UFC CEO and President Dana White promised that during UFC 326 fight weekend, we would get more information about the UFC event taking place on the lawn of the White House on June 14.
While no full details have been confirmed as of the evening of March 6, White has posted a tease in anticipation of the card’s reveal.
🚨🚨 Dana White has shared an image of the UFC White House board ahead of the announcement 👀
▫️ There are SIX fights ▫️ There are TWO UFC title fights ▫️ The official name of the event is “Freedom Fights 250 – The White House” pic.twitter.com/9MWewjxpGf
The image shared by White on social media shows him holding a paper to block the card listing in the war room of the UFC headquarters. The image teases that the card will be topped by two title fights.
In addition, the name of the card has been confirmed to be Freedom Fights 250, as the event will be held as part of a year-long celebration for the United States’ 250th anniversary.
U.S. President Donald Trump first confirmed the event during a U.S. Independence Day event last year, and since then, fighters aplenty, including Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, have expressed their desire to be part of the event.
The card has been previously stated to have six or seven fights, rather than a full traditional UFC numbered card lineup. During an interview with Nina Drama, White even teased that one planned fight had just fallen out recently.
🚨 Dana White came on stream and said a White House fight JUST fell through 😬
“We’ve been working on this nonstop. One of the fights literally just fell out when I walked in here. I think Hunter k***ed himself.”
Dana White isn’t losing sleep over the idea that UFC’s political associations might cost him fans.
In a teaser clip from an upcoming CBS Sunday Morning interview set to air this weekend, White was asked about the risk of alienating “half” of his audience by staging events like a UFC show at the White House.
“How about you be authentic and just be yourself? How about that?” White told interviewer Luke Burbank. “Just be authentic. You don’t have to agree with me and you don’t have to like it, and I don’t have to agree with you, but we can all still just get along. That’s how this is supposed to work.”
It’s a position White has held publicly for years: UFC’s brand is built on raw authenticity, not corporate image management.
Elsewhere in the interview, White revisited the UFC’s humble origins, recalling how he and the Fertitta brothers acquired the promotion for just $2 million — and walked away without UFC.com, merchandise rights, video game rights, or the content library.
“Not only did we not own UFC.com, we didn’t own the rights to the merchandise, the video games, or the library,” White said. “They’re probably laughing at us when we left.”
The full interview airs on CBS Sunday Morning this weekend.
Dana White recently shot down speculation about a potential schedule change for the landmark UFC White House event, confirming it is still set for June 14, 2026.
In collaboration with the U.S. government, the UFC has announced a historic, unprecedented event set for June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
Dana White Fires Back At UFC White House Date Change Report
Controversy erupted after Puck News reported that the UFC had moved its planned June 14 White House event to June 26, a claim quickly echoed by several major MMA outlets and gaining traction online.
Within hours, Dana White responded on his Instagram Story, shutting down the speculation and confirming there had been no schedule change, with the event still targeted for Sunday, June 14.
In the same post, the UFC CEO blasted the reports, writing that the “media is so full of sh*t.”
🚨 Dana White says the UFC White House event is still taking place on Sunday, June 14th
If you take Conor McGregor’s word for it, when he said he’d fight anyone for his UFC return bout, he meant it.
McGregor was one of several UFC fighters watching along and sharing his thoughts on X (fka Twitter) during the UFC Houston card.
During that time, McGregor posted about making his UFC return, something that he has teased on and off again, especially since U.S. President Donald Trump’s first announcement about a UFC White House card.
Conor McGregor says his return fight could possibly be against "a no name" 🤔
In a now-deleted post, McGregor told the MMA community that his next opponent might be a “no name” — but he also didn’t care.
“It’s a no name up next for me possibly, folks,” McGregor posted. “And as you know, I don’t give a f***. I ACCEPT. Send the contract, lads. CONOR MCGREGOR’S DEAL.”
McGregor would later make a post responding to those saying they were tired of McGregor’s ego.
I have no ego whatsoever but sublime confidence earned through decades of hard work!
“I have no ego whatsoever but sublime confidence earned through decades of hard work!” McGregor posted.
McGregor has been one of the UFC names who have pushed the heaviest to compete on the UFC White House event, which is scheduled for Sunday, June 14.
Still, as of press time, no announcement of any UFC White House fights, let alone a McGregor one, has been announced.
