MMA News

Tag: Dana White

  • Dana White Confirms Leon Edwards Is Next For Kamaru Usman

    Leon Edwards’ wait for a world title shot appears to be coming to an end.

    Edwards had expected to be fighting for a world title a long time ago. Now, he has reached a point where he is unbeaten in 10 fights and yet was still booked in another non-title bout, this time in a grudge match against nemesis Jorge Masvidal.

    After Masvidal was forced to withdraw from that bout due to a rib injury, that left Edwards without an opponent. Edwards insisted that he would not fight again unless he receives a world title shot.

    History has shown that sitting out and waiting for a title shot can be a very risky play, especially as far as Edwards is concerned. Dana White has cautioned fighters against making such a move, with Edwards himself being among them at one point.

    In an interview with TSN this week, however, White relented and agreed that Edwards is deserving of a title shot and is next in line for UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.

    “100 percent,” White said when asked if Edwards was next in line for Usman. “That kid’s had a rough run. He deserves it. If you look at it, Colby lost to (Usman) twice, Gilbert lost, Leon’s next. He’s number three.”

    White also hinted that one of the reasons for granting Edwards the title shot is because of his willingness to do what he said no one else wanted to do last year: step up and fight Khamzat Chimaev.

    “We were in a matchmaking meeting on Tuesday and I’m always like, ‘Nobody wants to fight him, nobody wants to fight him,’” White said. “Leon Edwards signed the bout agreement to fight him and I think he was ranked number three at the time. So I wanted to make that clear, publicly. He absolutely wanted to fight him, signed the bout agreement and then Khamzat got COVID and that was the end of that.

    “I’m bringing it up for a reason because I said that and never gave that kid the credit he deserved. He said yes to it, signed the bout agreement, and was ready to roll.”

    Leon Edwards first faced Kamaru Usman long before Usman was champion, in a unanimous decision loss in December 2015. In his most recent fight, he defeated Nate Diaz at UFC 263 while Usman successfully defended his title in another rematch—against Colby Covington at UFC 268.

  • Ngannou Details Convo With Dana White, Clarifies Contract Status

    Francis Ngannou has revealed what was said in his recent conversation with Dana White and also clarified his contract status with the UFC if he defeats Ciryl Gane next weekend.

    As we approach the fight week for arguably one of the most anticipated heavyweight showdowns in UFC history, there is somehow a storyline attached to the bout with a public interest level right on par with that of the fight itself: Will this be Francis Ngannou’s final fight in the UFC?

    Francis Ngannou
    Image Credit: GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images

    That question goes beyond the natural ponderings that manifest whenever a fighter approaches the final fight on their contract. What makes this situation particularly unique is the fact that Ngannou is still a reigning UFC champion. So the urgency for the UFC to get a deal done would seem immense, lest they permit the possibility of a fighter exiting the promotion while still holding a title.

    Surely, it was this realization that helped inspire Dana White to meet with Ngannou for the first time in what Ngannou claims has been nearly four years. White briefly addressed the dinner meeting between the two recently, stating that the talk went well and that Ngannou simply needs to surround himself with better advisors.

    Speaking with ESPN Thursday, Ngannou shared more intimate details of their conversation.

    “It went pretty well,” Ngannou said about the meeting. “At this point, I’m not upset. I’m kind of chill about everything. And I went to him…we wished each other happy holidays, and I tell him my frustration. I expressed to him how I would like to stay in the UFC, but I don’t feel like the UFC still want me to stay. So I don’t feel (I’ve been) promoted anymore….I mean, maybe I’m wrong about that, but I didn’t see anything compared to what happened to different fighters.”

    When asked what Dana White said in response to this observation, Ngannou praised the UFC boss for being quick on his feet.

    “He bring up something really fast, and that’s why you know that Dana is very good,” Ngannou said with a smile. “He tell me like, ‘Yeah, we want you. Have you ever wanted to go somewhere and we didn’t take care of you?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I think it’s a little more than that.’”

    Ngannou Clarifies Contract Status, Won’t Fight Again On Current Deal

    Francis Ngannou
    PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

    Ngannou did not suggest there was any resolution at the end of their discussion, which means that there remains the question of what happens if he wins next Saturday? Would he be obligated to remain under contract with the promotion indefinitely as a reigning champion? Would he be obligated to fight one more time or until he loses the title?

    According to Ngannou, neither of those options is true, but the Cameroonian did provide the two options that he says are present in the contract.

    “Contractually, it’s really hard to explain. The UFC contract is very tricky. And they have this string. They can pull the string from anyhow. And that’s why you sign a 40-month contract and you find yourself after four years still dealing with that, even though you have been active and everything. Contractually, that means I have executed the eight fights that was on my contract…

    “And the championship clause is (optional) because it says if at the end of this contract you’re a champion, you’re extended for three fights or one year.”

    Because Ngannou signed his current deal in December 2017, the one-year extension to his four-year deal would mean he would become a free agent in December of this year without any contractual obligation to fight again in the interim. In fact, Ngannou says that we most certainly would not see him compete again under his current deal, regardless of what happens next Saturday.

    “I would not fight for $500,000 or $600,000 anymore,” Ngannou declared. “I mean, it’s over. It’s over.”

    How do you predict this contract saga between Francis Ngannou and the UFC will play out?

  • Newspaper Tricked Into Using Photo Of Hasbulla In Local Snow Section

    A United Kingdom newspaper had a photo of Hasbulla in their section of local kids enjoying the snow.

    The local paper asked the citizens to send pictures of kids enjoying the snow, and one person sent in a photo of Hasbulla. The newspaper obviously did not know who it was and published it with the caption, “Hasbullah, seven, had never experienced snow before last week.”

    https://twitter.com/officialkappa99/status/1480897378043539458

    The user who sent in the photo of Hasbulla tweeted the screenshot of his e-mail to the newspaper where he wrote, “Wee Hasbullah aged 7 on the Gleniffer Braes with Paisley/Glasgow in the background. This is the first time he has actually seen snow!”

    Hasbulla became famous in 2021 as his faceoff with Abdu Rozik went viral. Ever since then, the world became enamored with him, and he even got the attention of the UFC. Dana White had a meeting with Hasbulla while he was in attendance at UFC 267, and he was inside the Octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov after Islam Makhachev submitted Dan Hooker.

    White also knows how big of a star Hasbulla is, as he says a video he posted about him is the most-watched on his Instagram.

    “You know I posted that video of him saying, ‘Dana I’m coming to UFC Abu Dhabi,’ and then I said, ‘I’m on the plane can’t wait to meet you in Abu Dhabi?” On Instagram, I have 6.7 million followers, right? 6.4 million people watched that video on Instagram. It’s the biggest thing that I’ve ever posted. It’s insane,” White said to Barstool.

    White also says there is a chance Hasbulla fights inside the Octagon against Rozik, which would be one of the most anticipated fights ever.

    “I love the kid. Is there more than a zero percent chance [that he fights in the UFC]? Yes!”

    What do you make of the newspaper being trolled to post a photo of Hasbulla?

  • ONE CEO Disagrees With How White Does Business, Open To A Fight

    Chatri Sityodtong doesn’t agree with how Dana White runs the UFC.

