Currently, the top spot on the list is occupied by the 155-pound champion who sits one place above the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.
White firmly believes that the answer is “Bones” but others have questioned whether his recent activity should factor into the equation.
Of course, it is a hypothetical argument to be having as the entire list is based around if every fighter was the same weight, who would be the best.
Makhachev certainly has the edge when you look at his current strength of schedule and recent performances but it is impossible to look past Jones when you take overall careers into account.
Aljamain Sterling Backs Up Dana White’s Comments With Henry Cejudo Example
When he decided to vacate the light heavyweight title and move up to heavyweight, it was three years before fans saw Jones compete again.
His injury ahead of UFC 295 last November hasn’t helped the questions about his activity either.
Aljamain Sterling, however, said on his YouTube channel that he backs White’s argument because of Jones’ last fight.
The former light heavyweight king took three years off, came back and made it look easy when he submitted Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in just over two minutes.
Sterling used the example of Henry Cejudo to demonstrate his point, stating how “Triple C” attempted to come back and was unsuccessful in his title challenge at UFC 288 – which shows why the significance of the Gane victory can’t be overlooked.
“I was about to say, three years off and to come back and do that to the number one guy like Dana said, I actually really agree with that.
“Jon Jones, what he did, is super impressive. Henry Cejudo came back, he tried to do what he tried to do and look what happened. He’s ‘the greatest combat athlete of all time’, no disrespect to him but…”
Islam Makhachev continued to impress and showcase his status as one of the sport’s best with his fifth-round submission of Dustin Poirier to retain the UFC lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 302.
Makhachev certainly has the credentials to show why he is one of the best athletes in MMA, but where does that put him amongst his peers in the pound-for-pound order?
The UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings currently list Makhachev as #1. UFC CEO Dana White, however, suggests that while nothing can be taken away from Makhachev’s abilities, the top spot should be with Jon Jones until the heavyweight kingpin can’t go anymore.
Jones is currently ranked second on the P4P list.
“I think [Islam is] one of the greatest of all time,” White said at the UFC 302 post-fight press conference. “I think he’s incredible. I don’t think he’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. For anyone to call Islam the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world when Jon Jones is still f****** fighting is nuts and shouldn’t be ranking in the pound-for-pound, or doing any of the f****** rankings ever if that’s what you really think.
“Jon Jones has never lost a fight, ever. He’s fought all the baddest dudes in the world, and then when you think about what pound-for-pound rankings really mean — he moved up to heavyweight and destroyed the best guy in the world. As long as Jon Jones is still fighting, active and in the rankings, nobody [else] is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world.”
White: Performance After Long Layoff, Moving Up In Weight Gives Jones Edge Over Makhachev
Jones reigned over the light heavyweight division for most of the 2010s in spite of multiple controversies that interrupted runs as the division’s champion. He then vacated the championship in 2020 to move up to heavyweight, successfully returning at UFC 285 last year to submit Ciryl Gane and win the then-vacant heavyweight title.
Jones’ only blemish in his MMA career is his controversial December 2009 disqualification loss to Matt Hamill.
“Three years off — nobody, not even [Muhammad] Ali, nobody’s ever come from three years off and looked the same,” White said. “Jon Jones walked through the number one guy in the heavyweight division like it was nothing with three years off.”
Weight divisions also plays a role in White’s feelings.
Makhachev’s only two other title defenses came last year against the same individual — then-UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski moved up to 155 pounds and challenged Makhachev at UFC 284, with the Russian winning a close decision, and again on about 10 days’ notice at UFC 294, where Makhachev won via first-round knockout.
“When you think about what pound-for-pound really means, [Makhachev] fought Volkanovski, who’s a weight class lower than him,” White said. “Jon Jones beat everybody at light heavyweight then beat the best heavyweight in the division like it was nothing at a higher weight class.”
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For May 28, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
White praises McGregor’s business and fighting mind
Vera has suspicions of Brazilian drug testing protocol
Ulberg talks ahead of huge opportunity on June 29
Dana White Talks About What Makes Conor McGregor Special That You Simply Can’t Teach
During a recent appearance on the In Search of Excellence Podcast, UFC President Dana White spoke about the emergence of Conor McGregor as a superstar.
White recalls his first encounter with “The Notorious” where they met in Las Vegas after he was signed to the promotion.
White also emphasised how despite coming from a working class background and cashing welfare cheques, McGregor is an excellent businessman with a great mind for the sport.
He credited the former UFC champ-champ with having the kind of instincts that you simply can’t teach, comparing him to one of the biggest combat sports stars that came before him.
“If you look at all the brands that he has built off of his brand, very very sharp kid. When you hear some speak, he’s very articulate about fighting. Again when you talk about fighter IQ, like Tyson, Conor’s fight IQ is off the charts.”
Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera Says He Thinks But Can’t Prove That José Aldo Was Juicing For Return Fight At UFC 301
José Aldo is back in the mix at bantamweight following his triumphant return to the Octagon earlier this month.
Vera suffered a defeat to Aldo back in December of 2020 which he rebounded from with a great winning streak.
During a recent appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast, Vera suggested that he isn’t sure whether or not his former opponent was being tested for his return fight.
“Chito” didn’t say for certain but he does have his suspicions about what went down in Brazil.
“Check this out, fighting in Brazil, no USADA, those [Jose Aldo] traps were f****** thick so… José might go to those f****** farmers and [juice]. I mean they’re notorious for that, that’s normal in Brazil right? I don’t know, I cannot prove it but I mean you fight in Brazil, I don’t think they’re testing.”
Carlos Ulberg Speaks On Jamahal Hill Fight & Conor McGregor Inspiration
The opportunity to fight on June 29 at UFC 303 is going to be massive for all of the fighters on the undercard but especially Carlos Ulberg.