In fact, at the UFC Houston post-fight press conference, when asked about the truth to McGregor’s recent posting about being offered a fight, UFC CEO and President Dana White suggested such a claim was not true.
Dana White when asked about Conor McGregor's recent post that he had been offered a fight: If it was done and he accepted it I would announce it. pic.twitter.com/VSyjKMV7jh
“If it was done and he accepted it, I would announce it,” White said.
Michael Chandler had been teasing a long-awaited fight with McGregor would take place at the White House card, but White nixed that idea last month.
A fight between McGregor and Chandler had been awaited since the two coached season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. The two were booked for the original UFC 303 main event before McGregor withdrew a few weeks before the fight.
McGregor has not been seen in action since his loss to Dustin Poirier in their trilogy bout that headlined UFC 264 in July 2021.
UFC president Dana White is pushing back at critics who are outraged by Sean Strickland’s “colorful” remarks this week, insisting that anyone offended by the controversial middleweight should stop asking him questions instead of demanding the promotion rein him in.
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad, you probably shouldn’t ask the kind of questions when you know the answer you’re going to get from Strickland.”
When Dana White was asked about policing Sean Strickland on a UFC microphone
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad you shouldn’t ask these questions when you know the response you’ll get from Strickland. I don’t tell any human what to say or think, there’s no leashes” pic.twitter.com/6PHqG0AxUP
Sean Strickland’s UFC Houston media day appearance turned into a torrent of slurs and inflammatory remarks that quickly escaped the MMA bubble. As detailed by Variety and other mainstream outlets, Strickland used a homophobic slur to describe upcoming Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny, mocked the NFL for “gaying up” football with its entertainment choices, and derided him as a “gay foreigner” brought in to perform.
He also claimed women have been empowered “too much” and “ruined society,” then reduced their value to domestic roles like cooking and cleaning while dismissing interest in women’s sports.
Aaaaaaand he was just getting started.
When asked about Netflix’s planned MMA exhibition between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, he suggested they should fight “half naked,” joked about Rousey’s history of being abused by a former partner, and sexualized Carano while reminiscing about watching her fight as a teenager.
Paramount paid $7.7 billion for this operation. Strickland’s been doing this kind of routine for a long time. By every indication available, Paramount’s getting exactly what they wanted. Entreaties for them to challenge what they asked for won’t work. https://t.co/yK4A49gOwT
— Luke Thomas Gets Political (LTGP) (@LTGetsPolitical) February 19, 2026
The media day was staged to promote his main event bout with Anthony Hernandez this Saturday in Houston, airing on Paramount+, and marks Strickland’s first fight since a 2025 suspension for attacking another fighter while working as a cornerman.
The combination of misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ and xenophobic rhetoric turned what was supposed to be a standard promotional hit into a corporate headache. Variety noted that both Paramount+ and the UFC did not immediately respond to requests for comment, underscoring how sensitive the situation is for the promotion and its broadcast partner as the clip circulates beyond fight fans.
Dana White: ‘Don’t ask him if you’re going to cry about it’
While broadcast partners and sponsors may be bracing for fallout, Dana White’s stance on Strickland remains consistent with how he has handled past controversies involving the former middleweight champion.
Speaking previously about backlash to Strickland’s offensive comments, White argued that members of the media who get their “feelings hurt” by Strickland’s answers are partly to blame when they knowingly toss him provocative questions.
“If you get your feelings hurt that bad, you probably shouldn’t ask the kind of questions when you know the answer you’re going to get from Strickland,” White said when asked about criticism of the fighter’s language.
He scoffed at the idea that the UFC gives Strickland a long “leash,” insisting that he doesn’t try to police fighters’ speech and that they are responsible for what comes out of their own mouths.
White has framed the issue as one of individual freedom rather than corporate responsibility.
“I don’t tell any other human being what to say or what to think,” he said, rejecting the notion that he should intervene when Strickland’s talking points veer into bigotry or hate.
In his view, the media have a clear idea of who Strickland is and what kind of soundbites he generates, and they should not act surprised when he delivers exactly that.
‘No leashes’ and the UFC’s free-speech posture
White’s broader message is that fights are the UFC’s product, but fighters’ speech belongs to them—even when it crosses lines that many fans, media members and advocacy groups find offensive.
He has repeatedly rejected calls to muzzle Strickland, saying he does not put “leashes” on athletes or script their personalities, even as sponsors and partners must live with the fallout of what they say.