    Sityodtong, the CEO of ONE Championship, is all about martial arts and respect, and he doesn’t like when his fighters talk trash. White and the UFC, however, embrace trash-talking because it helps sell pay-per-views. That is one of the things Sityodtong doesn’t like about how the UFC is run.

    “I think he is an outstanding businessman,” Sityodtong said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t necessarily agree with the way he does things, but obviously he’s built UFC into a phenomenal company. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. But I don’t think he knows anything about martial arts. I don’t think he knows anything about fighting. I think he’s a fan, so I have differences. I come from the martial arts community. I come from the martial arts background. And how I treat my athletes, they are my peers. I come from the community. It’s very, very different.

    “I think if you’ve never been punched in the face or choked out, you can disrespect people publicly [with your comments],” Sityodtong continued. “But if you have had lifelong hard training — I just say we have stylistic differences. I don’t particularly respect the way he talks down to athletes.”

    Chatri Sityodtong (Image Credit: Paul Miller/Bloomberg)

    With Chatri Sityodtong disagreeing with how Dana White runs the UFC and him claiming White doesn’t know martial arts, he says he is open to a fight with him. They are both over 50-years-old, but Sityodtong is confident he would beat the American with ease.

    “I’m a lifelong martial artist,” Sityodtong said about a fight with White. “I’ve been doing Muay Thai for 35 years and I’m a jiu-jitsu brown belt. I train five, six times a week. If there’s a fight with someone my age, why not? I’m 50, turning 51 this year. I train five, six days a week, one or two hours every day.”

    Although Sityodtong is open to a fight against White, it is highly unlikely the bout happens. White is just focused on running the UFC, and he doesn’t gain anything by fighting the ONE CEO. Nevertheless, Sityodtong’s remarks are sure to get more people talking about him and his promotion.

    What do you make of Chatri Sityodtong calling out Dana White for a fight?

  • Chikadze Shares How White Boosted His Motivation Ahead Of Kattar Fight

    Giga Chikadze is using some words from the boss as motivation.

    This Saturday night, Giga Chikadze will be facing arguably the toughest test yet of his UFC career when he fights Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC Vegas 46. Coming into this match-up, Chikadze feels he is close to a title shot and, with a win, will surely be campaigning for one. And he will be walking into the Octagon with some motivation he received from UFC President Dana White.

    “I even had a quick chat with Dana since I was at the P.I.,” Chikadze told MMA Junkie. “We had some interactions there. He said, ‘You’re right there. Handle your business and then we’ll talk after.’ (I have) even more motivation from that, I guess.”

    Chikadze is coming into this bout with Kattar having won every fight he has had in the UFC. He made his promotional debut in Sept. 2019 and has been working his way up to the top. His last three wins were all TKO victories, and each earned him a performance bonus. He is now ranked eighth in the division. And with a victory over Kattar this Saturday, he should find himself ranked in the top five.

    “I just want to warn everybody that I have a fight this weekend,” Chikadze said. “I’ll be knocking out people that no one would believe I was going to knock them out – in a minute, in a striking way, in this, in that. I just want them to open their eyes and watch this weekend very well, and after this make a decision. I’m just concentrating to perform the best I’ve ever been.”

    Kattar is not an easy opponent for anyone. He is coming off a loss against former champion Max Holloway in a Fight of the Night performance. Prior to that, he had two straight wins over top opponents and is currently sitting in the number five spot in the rankings. This bout between Kattar and Chikadze could hold title implications now that Holloway is out of his title shot against Alexader Volkanovski.

    Do you think Giga Chikadze has what it takes to beat Calvin Kattar and fight for a title?

  • Sean O’Malley Shades Dana White On PPV Price Increase

    Sean O’Malley doesn’t think the PPV price increase is a good idea.

    Recently, the UFC announced that they will be raising the price of ordering a Pay-Per-View event in the new year. The prices will increase from $69.99 to $74.99 beginning with UFC 270 on Jan. 22. Expectedly, this news has been unwelcomed by fans. The displeasure now has trickled down to some athletes. Among those against the price bump is Sean O’Malley.

    “Dana White raises pay-per-view by five dollars,” O’Malley said on a recent episode of his podcast (via BJ Penn). “What the hell are we doing here, Dana?”

    The UFC has been putting out over 10 PPV events a year constantly for the last several years. However, there has also been a rise in the number of people who are watching these events on illegal streams. O’Malley thinks that the price hike will only perpetuate the amount of illegal streaming taking place.

    Also, when asked if he thought the increase will be reflected in the paychecks of fighters, O’Malley was not so sure.

    “No, I doubt it,” O’Malley said. “But, could be. It is just so easy to stream it illegally. Not talking from experience, but just saying it. Whoever is in control of legal streams at the UFC, they need someone that is good enough at hacking (them) right before the main event starts. Every single time that they just shut it right before the good stuff.”

    In recent years the UFC was been actively trying to stop the illegal streaming of their events. The crackdown of social media posts and streams began with White issuing a threat of police action to anyone caught streaming illegally. O’Malley thinks of himself as one of the top earners for the UFC, so it will be interesting to see if a potential rise in illegal streaming has any impact on O’Malley’s bottom line or that of his peers.

    Do you think the price increase is too much, or is it reasonable to expect a hike up each year?

  • Dana White’s Steroid Accusation Against Jake Paul Gets Dealt A Blow

    Dana White’s accusation against Jake Paul for steroid usage was dealt a blow Wednesday when it was revealed that the YouTuber once again tested negative for banned substances.

    Last month, Jake Paul landed a kill shot on his rivalry with Tyron Woodley when he KO’d “The Chosen One” in the sixth round of their rematch. Though his hand was raised after sleeping T-Wood, he still was battling accusations of steroid abuse, including from arch-nemesis Dana White.

    White implied that Paul uses steroids in his recent retort to the YouTuber’s request to fight UFC-contracted stars. Instead of granting Paul his blessing, White instead threw the following proposal at him.

    “I got a challenge for Jake Paul. This guy keeps saying that I’m a cokehead. He can randomly cocaine test me for the next 10 years if I can randomly steroid test him for the next two,” White said in an appearance on “The FIGHT with Teddy Atlas.”

    When Paul responded with a counteroffer, calling on White to increase pay and benefits to UFC fighters, White was more direct with his accusation.

    “Jake, you never responded to the challenge. You publicly stated that I use cocaine. I do not. So I told you you could randomly cocaine test me for the next 10 years. I believe that you’re a cheater, and I believe that you use steroids. So I want to randomly steroid test you for the next two years.”

    Of course, Paul has denied any steroid usage with only his own testimony, but now The Sun has reported that his post-fight test results following his rematch with Woodley came back negative. This report was released the same day Paul dropped the following tweet that challenged the logic behind White’s accusation.

    “Dana White claimed my fights are fixed and THEN claimed I’m on steroids… So I’m on steroids to win fights that are already fixed for me to win? Sounds logical…”

    Jake Paul has never failed a drug test thus far in his young career, nor has he suffered a defeat in the boxing ring. His next opponent is yet to be announced.

    Meanwhile, today is the final day for Dana White to accept Paul’s proposal that would see him retire from boxing if White agrees to his terms to improve the promotion’s pay and benefits of its fighters.