International Fight Week is set to be even bigger than usual thanks to the long-awaited return of Conor McGregor in the main event.
In a recent interview with Engage on YouTube, he spoke for the first time about this fight and where he stands on McGregor and fighting on the same card as his comeback.
“We’re going up against Hill, I think he’s number three at the moment so that’s some really good news that puts us in a really good spot and I’m not going to pass that opportunity.”
“He is definitely a big star and to fight under that undercard would be amazing and if we can get the co-main event, then that’d be even more spectacular so yeah man.
“He goes in with confidence and that’s something that I like to lead into my fights. When I jump in that cage, it’s just me, my opponent and the preparation that I’ve had prior.”
Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett could be on to bigger and better fight opportunities ahead.
UFC London was full of star power and great finishes. Many hometown fighters saw big wins, including Paddy Pimblett.
A victorious Paddy Pimblett
Pimblett was coming into UFC London with high expectations. He is a rising star and has gained a huge number of fans since joining the UFC. With all eyes on him, he was able to get the impressive win and could have just sealed a bright future ahead of him in the UFC.
“That was quick. I don’t know. I mean, his numbers say yes. His numbers say yes. He could headline a Fight Night,” White said.
Pimblett made his second walk to the Octagon at UFC London. His first-round submission win over Kazula Vargas was his second win in the UFC and although he is still a newcomer people are calling his name.
Pimblett was in the Cage Warriors organization before coming to the UFC. He did have the opportunity to headline two events when he was a champion in Cage Warriors, one at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, proving he can rise to the occasion.
There is no doubt many fans in attendance were there to see Pimblett. The noise was booming when he was walking to the cage and when he won. Pimblett has shown he can handle the spotlight and the pressure of headlining an event, so perhaps the next time the UFC is in the UK, it could be Paddy “The Baddy” at the top of the card.
Do you think Paddy Pimblett is ready to headline an event?
Nevertheless, while the event was unbelievably successful for the UFC, both in terms of fights and performances, and gate and revenue, Dana White believes there’s one thing that could have made it even better.
“The only thing that kills me tonight is that it would have been awesome for the main event to be Leon and (Kamaru) Usman,” said White. “That would have been incredible here. That was the only thing tonight that’s missing, if tonight is missing anything.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
White Reiterated Edwards’ #1 Contender Status
After a 10-fight unbeaten run, Edwards has firmly secured a rematch with Usman and a shot at 170-pound gold in the eyes of many. While White confirmed as much earlier this year, he reiterated it during UFC London fight week while in the #3-ranked welterweight’s home country.
During BT Sport’s Fight Week Live, White and Edwards were in attendance to answer questions from analysts and fans. When the topic of the Englishman’s potential championship opportunity came up, the UFC kingpin once again confirmed Edwards’ place as the number one contender.
“He absolutely deserves the next title shot, and yes, I’m wishing for nothing but good luck for Edwards this year, he’s had a rough run,” said White. “Usman, we’re waiting for his hand to get cleared. His hand gets cleared and he’s got the fight.”
UFC President Dana White gave out nine post-fight bonus checks following UFC London, but UFC featherweight Arnold Allen stood out most to him.
White had a lot to choose from when it came to deciding who would get the post-fight bonus checks, so he opted to give out bonuses to the nine fighters who picked up finishes. This included Allen, who blitzed Dan Hooker in the opening seconds of the fight en route to a first-round TKO victory.
Arnold Allen vs. Dan Hooker, UFC London
Allen seized his opportunity in the UFC London co-main event slot and has now won 11 in a row in his MMA career. His TKO of Hooker was his first stoppage victory since 2018 when he submitted Mads Burnell.
During his UFC London post-fight press conference, White tabbed Allen as his choice if he was forced to give out just one Performance of the Night bonus check.
“I’d have to go with Arnold,” White said. “He just beat the s**t out of f**ing Hooker, who just moved down a weight class to fight in a lower weight class, and he did it within seconds of the first round, it’s crazy.”
Allen wasn’t the only UK fighter who shocked the masses at UFC London. Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett, and Molly McCann all picked up massive wins on the main card.
Allen picked up four straight unanimous decision wins over Sodiq Yusuff, Nik Lentz, Gilbert Melendez, and Jordan Rinaldi before his stunning performance at UFC London. He used his post-fight interview to call out Calvin Kattar for a fight later this year.
Allen’s performance puts him right in the thick of things in the featherweight title picture. After drawing quite the reaction from his fellow UFC colleagues, he could face a top featherweight contender for his next UFC outing.
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in favor to dismiss the lawsuit Ernesto Joshua Ramos filed against Dana White.
In 2020, White was named in a lawsuit for allegedly going back on a deal in which White’s name would not be revealed in the involvement of a sex tape. The lawsuit came after Ernesto Ramos, personal trainer and real estate agent, served 366 days in federal prison for extortion.
The FBI arrested Ramos in early 2015 for extortion attempts. He pleaded guilty to threatening to publicize tapes of White and a woman having sex in a hotel room during a UFC event in 2014.
Reportedly, the woman in the tapes was a Las Vegas stripper and Ramos’ girlfriend, who inconspicuously recorded her and White together with her cellphone. Her name was not revealed in the suit and there were no charges filed against her.
In 2016, the district court judge dismissed the lawsuit against White after his lawyers debated there was no agreement made between White and Ramos. Ramos hired a new team of lawyers and sought to appeal the decision.
And now, three Nevada Supreme Court judges decided to uphold the prior court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit. The judges claim Ramos did not present any information to prove the court was wrong in their decision.
In addition, they disagree with the validity of the contract made to keep White’s name a secret in exchange for $450k. However, Ramos denies demanding money from White to buy his silence but that it was for him to plead guilty.
For now, White can relax and continue to focus on UFC matters. However, Ramos’ attorney Ian Christopherson is appalled by the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision and is seeking a second opinion of the case from the whole court.