That posture is now being stress-tested as Strickland’s comments are amplified by mainstream outlets like Variety, which framed the Houston media day appearance as a “bigoted tirade” that targeted women, LGBTQ people and immigrants.
Instead of signaling a change in approach, White is doubling down on the idea that Strickland is an uncensored personality and that anyone offended by him should stop treating him like a reliable spokesman for the sport.
UFC, Paramount+ and the optics problem
The tension for the UFC is that Strickland is not just a random undercard fighter ranting on social media; he is a former champion headlining a Paramount+-streamed event that the company is actively promoting.
His tirade unfolded on an official UFC media platform, with UFC branding everywhere, and directly tied to a fight the promotion and its partners want fans to watch on Saturday.
UFC’s silence when reached for comment, combined with White’s “no leashes” rhetoric, paints the picture of a company willing to absorb reputational damage in exchange for the attention and viral clips that come with Strickland’s persona.
At the same time, Strickland’s opponent Anthony Hernandez has already addressed racially charged material involving Strickland in the build-up to UFC Houston, vowing to “torture” him in the cage after a racist post depicted Hernandez using stereotypical Mexican imagery.
For now, there is no indication that White plans to discipline Strickland over his latest comments, much less tell him to tone down his rhetoric.
With Strickland set to headline in Houston on Paramount+, the fallout from this week’s comments (and White’s refusal to distance himself from them) will loom over Saturday night’s broadcast.
With Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano finally signed for May 16, it’s worth revisiting the offensive text message from Dana White that killed this superfight a decade ago — and ended his relationship with Carano entirely.
In a 2019 interview with Ariel Helwani, Carano revealed the full story of how close she came to fighting Rousey in the UFC, and how spectacularly it fell apart over broken trust and a text message that was never meant for her to see.
The Setup: A Million Dollars and One Request
Around 2015, at the height of Ronda Rousey’s dominance, UFC president Dana White and then-owner Lorenzo Fertitta took Carano to a “nice dinner” and offered her $1 million to fight Rousey. Carano left the meeting “stoked” about the opportunity.
She had one specific request: six months to step away from her Hollywood career, find a legitimate gym, build a proper team, and get back into fighting shape. Most importantly, she asked White to keep the negotiations quiet during that preparation period.
White agreed.
The very next day, he began publicly discussing signing Carano.
“I asked him to just keep it quiet for six months while I built a team and got ready,” Carano told Helwani. “The next day, he’s talking about it publicly. That broke the trust.”
The Text Message
As public pressure mounted and Carano struggled to prepare under the media spotlight she’d specifically asked to avoid, White sent her a text message clearly intended for someone else:
“This b**** isn’t f**king us around.”
Carano’s response was ice-cold: “I think you sent that to the wrong person.”
White’s reply was even colder: “I don’t think I did.”
That exchange marked their last communication. The million-dollar superfight was dead.
Why It Hurt
The text wasn’t just offensive. It represented everything Carano had come to resent about her dealings with White and the UFC. Years earlier, when she was fighting for Strikeforce and preparing to face Cris Cyborg, White and Fertitta had approached her with an offer to join the WEC instead, specifically encouraging her not to take the Cyborg fight. Carano refused, stating she’d given her word to Strikeforce and her fans.
When the Rousey opportunity came around, the pattern repeated: an agreement made in private, immediately broken in public, followed by pressure tactics when she tried to hold White to his word.
“I have a problem with the abuse of authority. People holding money over my head has never been a turn-on for me. That’s ultimately what led to me cutting off communication.”
Gina Carano to Ariel Helwani
The Apology That Didn’t Matter
White did eventually apologize to Carano in person at a Sports Hall of Fame event where both her father and Mike Tyson were being honored. But by then, the damage was irreversible.
The text message had confirmed what Carano already suspected about how White viewed her — not as a partner in negotiations, but as someone to be controlled and pressured into compliance.
The fight is happening a decade late and under a completely different banner than anyone expected. Despite Rousey being heavily favored, at least Dana White won’t be anywhere near the negotiations.
Dana White criticized boxing promoters after Zuffa Boxing 03 on February 15, 2026, at the Meta Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. White believes his new venture is already dominating the boxing landscape, and can’t believe how easy it’s been so far.