    Do you think Jake Paul is a clean fighter?

  • Jake Paul Releases Poll On What Dana White Should Give UFC Fighters More

    Jake Paul has been an advocate for fighter pay, and that has only intensified over the recent days and weeks.

    Paul has taken shots at Dana White for nearly a year now on how little fighters are getting paid in the UFC. Over the past few days, he gave White an offer to increase minimum pay and give fighters health care among other things. And if White complied, Paul would retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC.

    “Happy new year Dana White. Here is a real challenge for you… I will immediately retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if you agree to:

    1) Increase min fighter pay per fight to $50K (it’s $12K now)
    2) Guarantee UFC fighters 50% of UFC annual revenues ($1bn in 2021)
    3) Provide longterm healthcare to all fighters (you previously said brain damage is part of the gig…imagine the NFL said that). There are many UFC alums who have publicly said they are suffering from brain damage

    You have 5 days to accept and to implement the above by March 31, 2022. Once implemented I will immediately retire from boxing, enter USADA and agree to a 1 fight deal with UFC to fight weak chin Jorge

    To all UFC fighters — time to take a stand and create value for yourselves and peers. You deserve higher pay, you deserve long term healthcare and above all you deserve freedom. Support each other. I am not your enemy, I am your advocate…who selfishly wants to KO a few of you to make some big bank    .”

    White, of course, did not agree to that and instead blasted Paul with accusations of steroid abuse. So the YouTuber-turned-boxer created a poll on Twitter asking fans which perk for UFC fighters takes higher priority.

    “Dana White has 2 days left to respond to my offer but not a peep. Dana Dana Dana? What y’all think Dana should do more,” with the two options being to give fighters healthcare and increase minimum pay.

    At the time of this writing, healthcare was leading with the way with nearly 58% of the votes, with 38,000 people voting.

    To some, that may come as a surprise, as fighter pay is the big talking point; however, healthcare is something many people, including Paul, believe should be included for UFC fighters, especially after their career is done.

    At this point, it seems like the feud between Jake Paul and Dana White is not ending anytime soon.

    Are you surprised by Jake Paul’s poll results?

  • Mark Hunt Challenges Dana White & Fertitta Brothers To Fight

    Former UFC fighter Mark Hunt has proposed a potential fight with UFC’s top figures to potentially drop his lawsuit against them.

    Hunt has been in a legal battle with the UFC for years. He first took them to court over his 2017 bout against Brock Lesnar. He alleged that the promotion knew Lesnar was taking performance-enhancing substances but allowed him to fight Hunt anyway.

    While most of his lawsuit was thrown out by a U.S. District Court in Nevada, a recent ruling in the court of appeals brought his allegation of fraud and battery back to life.

    Hunt recently issued a statement online saying he is willing to drop his lawsuit if he loses a fight to Dana White, Frank, and Lorenzo Fertitta. On the flip side, he wants a win for him to mean UFC would pay talent they have “ripped off.”

    “Mark the super Samoan vs Dana the parasite White Lorenzo Fertita and Frank Fertita,” Hunt began in an Instagram post. “5 rounds mma these losers @danawhite frank Fertita Lorenzo Fertita has sucked the life out of so many fighters him and his scum friends -u win I drop the law suit-I win u pay every fighter u have ripped off since @ufc started now who would pay to see that.”

    The United States District Court in Nevada recently ordered Hunt to pay nearly $400,000 to cover UFC’s legal fees. The ruling for Hunt to pay legal fees was made months back and was uncovered recently by Combat Sports Law.

    The order for Hunt to pay the fees was made due to a part of Hunt’s contract with the UFC, which allows them to be awarded money for “its attorney’s fees and costs” if they are the “prevailing party” in a lawsuit. UFC was able to dismiss numerous motions in the case.

    “Because I find that UFC is entitled to attorneys’ fees and costs under the parties’ agreement, its request is reasonable, and its motion is ripe, I grant UFC’s motion in its entirety,” said the Nevada court in a document dated March 25th, 2021.

    What do you make of Mark Hunt’s challenge?

  • Archives: Justin Gaethje Responds to Dana White’s Accusations (2020)

    The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 2, 2020, 10:52 PM]

    HEADLINE: Justin Gaethje Responds to Dana White’s Accusations

    After taking the time to ponder who and what Dana White was referring to when he stated he has been turning down fights, Justin Gaethje has come up with some answers as well as a response to the UFC President’s accusations.

    Despite the fact that Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje were both available and right next to one another in the rankings, the UFC decided to go with Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone in an unofficial, one-sided #1 contender fight in the direction of Conor McGregor instead of a McGregor/Gaethje pairing. What’s more, even though the fight is taking place at 170 lbs, McGregor would leapfrog Justin Gaethje for a lightweight title shot if he gets past Cerrone.  

    Dana White explained this by obtusely stating that Justin Gaethje “knows what’s going on.” More recently, Dana White became more specific, stating that Gaethje has been turning down fights. After catching wind of Dana White’s remarks and racking his brain, Gaethje has drawn a conclusion for what White is referring to.

    “I’ve been trying to figure out what he’s talking about,” Gaethje said on a recent appearance on MMA Tonight. “I know when he did that interview not too long ago when he kept saying, ‘Justin Gaethje knows what’s going on, he knows what’s happening,” I literally had no idea what he was talking about. So it was pretty crazy.

    “But I was just thinking about it with my dad, talking about it with my dad, and I’m pretty sure it was…they offered me Tony Ferguson when Tony Ferguson fought Cowboy in June. And they were looking for a replacement for that fight in May, in the beginning of May. And I told them that wasn’t enough time, but if they pushed it back a little bit farther, I would take that fight.

    “Then, they asked if I wanted to fight Tony on the Abu Dhabi card, and I said yes, and (Ferguson) said no,” Gaethje continued. And so I took the Cowboy fight just after that. And then just recently, I believe he offered me Charles Oliveira in Brazil or Dan Hooker in New Zealand all while the champion did not have a fight and McGregor was coming back and still looking for a fight. As far as I know, that’s what the deal is. I don’t know.”

    Justin Gaethje would then theorize that Dana White’s decision to make the McGregor/Cerrone fight is a result of White answering to powers that be even higher than himself. He believes that White is not intentionally trying to damage Gaethje’s name or lob personal attacks against him but is simply following orders to put McGregor in a position to rematch Khabib Nurmagomedov as soon as possible.

    Justin Gaethje still has no opponent lined up and is relegated to watching both UFC 246 and UFC 249 from the sidelines at the moment. In his most recent bout, he knocked out Donald Cerrone in the first round at UFC Vancouver, only to watch Donald Cerrone go on to headline UFC 246 opposite Conor McGregor in a little over two weeks from now.

    What are your thoughts on Justin Gaethje’s response to Dana White’s accusations?

  • Archives: Khabib Willing To Pay Tony Ferguson to Fight (2017)

    On this day five years ago, the MMA world was still eager to see a fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. In this article, Khabib does everything in his power to make the fight happen before it was ultimately booked as an interim lightweight title bout at UFC 209, which he had to pull out from due to weight-cutting complications.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 2, 2017, 4:59 PM]

    HEADLINE: Khabib Nurmagomedov Willing To Pay Tony Ferguson to Fight

    Author: Adam Haynes

    Khabib Nurmagomedov took to social media this morning to offer Tony Ferguson a cash incentive to fight.