What are your thoughts on the lawsuit against Dana White being dismissed by the Nevada Supreme Court?
UFC President Dana White has rejected the narrative that this past weekend’s London event featured hometown “set-up fights.”
For the first time in three years, the Octagon returned to England’s capital on Saturday. With it came a host of UK stars, contenders, and prospects all looking to put on a show in front of their home crowd inside the famed O2 Arena.
While Mike Grundy, Jai Herbert, and Cory McKenna fell short in their respective clashes, the night was certainly a fruitful one overall for British MMA, with Tom Aspinall, Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Arnold Allen, Paul Craig, Jack Shore, and Muhammad Mokaev all emerging victorious.
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While the likes of Alexander Volkov, Dan Hooker, and Nikita Krylov undoubtedly represented tough competition, many have suggested certain matchups were engineered for the hometown favorites to comfortably secure their moment.
“They were all fighting real people,” asserted White. “These weren’t like, hometown set-up fights. They fought tough guys.”
White further shared that view later in his interaction with the media when assessing the performance of one of the card’s most popular names.
White: Pimblett Showed He’s The Real Deal
After a first-round knockout against Luigi Vendramini on debut, the anticipation for Paddy Pimblett’s sophomore UFC appearance was certainly high. That only increased after the Liverpudlian’s fight week altercation with Ilia Topuria and usual confident mindset.
While some have suggested Pimblett was gifted a low-level opponent in order to secure a memorable main card moment in front of a home crowd, Dana White believes the former Cage Warriors champion showed the MMA community that he’s the “real deal.”
“This week, I was getting tired of hearing, ‘Oh, wait ’till you see his walk, wait ’till you see this and that.’ I’m like, ‘I wanna see him fight. He needs to win.’ But he did. And he did spectacularly,” said White. “And when he was in trouble, he came back, and turned the fight around, and won.
“All the talk going into this fight about his walk-in and all this sh*t, listen, it’s real. This kid’s got a ton of hype behind him. Tonight he showed everybody that he’s the real deal,” concluded White.
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While Pimblett’s rising stardom is undeniable, as was proven by the fact his pre-fight face-off with Vargas did nearly double the numbers of the main event on social media, it appears the jury is still out for many when it comes to his credentials in a stacked UFC lightweight division.
Dana White doesn’t think Daniel Cormier could replace him as UFC president.
For years now, people have talked about who will replace White when he decides to retire. Many, including, Dustin Poirier thought Cormier would likely be the best replacement as he knows the sport and would be a great face for the company.
“That’s a tough spot to fill,” said Poirier. “I’m not sure. I think Daniel Cormier maybe? Maybe somebody who’s been in combat sports. I don’t know if he knows a whole lot about the business side, but I think he would be a great face of a company.”
However, prior to UFC London, White was asked about that by Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports and the UFC boss shut down the idea of Cormier. And he also revealed they have someone ready to take over but it isn’t that anyone knows.
Dana White (Image Credit: Logan Riely/Getty Images)
“There’s a formula to what we do and why we’ve been successful and there is a guy, there’s one guy that [can replace me],” White said (via Sportskeeda). “There’s certain things that I do that he wouldn’t be able to do but the important things that get done over there is what really matters and this guy could absolutely, positively, do it. Nobody would even know who the f*** he is. He’s a behind-the-scenes guy… Yeah, Daniel Cormier couldn’t do it. I love Daniel but Daniel couldn’t do it.”
Although Dana White says he has someone ready, that isn’t Daniel Cormier, it’s likely White will still do this for years. He has openly talked about how much he loves doing this and is only 52-years-old so he can still do this for more decades if he wants. But at least now we know that there is, in fact, someone ready to take over if White is to retire.
Who do you think would be a good replacement for Dana White?
UFC President Dana White has revealed which two potential fights he wants to book the most in 2022.
With a host of stars, rivalries, and top stylistic matchups on the minds of fans every year, the role of White and the UFC matchmakers can’t be easy. But despite organizing over 10 weight classes that comprise a total roster of over 600 fighters, certain future bouts undoubtedly stand out.
That’s certainly the case for the UFC president, who recently revealed the top two fights he’s hoping to put on at some point this year during a recent appearance on BT Sport’s Fight Week Live in London.
“Well, let’s get Leon (Edwards) his (title) fight, that’d be great to get that done,” said White. “But the other one, it’d be good to see Jon Jones back this year. He says he wants to fight heavyweight. I’d like to get a Jon Jones fight at heavyweight this year if that’s possible.”
After vacating the title and targeting gold in a second division, Jones went to work in the gym, looking to bulk up and transition to heavyweight. But after a monetary dispute with the UFC and yet another run-in with the law, “Bones” is still on the sidelines. White is clearly hoping to change that in the coming months.
Dana White also confirmed to BT Sport earlier today. July/International Fight Week is "possible" depending on Usman's timetable for return (hand surgery).
If Usman vs. Edwards 2 and Jones’ heavyweight debut are agreed for later this year, they’ll only add to what is already a stacked pay-per-view lineup in 2022.
Opening the summer schedule will be UFC 275, which is set to play host to a light heavyweight collision between veteran champ Glover Teixeira and unpredictable brawler Jiří Procházka. Dominant women’s flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko is also set to be in action at the event, which is targeted for Singapore. The next challenger to her lengthy rule will be Brazil’s Taila Santos.
Add Usman’s next defense and Jones’ comeback to the mix soon after, and that’s a mighty fine calendar…
Which fight do you most want to see go down before the end of 2022?
The return to London broke the record for the biggest live gate for a single-day sporting event at The O2 Arena, as White announced in his post-fight press conference. The crowd was electric from start-to-finish as many UK stars such as Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, and Paddy Pimblett earned massive victories.
