments…

    Francis Ngannou Reveals Why Jon Jones Fight Didn’t Happen Despite His Request

    While talking to journalists at the PFL press conference, Ngannou flipped the script and claimed that Jones didn’t want to fight him in the UFC. He allegedly requested the fight multiple times but was told that “Bones” wasn’t willing to fight as he was enjoying life in Albuquerque.

    “As far as I’m concerned, it was Jon Jones didn’t want to fight for me, according to them. And so many time that we sit down on the meeting, I’m like, oh it can’t happen Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight anymore. You know, like he live in Albuquerque. He live his small life. He has a lot of money in his bank account, you know. So, I think, the guy who control the narrative can say whatever he wants but that’s just the narrative. I never, I was the one requesting the Jon Jones fight but I didn’t want that like a trap, to get into some deal and get to something I didn’t want.”

    As per “The Predator”, another reason why the Jones fight couldn’t happen was his contract. He was down to fight the UFC light heavyweight GOAT but wanted a contract that benefited him in ways other than just money. This included the freedom to box, in-cage sponsorships, and health insurance, among other things.

    Ngannou’s relationship with the UFC fell apart when both parties couldn’t negotiate a contract that fulfilled the former’s demands. Instead, the UFC heavyweight champ left the promotion and signed with the PFL.

  • Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut

    Aljamain Sterling Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Over The Top Reaction’ To Merab Dvalishvili Publicly Posting Training Cut

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling doesn’t believe Dana White had an appropriate reaction to Merab Dvalishvili’s recent cut.

    Dvalishvili, who is set to challenge current 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley for the title in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 at the Sphere next month, was scolded by White this week after he posted a video online showing a facial laceration.

    The Georgian uploaded a number of videos of the cut he suffered 25 days out from his first championship opportunity, raising slight concern in the community about his status for the September 14 card.

    “The Machine” has since clarified that nothing will prevent him from making the walk to do battle with “Sugar” in Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean everyone thinks the decision to publicly display the cut was smart.

    Chief among them was the UFC CEO, who slammed Dvalishvili during the press conference following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series.

    “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

    “It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

    Those comments, however, didn’t sit well with one of Dvalishvili’s closest friends and teammates, and somebody who’s had his own fair share of back and forth with White in the past…

    Sterling Defends Teammate Dvalishvili From White’s Wrath

    When it comes to rocky relationships between fighter and higher-ups, not many have had public disagreements with the likes of White quite like Sterling.

    The now-featherweight contender has taken issue with comments regarding his desire not to fight Dvalishvili while he was bantamweight champ, as well as what he saw as pressure to accept a quick turnaround to fight O’Malley last August.

    Suffice to say, “Funk Master” has never been one to shy away from speaking out against things said by the UFC CEO. And that trend continued this week, with Sterling leaping to the defense of Dvalishvili following White’s scathing reaction to the post detailing the Georgian’s laceration in training.

    “Everyone is making a much bigger deal over ‘the little cut’, even the boss. Merab shares his stories of training camp, the good, the bad, the ugly, and ppl LOVE him for it. There’s nothing ‘stupid’ about it, period,” Sterling wrote. “He’s training, and will show up Sept 14, like he always does. Is this about betting lines?? Is it about a fight cancelation?? Respectfully, this reaction was a bit over the top IMHO.”

    Dvalishvili has since shown his return to the training room on social media, as he gears up for the chance to bring O’Malley’s reign to an end and avenge his teammate’s knockout loss to the striking specialist in Boston last year.