    Conor McGregor may be the lightweight champion of the world, but there is a strong case to suggest that no one is more deserved of a title shot than “The Eagle”. Nurmagomedov is currently the #1-ranked lightweight in the UFC, and intends to secure a showdown with “The Notorious” by ensuring a clear path is made to a bout with the Irishman.

    The 28-year-old Dagestani has been pragmatic in his efforts to secure a shot at the 155lb strap in the past, and he will hope that his challenge to Ferguson is accepted in order to edge closer to his designs on UFC gold.

    A much-anticipated bout between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson hit the skids last week after it emerged that Dana White had called it off on the grounds of a dispute over pay from the American’s camp. White is reluctant to negotiate on a contract that has recently been signed by Ferguson, suggesting that “El Cucuy” should honor the existing terms of their agreement. White [via Fox Sports] insisted:

    “We were trying to make that fight — Tony said he will not do that fight unless he makes the same exact money that Khabib makes. Khabib has a different deal. That ain’t happening. Count that out.”

    “He has a contract that he just signed, not long ago. I honor every contract no matter what it is. I get into some (expletive) deals, too. You’ve got a guy who’s making tons of money but he was a champion, but that was the deal I cut. I cut that deal and I signed it and I’ve got to live with my deal.”

    Nurmagomedov has handled this latest setback accordingly, offering $200,000 dollars to Ferguson from his own pocket. It appears that Russia’s premier UFC star will not entertain the idea of fighting anyone else other than Ferguson, going as far as suggesting that he is being kept from reaching the top via clandestine politics by the UFC top-brass. “The Eagle” took to Instagram recently to confirm that his sights are firmly set on the 155lb throne:

    “This message to UFC — it is clear to everyone that you hiding Conor from me. But stop lying to your fans like I don’t want fight with Aldo, I’m ready to fight with anyone in my division. Give me relevant fight, so you won’t be able to hide the belt from me after. But not the fight, where people say after my victory: he is too small, Khabib too big for him etc”.

    While there are many fights out there for the sambo-expert, not many can deny his credentials as a worthy challenger to McGregor. With the Dubliner having all but confirmed his temporary hiatus from the octagon for the foreseeable future, Nurmagomedov knows that he must remain active and solidify his status as the next man in line for a title shot. A victory against Tony Ferguson will surely stake his claim for a “red panty night”, and propel him closer to the fight which many believe is long overdue.

  • Jake Paul & Dana White Accuse One Another Of Challenge Dodging

    Jake Paul and Dana White have entered the new year by picking up their feud right where it left off in 2021.

    Days ago, Dana White made Jake Paul the following proposal: He would agree to get randomly tested for cocaine over the next 10 years if Paul agreed to get randomly tested for steroids over the next two years. This came after White shot down Paul’s request to box Jorge Masvidal or other UFC-contracted fighters such as Nate Diaz and Kamaru Usman.

    As expected, Paul released a response to Dana White as he always does when White mentions his name. Paul expressed that he is not only willing to be drug tested, but he is attempting to resolve the fighter pay issue he’s been advocating for over the past year.

    You can view Paul’s counterproposal below.

    Paul requested that the minimum pay per fight gets increased to $50,000, that fighters receive 50% of annual revenues, and that fighters receive long-term health care after retirement.

    Paul went on to provide a deadline of five days for Dana White to accept his proposal and that the above conditions must be implemented by March 31, 2022, at which point Paul would retire from boxing, enter USADA, and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC. Paul then closed by encouraging UFC fighters to stand up for themselves to make a change in the UFC fighter pay structure.

    Dana White & Jake Paul Accuse One Another Of Challenge Dodging

    After Paul’s challenge was posted, Dana White released the following video response.

    “Jake, you never responded to the challenge. You publicly stated that I use cocaine. I do not. So I told you you could randomly cocaine test me for the next 10 years. I believe that you’re a cheater, and I believe that you use steroids. So I want to randomly steroid test you for the next two years.

    “And that thing that you came out with today, nobody on Earth thinks that you really wrote that. You’re too stupid. And for those of you that don’t know, if you’ve ever watched one of his fights and you see when they do the staredown, the guy that’s standing in the middle with the warlock nose and the big warlock wart on his face— apparently, that’s his manager. And that guy used to be an accountant for me. And let’s just say this: He no longer works for me, and I think he’s a scumbag.

    “But if you two think that you can do it better than we do, we’re doing this whole thing wrong, you can treat the fighters better than we do, knock yourself out. Go start your own business. It’s easy to do. Get the warlock on it! The warlock can get it started for ya.

    “What you and the warlock should be focused on is your business. You’re tanking. You can’t sell pay-per-views. Yeah, you’re calling out Jorge Masvidal ’cause he’s a pay-per-view superstar…Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson: These are all superstars. You’re not. You can’t sell pay-per-views. So you do whatever the hell you want to do. I’m ready to roll, buddy. I don’t use cocaine. Do you use steroids? Let’s do this, Jake.”

    Early Sunday morning, Jake Paul would release the following video in response, where he also accused White of dodging the challenge put forth.

    In sum, Jake Paul continued to double down on Dana White’s alleged cocaine use while roasting him in general, he expressed that his willingness to be USADA tested as part of his proposal covers White’s steroid-test challenge, and he denied using steroids. Paul also continued to criticize White for his treatment of fighters and claimed to be a bigger draw than Jorge Masvidal, using his mother’s Instagram activity compared to Masvidal’s as an example.

    All in all, it appears we are at an impasse. It doesn’t appear as though Paul would like to be drug tested unless White meets his terms in restructuring the UFC’s business model as it specifically pertains to the treatment and pay of its fighters. Meanwhile, White says Paul should start his own fight business if he believes he can do it better and is calling on the YouTuber to stop avoiding his original proposal.

    Ironically, White has claimed that Paul already wanted to sign with the UFC in the past but was rejected. That further supports the likelihood that the only interactions that will be done between White and Paul will be on social media and in the media as a whole.

    Should there be any additional responses from Paul or White, we’ll be sure to bring you the dirt right here on MMANews.com.

    What do you make of Jake Paul’s proposal to Dana White?

  • Flashback To Brock Lesnar’s First Retirement From MMA

    It’s now been one decade since Brock Lesnar retired in the Octagon after losing to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141.

    In a rare UFC pay-per-view main event that did not feature a world title on the line, Brock Lesnar made his return after a long struggle with diverticulitis to face Alistair Overeem in The Reem’s promotional debut. After a perfectly placed liver kick, Lesnar crumbled to the canvas, and Overeem was quick to follow up with some strikes to complete the academic ending.

    After the fight, a fan in attendance captured Lesnar’s Octagon interview in which he vowed not to fight again.

    With rumors swirling following Brock Lesnar’s retirement at UFC 141 that he would likely make a return to the WWE at some point in 2012, it wasn’t shocking that UFC President Dana White was questioned about where Lesnar stood with the company following the announcement.