During his UFC London post-fight press conference, White spoke about his plans for planning more international events in 2022 and teased France as a main target.
“I can tell you this, we will definitely do France this year,” White said.
There was some speculation that the UFC could hold the Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane heavyweight title fight in France, but the promotion and White ended up putting the event in Anaheim, CA for UFC 270. While Ngannou will more than likely miss the planned France event after undergoing knee surgery, White’s announcement opens the door for fighters such as Gane, Nassourdine Imavov, and other France-based fighters to compete on the card.
The UFC has never hosted an event in France, despite hosting a plethora of other cards in Europe. Now that more countries are lessening travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, White and the UFC could get back on track with a slew of international events in 2022.
Who do you want Dana White to put as the headliner in the planned UFC France event?
In fact, if taken seriously, McGregor was even feuding with some random countrymen of Aldo, including in an alleged pub brawl that predated the infamous pub punch that McGregor was charged for four years later.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 20, 2015, 12:47 PM]
At the UFC 189 “World Tour” press conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Friday, an interesting exchange took place between Conor McGregor and a Brazilian fan.
During the fan portion of the question-and-answer session, one fan, in particular, claimed that he got punched by McGregor at a “pub” on Thursday night. He continued by taunting McGregor, saying “he’s still here.”
McGregor responded, “you cried like a bitch, I remember you!”
Whether or not this was a fan joking around and McGregor simply went along with it, remains to be seen, but McGregor and UFC President Dana White, both of whom, along with UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo, were all in attendance to promote their UFC 189 main event, sure had big smiles on their face.
For those who missed it, you can watch the first stop in the UFC 189 “World Tour” press conference below.
Headlined by the UFC Featherweight Championship bout between Aldo and McGregor, with a co-main event of Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald for the UFC Welterweight Championship, UFC 189 takes place on Saturday, July 11th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It’s safe to say that UFC London lived up to UFC President Dana White’s expectations.
Prior to last night’s UFC London extravaganza, Dana White proclaimed the talent-rich roster on the lineup to be the best in the history of UK-based UFC cards. Given the fact that there were a total of nine bonuses handed out for every finish on the card, truly, the O2 Arena bore witness to that talent shining through.
According to White, the total gate for the event was $4.5 million, which is the biggest in the history of the O2 Arena. Not only that, White also revealed that the event was the “biggest” UFC Fight Night of all time.
If you missed any of the action-packed fights from UFC London, you can catch up all the results and highlights right here.
The first finish saw 21-year-old upstart Muhammad Mokaev defeat Cody Durden via submission in the very first round. Mokaev had asked for a bout against Durden following controversial post-fight comments Durden made after his first UFC win, and Mokaev made the most of the wish that was granted to him.
Next up, Paul Craig defeated Nikita Krylov in yet another comeback finish in his career 3:57 minutes into the first round.
In the first heavyweight bout of the night, Sergei Pavlovich earned the TKO finish over Shamil Abdurakhimov in the first round, followed by Mike Grundy being submitted by Makwan Amirkhani.
The main card kept the finishes rolling when Ilia Topuria pulled off a come-from-behind win over Jai Herbert in the only second-round finish of the night. Then, Molly McCann made mincemeat out of Luana Carolina with a vicious spinning elbow.
Also during the press conference, the giddy Dana White assured that the UFC will be returning to London as soon as possible. When that event takes place, the roster booked will have its work cut out if they intend on matching, let alone topping the UFC London classic that took place on March the 19th of 2022.
Where does UFC London rank on all-time UFC Fight Nights in YOUR opinion?
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone in the MMA fanbase not excited for today’s UFC London card, and that includes Dana White.
Today, the UFC will return to England’s capital for the first time since 2019. After being deprived of action throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, UK fans are finally set to see top-draw Octagon scraps live in the flesh once again.
Delivering a card worth of the occasion, the promotion has stacked the event, set to take place inside the renowned O2 Arena, with a host of exciting international and British names.
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During an appearance on BT Sport’s Fight Week Live on Thursday, the UFC President gave his thoughts on his organization returning across the Atlantic and the exciting lists of bouts slated to go down at UFC London.
Despite the likes of Leon Edwards, Michael Bisping, Jorge Masvidal, Carlos Condit, Dan Hardy, Mirko Cro Cop, Anderson Silva, and Fabricio Werdum all taking to the cage in the UK in previous visits, White suggested no British event has been as stacked with talent as this weekend’s card.
“I’m excited. We’re not gonna need a roof on Saturday night. Believe me, the roof is gonna blow off this place,” said the UFC president. “We haven’t been here in three years and, like I was just saying to Mike (Bisping), the talent on this card is probably the best we’ve ever had out of the UK, so I’m excited to see what these guys can do on Saturday night.”
12 Fights Set For Stacked UFC London Card
Headlining Saturday’s UFC London card will be home favorite Tom Aspinall. The surging heavyweight prospect has gone 4-0 in the promotion so far, a record that includes a second-round submission of former champion Andrei Arlovski and a first-round TKO against the ranked Sergey Spivak.
Setting the stage for the heavyweight behemoths will be a co-main event clash between fan-favorite UFC mainstay Dan Hooker and England’s own Arnold Allen.
UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev is willing to welcome Logan Paul to the Octagon if he were to ever sign with the top MMA promotion.
Chimaev is set to face Gilbert Burns in a potential No. 1 contender clash at UFC 273. He’s undefeated in his MMA career and is coming off of a first-round submission of Li Jingliang at UFC 267.
Paul is a YouTuber turned boxer who competed in high school wrestling in Ohio. He’s flirted with the idea of potentially moving to MMA down the line, along with his brother Jake.
Eyebrows were raised when UFC President Dana White didn’t rule out Paul fighting for him in the future. After asking about his past grappling experience, White didn’t shut down the idea of Paul competing in the Octagon at some point.
“I’m waiting for you in UFC [Logan Paul],” Chimaev tweeted.
Paul has recently confirmed that he’s received MMA offers in recent months and expects to enter the cage at some point. He also remains focused on his boxing career and a potential matchup with fellow YouTube sensation Whindersson Nunes.
While White seems to have a cordial relationship with Logan, it’s been the complete opposite with Jake. He and Jake have gone back-and-forth on social media for months and have accused one another of using drugs.
Chimaev has proven to not be one to turn down a fight in the Octagon, and he could be a willing opponent for Paul if the UFC signs him. For now, Chimaev remains focused on a shot at welterweight gold and a potential showdown with Kamaru Usman in 2022.
Do you think Logan Paul will eventually fight in the UFC?
UFC President Dana White knows lightweight Paddy Pimblett has a large following, but it may not matter without wins inside the Octagon.
Pimblett will make his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC London against Kazula Vargas. The former Cage Warriors featherweight champion earned a first-round knockout over Luigi Vendramini in his UFC debut last September.
Pimblett has been known to up the ante when it comes to his trash talk and mental warfare. He’s also managed to get under the skin of fighters that aren’t his opponents, including most recently with Ilia Topuria.
“Yeah, he’s fun. He’s a fun guy. Smack talk’s fun, but you’ve gotta win,” White said of Pimblett. “So, you know, everybody keeps talking about the excitement of the walkout and all this stuff, you gotta win fights. Believe me, he comes in, has an incredible walkout and the crowd goes crazy, and he wins? Awesome… He’s one of those guys that has that thing and he has the potential to be a star. But, here, you gotta win fights. It’s not just about being popular (and) how many people like you. You’ve gotta get in there and win.”
Paddy Pimblett
Pimblett was one of the biggest signings by the UFC in 2021 following back-to-back wins in Cage Warriors over Davide Martinez and Decky Dalton. He’s been tabbed by some as the ‘people’s main event’ against Vargas at UFC London.
Pimblett has been tabbed by some as a potential future UFC box office star at the levels of Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and others. McGregor has recently called Pimblett a “great representation for the UK”.
Pimblett has never been short of confidence, as evident by his recent claim that he’ll never get knocked out in the UFC. However, a loss to Vargas could erase the momentum and star power that he has already accumulated.
Do you think Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to be a UFC champion?
UFC President Dana White is still wondering why Jake Paul is only challenging smaller fighters.
Dana White’s vow to never speak about Jake Paul ever again lasted all of two months. But even that time span is perhaps longer than what most would have anticipated. In 2021, hardly a week went by without some jab thrown by Paul toward White or vice versa.
According to White, however, that all ended after he felt Paul dodged his challenge of getting randomly steroid tested for two years with White agreeing to get cocaine tested for 10 years in return.
During White’s period of silence, Paul has continued to chirp away, including on a Dana White Diss Track and with continuous challenges to fighters on the UFC roster. Only now, Paul claims he isn’t just open to boxing them, but he has begun to lay down challenges for MMA fights.
The two specific names that Paul has challenged for a fight are Jorge Masvidal and Conor McGregor. In both cases, Paul made proposals directly to White to make the fights happen with high stakes at play, mostly connected to improving fighter pay and benefits.
But even when Paul’s challenges were restricted to the boxing ring, White wondered why Paul was only challenging—and fighting—smaller opponents. And now that Paul has extended his challenges to MMA fights, White is still wondering the same thing.
“Why isn’t he calling out Israel Adesanya? I know. I know, and you know, and everybody else knows, and he knows, too,” White said in an interview with ESPN.
Jake Paul last competed in December in a viral KO win over former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. He currently does not have a fight booked but has continued teasing a potential move to MMA.
Once Paul catches wind of these comments from White, perhaps he’ll extend his list of potential opponents for his potential MMA debut to “The Last Stylebender.” And if White’s rhetorical question also functions as a dare, perhaps White will decide to call Paul’s bluff.
Do you think Jake Paul would be willing to fight Israel Adesanya in an MMA fight?
UFC President Dana White isn’t happy with YouTube’s decision to take down a recent podcast appearance by former US President Donald Trump.
White and Trump have been friends for years, stemming from Trump’s previous involvement with the UFC in the early Zuffa years when the promotion struggled to find venues for events. The UFC held events at Trump’s Taj Mahal hotel in Atlantic City, NJ for UFC 28, UFC 30, and UFC 31.
White has also been a proud supporter of Trump’s recent U.S. presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. He was a speaker at various rallies and conferences in support of Trump’s political aspirations.
Controversy ensued during Trump’s recent appearance on the FULL SEND podcast, and White has a strong relationship with the hosts of the show. Trump used part of his appearance to claim that the 2020 US Presidential election was stolen from him in favor of Joe Biden.
Just days after the full podcast episode was posted to YouTube, the website took it down allegedly because of Trump’s controversial remarks about the election.
“Total crock of shit. Total crock of shit, White said. “But you saw in the podcast, Trump told them, ‘This podcast will be taken down.’ He told them that. He knew it. It’s crazy…
Dana White, Donald Trump
“The fact that Trump’s podcast with FULL SEND got taken down is fuckin’ disgusting and, more importantly, it’s scary. Very fuckin’ scary.”
The topic of cancel culture has been a hot topic in recent years. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have taken controversial stances to silence people with different viewpoints, like Trump.
White went on to elaborate on why YouTube’s decision could create a bad precedent.
“First of all, you have to start looking at alternative social media platforms that don’t censor. And it’s easy (when) you got a guy that you don’t like, like Trump. ‘Oh, fuck him,’ you know what I mean? ‘Good. We don’t have to see his tweets and we don’t have to do this and that.’ Till you say something they don’t like or until somebody else says something they don’t like. This country was built on free speech, man. It’s our god-given right…
“When you have a company, or corporation, or government that can come in and fuckin’ tell you what you can and can’t say, we’re in a scary place.”