    “When you retire, he retires under contract. I have no idea (how long the contract is). Listen, I’ve had my moments with Brock Lesnar but I’ve had a great relationship with him and we’ll figure it out, no big deal. Never had a situation with a guy where we haven’t done the right thing,” White said.

    Lesnar would indeed return to the WWE in April of 2012 and has competed in the WWE off and on over the past 10 years, mostly working as a part-time performer during this span.

    He also would compete in the Octagon after all at UFC 200. Lesnar defeated Mark Hunt via unanimous decision, but that win was overturned to a no-contest after Lesnar tested positive for clomiphene.

    There were talks of Lesnar potentially returning to fight Daniel Cormier following a UFC 226 post-fight altercation, but Lesnar would instead remain with the WWE and retire from MMA again in 2019.

    The embedded video is posted under the protection of Fair Use for the purpose of news reporting and analysis. The copyright owner may contact us to have it removed.

  • White Says Peña Promised Him She’d Be Champion Before Her UFC Signing

    UFC President Dana White and newly-crowned UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña have recalled their first meeting back in 2013.

    After just over seven years in the world’s premier MMA organization, Peña secured her first title shot this year. But when that opportunity is against Amanda Nunes, the outcome usually seems set in stone. After all, the “Lioness” had reigned over two divisions for years, was undefeated since 2014, and had fought off the challenges of names like Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, and Holly Holm.

    While most expected her name to be added to the list of the Brazilian’s fallen foes, “The Venezuelan Vixen” knew something most didn’t. Entering the contest with a confident aura not many associate with an opponent of Nunes, Peña shocked the world by executing her game plan to perfection, hurting and tiring the consensus female GOAT on the feet before submitting her on the ground in the second round.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXmaaWsOw5r/

    Following the incredible result, which is largely being seen as the greatest upset in UFC history, Dana White has consistently praised the new titleholder and provided a further glimpse into Peña’s immense confidence and self-belief, something many branded as delusional prior to UFC 269.

    During the post-fight press conference for the final pay-per-view of the year, White detailed the first time he met the 32-year-old Washington native. According to the UFC President, the champ predicted her future success then and there.

    “I had my kids in some jiu-jitsu tournament when they were little. And the first time I ever met Julianna Peña, she walked up to me, and introduced herself and told me who she was. And she said, ‘I’m gonna fight for you someday and I’m gonna be a world champion’—when I met her. So she’s always been like that. And yeah, she did it, man. She did it—in spectacular fashion.”

    Pena Kept Her Promise

    Julianna Pena
    Julianna Pena

    During her own appearance at the post-fight presser, Peña gave her recount of the meeting. Whilst confirming that she did make the UFC kingpin a promise, “The Venezuelan Vixen” said she told White she would win The Ultimate Fighter.

    Having proven herself right shortly after with victory in season 18 of TUF, she’s now also fulfilled the promise White believes she made in the same meeting with her title crowning earlier this month.

    “Yeah, so it was about 2013. Dana had recently allowed women to fight inside the UFC and that they were gonna have their very first Ultimate Fighter house. So I came down early to help actually Miesha get ready to train for Cat Zingano. And there were the tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter. And I caught, again, heard a rumor that he was gonna be at Syndicate gym. So I took a taxi, I went to Syndicate, and I saw him in the corner, and I walked right up to him and I said, ‘My name is Julianna Peña, and I’m gonna win The Ultimate Fighter.’ And he was like, [CHUCKLES] ‘Alright.’ 

    “And so, yeah, when I won The Ultimate Fighter, that was great. That was how the first encounter that I ever had with Dana. And I’ve been telling him, too, I’m literally telling him all the time, ‘I want that fight. I want that fight. Give me that fight.’ And I think maybe, subconsciously, he was just trying to protect me. Like, ‘No, you don’t want that fight,’ you know? He’s trying to be like, ‘Trust me. You don’t want that fight.’ But I’ve been gunning for it this entire time, and he finally gave me the opportunity, the opportunity that I’ve been asking for. And I’m just (eternally) grateful for him giving me that chance. He gave me my shot, and I’m so happy for that.”

    Having secured the bantamweight throne, the next step for Peña will be to further legitimize her place atop the mountain and prove her dominance over Nunes through a rematch in 2022.

    With White confirming the option of an immediate chance at redemption for the Brazilian, and the former champ expressing her intent to regain the belt, it seems likely we’ll see the two rivals face-to-face again next year.

    Do you expect Julianna Peña to remain on the bantamweight throne throughout 2022?

  • Dana White Reveals His “No Brainer” UFC Fight Of The Year For 2021

    UFC President Dana White thinks “Fight of the Year” isn’t up for debate this year.

    White recently revealed that his favorite fight from 2021 was the back-and-forth brawl between Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje from UFC 268. The stand-up lightweight battle took a Madison Square Garden crowd by storm earlier this year. The bout saw the ranked fighters willfully trade wailing punches on one another for three rounds.

    Gaethje walked away with the win against Chandler, earning a unanimous scorecard nod in the end. The fan-friendly fight was a big victory for Gaethje, potentially placing himself as the next contender for UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira to face.

    UFC President White didn’t hesitate to call the fight the best that has taken place this year.

    “That’s a no brainer. Off the top of my head right here asking me that question, it would have to be Gaethje/Chandler,” said White in an interview with Barstool Sports. “It was insane. The fact that it was at MSG, the fans were absolutely f*cking insane, and just everything with that fight.”

    Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler
    Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    White later reflected on how the fight was so impactful to the live New York crowd that it tired out the live crowd. This caused the follow-up act, a fast-paced fight between featherweights Shane Burgos and Billy Quarantillo, to not elicit much of a reaction from the audience.

    The bout was another example of Gaethje’s tough striking style that often sees him consume damage en route to breaking the will of his opponent. Gaethje was ending an absence from the cage with the fight. He was appearing for the first time since he lost a title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254.

    The fight admittedly took a toll on Chandler. The former Bellator champ later admitted that he wouldn’t want to compete in a “scrap” like that ever again.

    Could you name what your FOTY was or is there just too many?

  • Dana White Explains What Makes UFC Shows Better Than Boxing Programming

    UFC President Dana White believes his promotion’s product is consistently better than what boxing competitors are offering.

    White recently explained why he believes the UFC to be the top combat sports program out there. He mainly discussed how he feels his promotion is putting out the most entertaining events due to high-level fights and unexpected upsets.

    His recent appearance on podcast THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas saw him show what he likes about the UFC and what he hates about current boxing events.

    “Every week we put on fights with the best versus the best. And many times, the massive underdogs in this sport wins,” said White on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas. “Which makes this sport fun [and] exciting. You get these ‘holy s***’ moments. And more importantly, it makes it very fun to bet on too.”

    White Rips Boxing In Recent Rant

    Dana White
    Image Credit: The Mega Agency

    White ranted about flaws he sees in boxing. He said he is “brutally honest” about the sport, as it is something he enjoys. After all, he found time for the most recent Canelo Alvarez bout while he went head-to-head on TV with UFC 268 in November.

    White also has shown interest in promoting boxing. In his recent interview, the UFC President said he hasn’t given up on the Zuffa Boxing project—something he has teased for years.