Trump has hinted at a third run for president in 2024, although it hasn’t been formally announced that he intends to run again.
As for White, he’s expected to be in attendance for the UFC’s return across the pond at the UFC London event this weekend, headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov.
In among his first comments addressing Jake Paul since vowing to never speak of him again, UFC President Dana White has explained why a fight between Conor McGregor and the YouTuber is “probably not” going to happen.
So far in his 5-0 boxing career, Paul has knocked out two former UFC welterweights, one of which held gold on MMA’s biggest stage between 2016 and 2019. But while his MMA foes have, to date, been retired or released following a losing skid, “The Problem Child” has often set his sights on bigger fish.
As opponents have changed, rivalries developed, and his influence in combat sports has grown, one thing has remained a constant in Paul’s career: callouts to “The Notorious” McGregor.
Paul’s interest and mentions of a potential clash are seemingly increasing with every step closer to a return the Irishman makes. The former two-division champion has been out of action since breaking his leg last July.
When asked if he could see a McGregor vs. Paul event in the future, White suggested that while he won’t shut the door on anything, it’s unlikely.
“Probably not (happening), no. I’m never completely closed off to anything. I used to say that about things, but I don’t say that anymore. Cause you never know, you never know what could happen,” said White.
The crossover market has grown exponentially in recent years, with Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Frank Mir all representing former UFC stars who have dipped their toes into the boxing ring.
Despite helping start the trend with the 2017 ‘Money Fight’ between McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, as well as bringing some notable professional wrestling stars to the Octagon, White says UFC bookings involving internet stars like the Pauls goes against his promotion’s main goal: pitting the best against the best.
“Everything we do kills the bottom. I mean, we have the most successful combat sports business of all time. What we do here is completely different than what him (Logan Paul) and his brother are doing,” claimed White. “I’m looking for the absolute best in the world. These guys who have trained their whole lives, they fight at these smaller shows, and then they make it to the UFC, and we put the best against the best.
CM Punk, Brock Lesnar
“It’s just not what you do. There’s a market for what you guys do and there’s money to be made in it. I’m not saying that I don’t do those types of thing,” White continued. “I brought Brock (Lesnar) in. But Brock won the heavyweight championship. I brought CM Punk in, that one didn’t work out as well as Brock [LAUGHS]. It’s not like I don’t try to do these—the Floyd/Conor fight, you know? The fans wanted to see it; everybody wanted to see it. That’s why it took on a life of its own. Floyd and I got together and figured it out, it made sense, and we did it.”
Even if that level of interest was there for a McGregor vs. Paul bout, White explained why the pair’s size difference would make it an unrealistic matchup.
“Well, he shouldn’t even be fighting Conor McGregor. These guys (Pauls) are fucking huge, he’s (Jake) fucking huge. What’s your brother, 6’1″? 210 (pounds)? Conor McGregor’s 155 pounds… There’s weight classes for a reason.”
Paul Responds To White’s Comments On McGregor Fight
White also went on to suggest that even fighting at welterweight is a stretch for McGregor, something Paul later disputed on Twitter. He called for a fight with the Dublin native at 175 pounds.
Dana White is begging for Diaz and Conor to fight for a third time…they have fought at 170 pounds in both their fights
Interestingly, during his conversation with White, Logan suggested his brother couldn’t make 170 pounds to meet McGregor for a welterweight bout. With that in mind, 175 would perhaps be a stretch for “The Problem Child,” who weighed in for his rematch with Woodley at 191.6 pounds.
How do you think a fight between Conor McGregor and Jake Paul would play out?
UFC women’s flyweight Casey O’Neill took a page out of bantamweight champion Julianna Peña’s book while speaking to Dana White prior to UFC 271.
At UFC 271, O’Neill took another step towards title contention. She did so by sending veteran Roxanne Modafferi into retirement off the back of a loss.
While she failed to maintain her 100% finishing record in the UFC, “King Casey” did extend her perfect professional résumé to 9-0 with victory on the scorecards. In doing so, she moved up three places to #12 on the 125-pound ladder.
She also appeared to establish herself as the promotion’s newest villain with her Octagon interview and post-fight press conference remarks. if she’s believed, we can expect O’Neill to become “the best bad guy” we’ve ever seen in the coming months and years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ-HNZ5vmlt/
O’Neill Vowed To Capture Gold
With another jump closer to dominant flyweight ruler Valentina Shevchenko, O’Neill is beginning to attract attention as a possible title contender. But while she’s targeting a steady rise through every ranked 125lber first, the Scottish-Australian has gold in her sights, something she let Dana White know prior to her win against “The Happy Warrior.”
Discussing O’Neill’s performance during his appearance at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference, White revealed what the 24-year-old told him at the event’s ceremonial weigh-ins. She seemingly took the opportunity to make an ambitious promise to the UFC President.
“The thing about Roxanne is she’s very unassuming. But she’s a very tough, durable, awkward fighter to fight, and Casey beat her tonight,” said White. “She walked up to me on stage during the weigh-ins and said, ‘I’m going to be your next world champion.’ So I like her attitude, I like the way she fights, she’s aggressive, she’s tough, we’ll see what she does.”
O’Neill’s promise is reminiscent of the one given to the UFC President by reigning bantamweight queen Peña. After “The Venezuelan Vixen” upset the odds at UFC 269 by dethroning then-two-division champion Amanda Nunes, White revealed the newly-crowned titleholder had forecasted her own success to him before she’d joined the promotion.
The question is, can O’Neill make good on her promise like Peña did?
Jake Paul has laid out a proposal for Dana White to book him in a UFC fight against Conor McGregor with game-changing stakes.
Dana White has held true to his word. Just as he vowed two months ago, White has not mentioned Jake Paul in any meaningful way after their latest exchange.