    When ranting about boxing, he claimed that promoters aren’t focused on entertaining fans.

    “Every time they put on a fight it’s like a ‘going out of business’ sale. ‘How much can we steal from everybody?’ And every time you turn off the TV, you’re pissed you stayed home and watched the fight. You wished you did something else,” said White.

    While boxing has its problems, UFC certainly isn’t a flawless product either.

    Do you agree with White’s claim that his promotion is currently outdoing major boxing promoters?

  • Dana White Names Conor McGregor As One Of The Most Loyal Fighters

    UFC President Dana White has had some difficult fighter relationships during his time with the promotion, but Conor McGregor is an exception.

    McGregor is in the middle of his planned comeback to the UFC Octagon next year, after suffering a brutal leg injury at UFC 264. In the meantime, he’s managed to stay active on social media and in the gym.

    White has never been afraid to speak his mind, especially when it comes to the fighters on his roster. He and McGregor have always seemed to have a cordial relationship, even when McGregor hasn’t shown up on time.

    During a recent interview with Teddy Atlas, White explained how McGregor has stood out among the rest.

    “You know better than anybody, how f*cking dirty the fight business is, man,” White said. “It doesn’t take much to get somebody to cut somebody’s throat in the fight business. But there’s been a lot of fighters that have been incredibly loyal to me, and I’ve been incredibly loyal to them. Conor McGregor is one of them. Conor’s a f*cking handful, boy.

    Conor McGregor, Dana White
    Conor McGregor and Dana White Miles Apart On Pacquiao Fight

    “But when you look at the way fighters are built, they’re different than everybody else on this planet. But the Ronda Rouseys, the Chuck Liddells, Matt Hughes, Conor McGregor, there’s a lot. And I don’t wanna mention people, but there’s been a lot of fighters over the past 20 years that have been very loyal.” 

    A big reason why the UFC, and MMA in general, have grown immensely over the years is its global superstars. McGregor is one of the most notable names, bringing a brash and exciting style into the UFC ranks.

    Despite his large fortune, McGregor doesn’t seem like he’s planning on retiring anytime soon. He’s looking forward to getting back on track after back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021.

    What are your thoughts on Dana White’s comments?

  • Dana White Provides Positive Update On Francis Ngannou Negotiations

    UFC President Dana White has provided a positive update on his promotion’s ongoing negotiations with heavyweight titleholder Francis Ngannou.

    As Ngannou gears up for his return to the Octagon on January 22, much of the build-up so far has surrounded his fractious relationship with the UFC and his uncertain future. Despite holding the heavyweight gold and being widely regarded as the biggest power-puncher in MMA, “The Predator” and his management team believe he’s been underappreciated by the UFC.

    Since reaching the divisional mountaintop at UFC 260 with a brutal knockout of Stipe Miocic, Ngannou has been out of action and voicing his displeasure in interviews and on social media.

    From his frustration at the creation of an interim title in August, which came in spite of his availability a month later, to his dissatisfaction with his current contractual situation, it’s clear all is not well between the UFC and one of its top champs.

    But it appears tensions may be fading and progress may be on the up. During a recent appearance on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, Dana White revealed he’d spoken with Ngannou while out for dinner, a conversation he described as a “good talk.”

    “Francis and I bumped into each other the other night at dinner. We had a good talk. And he’s not out of contract if he wins that fight (vs. Gane). I think he’s got one more fight with us after that… I think that Francis and I had a good conversation.”

    Judging by his comments, it’s clear White has no issue with Ngannou and believes the real problem lies with the advice he’s been receiving. Doubling down on his criticism of the Cameroonian’s representation, White suggested the reigning titleholder had been led astray by individuals who simply don’t know what they’re doing.

    “I think Francis has been misguided, too, by some people that aren’t very bright. That doesn’t help either; when you’ve got some people behind you that have no f*cking clue what they’re talking about. It doesn’t help the situation.”

    Nevertheless, White reiterated a sentiment he’s consistently shared. After taking a dig at the fighter pay “narrative,” the UFC kingpin suggested if an athlete doesn’t want to be a part of the promotion, they can decide to leave.

    “Listen, I say it all the time, man, this sport’s fun for me, I love doing this. Contrary to the narrative out there, we’ve made a lot of people very wealthy. If you don’t wanna be here, if this is not where you wanna be, well that’s not fun for you and it’s definitely not fun for me, either. These are all grown men and women, and everyone has to make their own decisions in life.”

    Ngannou Will Look To Push Contractual Issues Aside At UFC 270

    Despite the ongoing negotiations and talk about his future, which could seemingly see him enter free agency with a defeat in his next outing, Francis Ngannou will need to switch his focus to one thing and one thing only: Ciryl Gane.

    After the controversial interim belt was created, Gane, a former teammate of “The Predator” at Paris’ MMA Factory gym, took full advantage. After main event wins against Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov, “Bon Gamin” was the clear choice to join Derrick Lewis in the UFC 265 main event.

    By dominating and finishing “The Black Beast,” Gane had gold wrapped around his waist as an undefeated fighter and set up a collision course with Ngannou. The pair will now meet for a blockbuster unification bout in the first pay-per-view headliner of 2022.

    Who do you think will leave UFC 270 as the undisputed heavyweight champ, Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane?

  • White Shoots Down Paul’s Requests, Offers Wild Counterproposal

    Dana White is still not open to ever doing business with Jake Paul, but he does have quite a different proposal for his nemesis.

    If there were a “Rivalry of the Year” MMA award, you’d be remiss not to add Jake Paul vs. Dana White to the nominations list. There may not be a chance of the two ever fighting one another (although Paul has said that may change someday), but the two have traded shots at one another for the better part of 2021.

    Most recently, after Paul knocked out former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley earlier this month, he gloated about embarrassing the entire UFC. He then reiterated his interest in fighting UFC stars, such as Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. In Masvidal’s case, “Gamebred” expressed optimism that the right financial incentive from Paul’s camp could sway White’s mind.

    Speaking in an appearance on “The FIGHT with Teddy Atlas,” White again shot that possibility down with extreme prejudice (h/t MMA Junkie).

    “No (scenario I’d let Diaz or Masvidal box Paul while under UFC contract),” White said. “You notice how he wants to fight f*cking everybody that’s not in his weight class, guys that are older and all this bullsh*t. Go fight a boxer. Go hump somebody else’s leg, you goofball.”

    Dana White Makes A Proposal To Jake Paul

    With a fight against a UFC-contracted fighter still out of the question, Dana White would then throw out a counterproposal to the YouTuber. Paul, known to conceive of creative bets and proposals of his own, was now on the receiving end of a rather unexpected offer from the UFC boss.

    “I got a challenge for Jake Paul,” White said. “This guy keeps saying that I’m a cokehead. He can randomly cocaine test me for the next 10 years if I can randomly steroid test him for the next two,” White said.

    Jake Paul
    Getty Images

    White is not the first person to throw suspension in Paul’s direction regarding steroid usage. Previous opponent Tyron Woodley also suggested that Paul was entering their initial August fight as a tainted athlete. Additionally, John Fury claimed that Paul had avoided being drug tested ahead of the originally planned bout between Paul and Tommy Fury.