In that exchange, White proposed that Paul randomly drug test him for cocaine over the next 10 years if White could, in turn, randomly drug test Paul for steroids for two years. This proposal was inspired by Paul constantly claiming that White is a cocaine addict.
Paul then responded to White with the following counterproposal:
Happy new year @danawhite. Here is a real challenge for you…
I will immediately retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if you agree to: pic.twitter.com/bJScDVITvL
Paul expressed a willingness to fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if White agrees to a list of terms that help improve fighter pay and benefits. After both parties accused one another of dodging the other’s challenge, White decided to wash his hands of Paul and vowed to never speak of him again.
In one of his last comments about Paul, White was surprisingly respectful of the YouTuber, stating that he “doesn’t fault” Paul for the way he makes his money.
“Dana – Since you like me now, how about a 1 fight UFC deal to fight Conor. If I win, you agree to my UFC fighter pay and healthcare proposal. If I lose I donate my entire purse to all UFC fighters who make less than $50K a fight and never mention UFC again.
Deal?”
As usual, the odds of Dana White agreeing to Jake Paul’s terms are slim to none. Then again, moments like these are where the phrase “never say never” becomes very applicable.
Paul has already expressed his confidence that he’d be able to KO the former champ-champ inside the Octagon. If Dana White stuns the world by agreeing to Paul’s terms, the YouTuber turned boxer will have the chance to go in for the finish and send the world into a shock-induced coma if he were to successfully knock out Conor McGregor in a UFC fight.
How interested would you be to watch Jake Paul fight Conor McGregor in a UFC fight?
UFC President Dana White believes welterweight contender Colby Covington violated “man code” with his pre-fight trash talk leading up to UFC 272.
This past weekend, Covington bounced back from his second loss to reigning 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman in a fairly similar fashion to how he did the first time—a dominant main event victory.
While 2020 saw him do so in a fight night headliner with Tyron Woodley, Saturday’s event saw him take his bitter rivalry with former teammate and friend Jorge Masvidal to the Octagon on the pay-per-view stage.
Across 25 minutes, “Chaos” implemented a grueling game plan that saw him tire out “Gamebred” with constant takedown attempts and an imposing wrestling game.
With that callout, the event ended with the same trash-talking tone that had been evident all week.
While Covington’s random attacks on Brazil and the relatives of former opponent Usman showed he’s capable of creating controversy no matter the scenario, it was clear the build-up to UFC 272 would be more intense given the former interim champ’s history with Masvidal.
“He’s a coward. It just shows his character,” said Masvidal. “And then he’ll sit there after a fight and try and shake a hand, and tell them, ‘The UFC was gonna cut me so I had to talk about Brazil, I had to talk about your wife to drive up the pay-per-views,’ when in current history, (he’s had) some of the worst pay-per-view selling, period. He doesn’t sell pay-per-views.
“I’m happy to stick it to him in that regard, and show for the future generations to see that like, you don’t have to talk about people’s wives, religion, and kids to sell pay-per-views,” Masvidal added. “This is the only way people talk about him. You hardly ever hear people talking about Colby’s performance.”
While some love and cheer Covington’s persona on, Masvidal certainly isn’t alone in his assessment of the #1-ranked welterweight’s comments.
White Agrees With Masvidal’s Criticism
Having been a key figure at the top of the UFC tree since 2001, Dana White has seen his fair share of trash talk, controversial moments, and polarizing fighters. Despite that, even he thinks Covington often crosses the line.
During the UFC 272 post-fight press conference, the UFC president was asked whether he agrees, like Masvidal, that family is off-limits when it comes to pre-fight back and forth.
White responded by sharing the same sentiment as “Gamebred” did last week, suggesting Covington’s words had violated “man code.”
“I agree with that, too,” said White. “It’s called man code. You either have it or you don’t.”
Making the most of his opportunity to address some recent comments, UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has refuted claims made by both Dana White and Conor McGregor.
Despite extending his win streak to 10 with a dominant performance over Bobby Green just two weeks ago, much of the current discussion about Makhachev surrounds his apparent decision to turn down a short-notice fight against longtime rival Rafael dos Anjos.
After the withdrawal of Rafael Fiziev early in UFC 272 fight week, the former UFC lightweight champion was after a new opponent. While Makhachev appeared willing to step in on social media, RDA’s compatriot Renato Moicano was later revealed to be the chosen one.
Shortly after, White claimed he’d gone to sleep assuming a deal had been agreed for the Dagestani to complete quick turnaround, only for him to discover the #3-ranked 155lber had turned it down.
Dana, you went to bed to early, you gotta stay up late to get things done 😂😂😂 https://t.co/JaoXVwxHga
Giving a different take, the 30-year-old claimed he’d called the UFC to try and make the fight happen, not the other way around. However, he cited an important condition not being met as the reason the fight fell through.
“Dana said I turned down this fight, but Monday morning, when I wake up, I just saw some news, like ‘Fiziev have COVID. The fight is canceled.’ And I’ve been in California on vacation,” said Makhachev. “And I wake up and call my manager. ‘Hey, Ali [Abdelaziz], I saw some news. Please call UFC and say I’m ready (to) take this fight.’
“And I ask about some condition, very small condition, nothing (too big). And (neither UFC nor Ali called me). I (woke) up and I called Ali, and I tell him, ‘Hey, come talk with the UFC, please. I want this fight,” Makhachev continued. “But the UFC (didn’t) do it. That’s why it (didn’t) happen, and that’s it. People think UFC call me and tried to make this fight, but I call UFC, and I ask about this fight.”
While Makhachev didn’t delve further into details about the mentioned stipulation, his initial callout on social media included a request for it to be a welterweight bout. Perhaps the UFC or dos Anjos’ desire for a 160-pound catchweight, as the eventual UFC 272 co-main was fought at, led to negotiations collapsing.
Makhachev: McGregor Will Never Agree To Fight Me
Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev
Elsewhere on his trail of calling out ‘fake news,’ Makhachev took aim at familiar foe McGregor. Given his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s history with the Irishman, it’s not surprising to see the Dagestani going back and forth with McGregor as his rise to the top of the lightweight division continues.
“I think this is fake. For the fans, they make (something) interesting, but I think this fake. It’s gonna be hard for him to make 155 because he drunk all day, and a lot of people gonna smash him in this division,” asserted Makhachev. “He just gonna fight vs. Nate Diaz or some old people (to) make some money and that’s it. He’s never gonna be champion. He’s never gonna be (at championship level).”
Having seen a decline in form since his defeat to Khabib in 2018, Makhachev doesn’t believe he’d have an issue dispatching McGregor. For that reason, he says McGregor would “never” accept the fight.
“He just play game. He never gonna take this fight. He just play a little bit game. Because he knows (it’s) gonna be long night for him,” claimed Makhachev. “What Khabib did with him, I’m gonna—because he’s not same now. When he fight with Khabib, (he was) in good shape, not drunk too much. But now, he have to retire. This guy have money, everything. But if he wanna come back, let’s do it. I’ll be happy to smash him.”
Having failed to book a rematch between Khabib and McGregor, whose first bout ended with a memorable brawl, perhaps the UFC and White will look for what may be the next best thing: ‘The Next Khabib’ Makhachev vs. the “Notorious” megastar.
How do you think a fight between Islam Makhachev and Conor McGregor would play out?
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan believes that Dana White and his promotion may have decided to re-book Islam Makhachev’s fight with Beneil Dariush in order to lay the groundwork for Conor McGregor to return into a title bout.
At UFC Vegas 49, Makhachev added a 10th win to a lengthy win streak. After the withdrawal of Dariush, who suffered a broken fibula in training earlier in February, the Dagestani faced short-notice opponent Bobby Green, finishing him with ease in the first round.
Despite Green being unranked, many expected the win to secure Makhachev the spot immediately behind Justin Gaethje in the queue for a title shot. Judging by the #3-ranked contender and his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments, they seemed to share that sentiment.
Dana on Islam/RDA: "I thought we had it done. I went to bed one of the nights I thought it was done and woke up the next morning and [Makhachev] turned it down."
While the revelation came as a surprise to some, not least to fans of Makhachev, renowned UFC personality and podcast host Joe Rogan believes he’s identified the method behind the promotion’s decision.
Talk of Conor McGregor, who’s been out of action since breaking his leg last July, returning to the Octagon straight into a title fight has increased in recent weeks, largely after White appeared to leave the door open to the idea.
According to Rogan, the UFC likely re-booked Makhachev vs. Dariush in order to set up a championship opportunity for the Irishman when he makes his comeback.
“When Dana said that Makhachev now has to fight Beneil Dariush before he can fight for the title, I think that sets up a Conor fight (for the title). I think that’s probably why he really did it,” Rogan said on his podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, this past week. “It’s kind of crazy.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
White Previously Slammed Those Criticizing A McGregor Title Shot
“Crazy” is perhaps the adjective used by a large portion of the MMA community. While some have suggested McGregor’s past achievements, immense drawing ability, and superstardom mean an immediate title fight, despite his two-fight skid, is justified, others have used it as another example of the rankings being wrongly discarded.
During an appearance on My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox, White responded to those who have criticized his willingness to have the former two-division champion return from injury straight into a title fight. He had some choice words for his detractors.
“The problem is, every time I do a f*cking interview, all anybody wants to ask is, ‘You think Conor McGregor will get a f*cking title shot?’ That’s all they f*cking ask,” said White. “So, I’m gonna say, ‘Well Conor McGregor isn’t anywhere near coming back yet, so I don’t know, let’s see what happens..’ It’s a dumb f*cking question for the media to ask, but the media asks dumb f*cking sh*t all day, every day. That’s what happens.
“And anybody who’s p*ssed off because Conor might f*cking get (a title shot), you’re a f*cking idiot too. If that p*sses you off, Jesus Christ. Calm down, buddy,” concluded White.
UFC President Dana White and welterweight star Nate Diaz have provided conflicting statements regarding the Stockton native’s future in the promotion.
Diaz hasn’t been in action since his defeat to top-five 170lber Leon Edwards at UFC 263 last June. Despite falling on the wrong side of a lopsided unanimous decision, the veteran maintained his fan-favorite status and maybe even enhanced it, with a late rally.
Now, with one fight left on his deal, talk has turned to who the 36-year-old might close out his contract against. But despite Diaz suggesting he’ll look to retire after one more Octagon outing, Dana White appears confident that the Stockton star’s next appearance won’t be his last.
During his appearance at the UFC 272 post-fight press conference this past weekend, White was asked whether a new contract was likely for Diaz. The 52-year-old’s answer was a positive one for fans of The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner.
“The likelihood that Nate Diaz gets a new contract? Very good,” claimed White.
Since Dustin Poirier’s defeat to Charles Oliveira last December, it’s appeared the Louisianan’s pursuit of fun fights would land him at the feet of Diaz. But despite both appearing down to scrap, the matchup doesn’t appear to be any closer to coming together, something Diaz perceives as “slow-rolling” on the part of the UFC.
In a recent Instagram post, Diaz provided a different take on his immediate future to White. While he once again reiterated his desire to share the cage with “The Diamond,” the Stockton native also described the potential matchup as his “last fight.”
Tagging White, Diaz made it clear he’s eager to get things moving and have the final fight on his active deal completed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Caxp61kvngJ/
“I’m ready to fight my last fight @ufc@danawhite this guys says he’s ready also so lets get this shit poppin I got shit to do ✈️”