    As for the cokehead claim, Paul has repeatedly thrown that barb out at White, even going so far as dressing up as a coked-out Dana White for Halloween.

    Thus far, Paul has always responded to every mention of his name by Dana White, so we shall see if this time is any different. Should he offer a response to White’s proposal, you can be sure that we will bring you the dirt right here at MMANews.com.

    How do you predict Jake Paul will respond to this proposal from Dana White?

  • Belal Muhammad To Dana White: I’m The Guy You Need To Start Pushing

    UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad believes the UFC and Dana White need to start pushing him over other top-five guys like Leon Edwards.

    Muhammad moved one step closer to the top of the 170-pound mountain this year with victories over a pair of former title challengers. After a disappointing no contest against Edwards in March, which came after Muhammad was the victim of a nasty eye poke, “Remember The Name” bounced back with a comfortable win against veteran Brazilian Demian Maia at UFC 263.

    Following that triumph, Muhammad had his second crack at a top-five opponent, this time in the form of two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson. In the final co-main event of the year, Muhammad broke into the welterweight elite with a dominant performance. After controlling and beating “Wonderboy” for the majority of the contest, the 33-year-old was awarded a unanimous decision on the scorecards.

    Muhammad Thinks He’s “The Guy”

    Now sitting at #5 on the welterweight ladder, Muhammad is unbeaten in seven fights. Since a 2019 defeat to Geoff Neal, the Chicago native has added victories over Lyman Good, Dhiego Lima, Maia, and Edwards to his impressive 20-3 résumé. With that form in mind, Muhammad is likely one impressive victory away over a fellow top-five name from a shot at gold.

    During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Muhammad made his case for a big push towards the title. Addressing UFC President Dana White, “Remember The Name” suggested he’s the contender that “has it all,” something he doesn’t believe #3-ranked Edwards can say about himself.

    “Dana, I know you’re watching this, you’ve got four weeks off to think about this. When you really think about it, there are not a lot of guys out here that are promoting themselves like me. I’m a guy that knows how to talk, I’m a guy who knows how to fight, I’m a guy that can fight the best of the best, be with the best of the best, and talk with the best of the best. I’m that guy that has it all.

    “You guys are out here trying to push the wrong guys. Leon hasn’t said anything witty or cool in the last like, 10 years. Whenever he opens his mouth, something stupid comes out. I’m the guy that you need to start pushing.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CX9OjMzF1eh/

    Muhammad has certainly not been shy to call out other top welterweights since his victory over “Wonderboy” prior to Christmas. As well as calling for a rematch with Edwards and discrediting “Rocky” as a title contender, the 33-year-old has expressed an interest in facing Khamzat Chimaev.

    While it remains to be seen which way the promotion will go, we can expect Muhammad to be opposite a big name the next time he steps into the Octagon.

    Do you agree with Belal Muhammad? Is he the welterweight the UFC needs to be pushing?

  • Dana White Responds To The “McGregor Special Treatment” Narrative

    UFC President Dana White has argued against the perception that former two-division champion Conor McGregor wrongly receives special treatment from the promotion.

    While he’s certainly had a fall from grace in recent years, both inside and outside the Octagon, McGregor is undeniably MMA’s biggest superstar and one of the best to have ever fought on the sport’s grandest stage. On his way to becoming the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous double champ, the Irishman defeated the likes of Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Chad Mendes, José Aldo, and Eddie Alvarez.

    But since his 2016 lightweight triumph, McGregor’s performances have dipped. In just four fights in the five years since, “The Notorious” star has gone 1-3, with a single welterweight victory over Donald Cerrone surrounded by 155-pound failings against former foe Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

    Having broken his leg in his second loss of the year to “The Diamond,” McGregor will hope to return to his form of old when he makes his comeback in 2022.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWJyRdsBvlB/

    Despite his setbacks and his brutal injury at UFC 264 in July, McGregor’s motivation and drive to keep fighting doesn’t appear to have dwindled. The Dublin native has consistently maintained his desire to keep making the walk, has provided updates on his recovery and increased training, and suggested he’ll return to full MMA sparring by April next year.

    McGregor even recently claimed he’ll make his comeback against whoever is holding the lightweight gold upon his return. That, understandably, has brought up concern amongst fans, pundits, and fighters about the possibility of McGregor jumping to the top of the queue despite his recent form and place in the rankings.

    Beneil Dariush, the current #3 contender who is set for a likely title eliminator against Islam Makhachev, even admitted the idea of McGregor being granted a special pass to the title worries him. With questions of privilege and special treatment being brought up yet again, Dana White has responded.

    White: McGregor Has Been “That Guy” Since Day One

    During an interview with Daniel Cormier on the DC Check-In, the UFC President explained why McGregor has been treated as a “special” individual by the promotion.

    “When we started this thing and this guy was on his rise—and believe me, I’ve dealt with a fuckin’ thousands fighters. ‘Oh, this isn’t the fight for me at this time’ and ‘This isn’t that, this isn’t this,’ this fuckin’ kid, we’ve been in a house that he was renting. I think it was when [José Aldo pulled out of 2015 bout]. This is what he said us: ‘I don’t give a fuck who you get. I’m going to work out. When you figure it out, call me and let me know.’

    “And then the Nate Diaz fight, another fight fell out for him, he said, ‘Well, let’s fight Diaz.’ ‘Well, do you want to do—’ ‘No, I don’t want it at catchweight. If I don’t fight him at this weight, it doesn’t matter. It’s bullshit if I don’t fight him at his weight.”

    White went on to suggest McGregor’s toughness and willingness to fight anyone has been a characteristic in his repertoire since day one. For that reason, he’s earned special treatment, according to the UFC kingpin.

    “Conor McGregor has been that guy since the day that he walked into this fuckin’ company. So for anybody to point the finger and say, ‘Oh, this guy’s getting special treatment…’ (Because) This guy’s special. This guy’s fuckin’ special. You know how many fighters I’ve fuckin’ dealt with that’ll talk to me about, ‘This isn’t good for my brand.’ ‘I’m not fighting my friends…’”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CW-lAT3JoWC/

    Even with the so-called “special treatment,” it’s hard to see McGregor walking straight back to the belt. If Poirier had beaten Charles Oliveira, that seemingly would have been a strong possibility. Instead, we could see the Irishman complete a tetralogy with “The Diamond” without the gold on the line.

    Alternatively, a trilogy with Nate Diaz, who is on the final fight of his UFC contract, seems inevitable sooner of later, whilst both Max Holloway and Michael Chandler have staked their own claims for a money fight with “The Notorious” megastar.

    Do you believe Conor McGregor wrongly receives special treatment from the UFC?

  • Le Batard: Ngannou Negotiations Prove White Has Become What Hates

    Former ESPN broadcaster Dan Le Batard is re-igniting his feud with UFC president Dana White in light of his recent Francis Ngannou comments.

    When asked about Ngannou’s future with the UFC, White seemed indifferent by some in regards to contract talks with the heavyweight champion. Ngannou is fighting on the last bout of his deal against Ciryl Gane at the upcoming UFC 270 pay-per-view.

    This raised eyebrows around the MMA community, as it would be quite a surprise in the new year if the UFC doesn’t re-sign Ngannou. After getting word of White’s comments, Le Batard took the opportunity to criticize the UFC headman.

    “The courageous are too disposable when you’ve gone this corporate, everyone from the broke to the best,” Le Batard said in a tweet. “Like many of its combatants, this gritty sport rose from nothing as an underdog. But you’ve become what you pretend to abhor, [Dana White]. You are The Establishment now.”

    Dana White And Dan Le Batard Have Went At It In The Past

    This isn’t the first time that Le Batard and White have traded barbs. In a 2020 interview, Le Batard grilled White on a variety of UFC-related topics, including fighter pay and the business model of the promotion as a whole. This led to both sides getting pretty fired up by the end of the conversation, and White agreeing to a charity fight with Le Batard.

    The fight never came to fruition, but White and Le Batard have continued to raise tensions between them.

    It’s unclear if the UFC will ultimately agree to a new deal with Ngannou, but that hasn’t stopped various pundits from aiming at White the UFC brass for how they’ve handled negotiations with the company’s biggest stars.

    Do you agree with Dan Le Batard’s comments about Dana White?

  • Dana White Non-Committal On Francis Ngannou Contract Talks

    The UFC and Francis Ngannou haven’t moved forward on a new deal, and UFC president Dana White doesn’t sound optimistic.

    Ngannou is slated to face Ciryl Gane for the unified heavyweight title in the upcoming UFC 270 main event. But Ngannou may be fighting for more than just a successful title defense to begin the new year.

    The heavyweight champion is fighting on the last bout on his current contract as negotiations appear to be headed nowhere. White has been at odds with Ngannou’s management, more specifically Marquel Martin, for months.

    Ngannou has blossomed into one of the biggest stars in the promotion after his knockout over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. But during a recent interview with ESPN, White said Ngannou’s time with the UFC could be numbered.

    “These things happen,” White said of Ngannou. “Sometimes you don’t always come to terms with people. When you’re a fighter, you have to be careful who represents you. I don’t think he’s had the best representation.

    “Look, if you want to be with us, we’d love to have you. If you don’t want to be with us, no problem. It’s all good.

    “I think his contract, and this is off the top of my head, if he wins he still has time with us after this fight. He’d probably have one more fight.”

    Dana White, Francis Ngannou Have Had A Complicated Relationship

    This isn’t the first time that White and Ngannou’s sides haven’t seen eye-to-eye. Ngannou has been critical of the promotion’s treatment of its fighters, and more specifically the controversial fighter pay issue.

    It was a surprise to many around the sport when the UFC opted to make an interim heavyweight title bout between Gane and Derrick Lewis. This happened at UFC 265, just months after Ngannou became the new heavyweight champion.

    It would be surprising if White and the UFC decide to move on from Ngannou, especially if he loses to Gane and enters free agency. This would eliminate potential high-stakes fights with Jon Jones, a trilogy bout against Miocic, and other big potential fights in the heavyweight division.

    Do you think the UFC will sign Francis Ngannou to a long-term deal?

  • Dana White: Peña/Nunes 2 Will Be The Biggest Women’s Fight Of All Time

    UFC President Dana White believes the likely rematch between newly-crowned UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña and Amanda Nunes will be the “biggest women’s fight of all time.”

    The first fight certainly staked its claim for an achievement of its own, being one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Heading into the clash, Nunes was the dominant two-division champion who hadn’t lost since 2014, was on a 12-fight win streak, and had defended the 135-pound strap five times, a reign that included victories over Ronda Rousey and Valentina Shevchenko.

    But none of that mattered on fight night. In the UFC 269 co-main event, Peña proved her doubters wrong and shocked the world inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. After making it through the opening round, “The Venezuelan Vixen” turned the heat up in the second, trading with the “Lioness” on the feet. After hurting Nunes, Peña forced her to the ground and submitted her, completing a memorable underdog triumph.

    White Has Big Aspirations For The Rematch

    In the aftermath of the incredible result, all three necessary parties seemingly agreed that a rematch is the logical next step. Given her lengthy and dominant reign over the bantamweights until 2021, it seems fair Nunes be given an immediate chance for redemption. After Dana White confirmed the option of a rematch is there if she wants it, the Brazilian accepted via a post on Instagram.

    With that in mind, it stands to reason we’ll be seeing Peña and Nunes standing opposite each other in the Octagon again in the first half of 2022. While most will expect the second bout to be much bigger than the first given what we saw, the UFC President believes it will surpass every other women’s fight in the sport’s history.

    “The Peña rematch with Nunes will probably be the biggest women’s fight of all time,” White told ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto. “That rematch will be the biggest women’s fight of all time.”

    That title, as acknowledged by White, is currently held by the UFC 193 main event between Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey. The contest, another contender for greatest upset of all time, saw “The Preacher’s Daughter” end the unbeatable aura of Rousey with a second-round knockout.

    How Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm changed WMMA forever
    Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm

    With 1.1 million pay-per-view buys, the event sits alongside UFC 207: Rousey vs. Nunes as one of the two best-selling events headlined by female fighters in the UFC. Despite that, White insists Peña vs. Nunes 2 will be bigger in every single way.

    “Every way that it can possibly beat it, it will. I don’t think it. I know it. It will crush that fight.”

    With what’s at stake for Nunes, Peña’s desire to further legitimize her place on the throne, and the champ’s now-proven ability to sell a fight in the build-up, there’s certainly a chance White’s claim could come true.

    Do you think Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Peña 2 will be the biggest fight in the history of women’s MMA?

  • Dana White Doesn’t Think Nick Diaz Should Fight Again

    Dana White has shared his thoughts on the possibility of Nick Diaz fighting again.

    The biggest comeback of the year belongs to Nick Diaz. After six years away from the UFC, Diaz made his return to the Octagon with a loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266. After the fight, Diaz seemed uncertain about his fighting future.

    UFC President Dana White does not believe that Diaz should fight again and has explained why he feels this way.

    “Regardless of how good [Nick Diaz] looked and what he did after such a huge layoff, I don’t think he should fight,” White told ESPN. “I don’t think Nick does it cause he loves it, I think Nick does it cause he has to do it. When I always talk about people sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic to go to a job they hate, that’s what I feel like when Nick Diaz is getting ready for a fight.”

    Diaz’s last win in the UFC has back in 2011. He was suspended for five years after testing positive for marijuana. His return was met with excitement from fans, but Diaz himself seemed less than thrilled. In his own interview with ESPN prior to his fight with Lawler, he claimed he never liked fighting.

    Following the loss to Lawler, Diaz appeared to have retired from MMA, but then quickly began asking for fights again. With the financial success of his brother Nate, perhaps Nick will be sticking around the UFC for a bit longer. Since his return, he has been looking for fights with both Leon Edwards and champion Kamaru Usman.

    Diaz is 38 years old and began fighting professionally back in 2001. He is one of the OG’s of the UFC and has fought some of the best in the history of the UFC, including BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre. If he is done, he might find himself a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.

    If Nick Diaz has more fights ahead of him, he could have a shot at a few big names in his future. One fighter who recently expressed interest in fighting Diaz is welterweight Kevin Holland.

    Who would you want to see Nick Diaz fight next if he decides to fight again?