During the post-fight press conference, White commented on the perceived lack of resistance from established boxing promoters to Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the market. White said,
“This is like beating up babies. I feel like I came in and I’m beating up babies. I expected more. I expected some pushback. I expected them to be more game. This is all way out of their league, like absolutely, positively out of their league. I’m actually a little shocked.”
White added that Zuffa will not work with the four major sanctioning bodies and called Eddie Hearn’s comments about a Zuffa belt “cringey.”
The comments followed Efe Ajagba’s (20-1, 14 KOs) TKO victory over former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin (29-4-1, 26 KOs) in Round 4 (1:11). White also criticized WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán, calling him “the greatest P.R. guy for how fucked up boxing is.”
White has signed former featherweight champion Mark Magsayo and is interested in recruiting former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez. Zuffa Boxing 04 is scheduled for March 8, 2026, featuring Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton.
UFC CEO Dana White believes Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, could become a UFC heavyweight champion one day.
In an interview, Crosby mentioned that White and matchmaker Hunter Campbell are convinced of his potential.
The NFL star, who turns 29 in August, stands 6-foot-5 and weighs around 250 pounds, giving him the physical tools and likely the strength to develop into a respectable heavyweight if he commits to refining his fighting skills.
Crosby blends boxing and MMA drills into his NFL training routine and has even shared sparring rounds with former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
“You know, it’s funny. Hunter Campbell and Dana, you know, they’re hilarious,” Crosby said. “They’re fully convinced that by the year 2030 or 2031, I’m going to be the heavyweight champion.”
Crosby is an established NFL standout with the Las Vegas Raiders, earning recognition as one of the league’s premier defensive forces, yet he has not closed the door on the possibility of pursuing a future career in the UFC.
MMA Uncensored posted about the potential switch on X:
Dana White says NFL player Max Crosby has the potential to win a UFC HW title.
Could an NFL superstar trade the gridiron for the Octagon? Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby says Dana White and Hunter Campbell are believers.
Crosby: White and Campbell Are “Fully Convinced”
In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Crosby revealed that the UFC brass have been vocal about their belief in his potential as a heavyweight fighter.
“Hunter Campbell and Dana, they’re hilarious, and they’re fully convinced that by the year 2030 or 2031, I’m gonna be the heavyweight champion,” Crosby said. “And I’m not the type of person who’s gonna put a limit on what I’m gonna do and I definitely have certain things I want to do.”
The three-time Pro Bowler, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs around 255 pounds, did not dismiss the idea outright:
“I’m never gonna close the door on opportunities so I truly don’t know. My body has been through a lot but if it makes sense at the time and if it’s in my heart and my soul, then I wanna go out there and compete, it might just happen, you never know. I love fighting. I have the power and speed.”
A Regular in the UFC Scene
Crosby is no casual observer of the sport. The Raiders star is regularly in attendance at UFC events and has built a strong relationship with White and the rest of the TKO Group brass. His comments come at a time when he is experiencing tension with his NFL team, fueling speculation about what his post-football future could look like.
NFL-to-UFC Crossovers Have Worked Before
The idea of a football player transitioning to MMA is not without precedent. Brock Lesnar famously crossed over from the NFL and won the UFC heavyweight championship, while current undefeated heavyweight Josh Hokit played for the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers before building an 8-0 MMA record with two UFC knockouts. Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson, who signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2024, is also making waves in MMA.
That said, Crosby does not have a combat sports background, which would make the transition significantly more challenging than it was for Lesnar, who was an elite NCAA wrestler.
Could It Actually Happen?
At 28 years old, Crosby would still have time to develop MMA skills if he eventually leaves the NFL. His combination of elite athleticism, size, and explosiveness would give him physical tools that translate well to the heavyweight division. However, the gap between NFL physicality and high-level MMA technique remains enormous, and no pure football player without a wrestling or combat sports base has ever contended for a UFC title.
Whether White’s conviction is genuine belief or good-natured ribbing between friends remains unclear, but the fact that Crosby is entertaining the idea at all will keep this conversation alive.
The UFC’s inaugural numbered event on Paramount+ drew immediate backlash from viewers, but Dana White moved quickly to defend the streaming platform’s decision to air commercials during UFC 324, citing the economics of the network’s $7.7 billion media rights deal.
Fans took to social media immediately after Saturday’s event in Las Vegas, complaining that advertisements interrupted fighter walkouts and corner conversations between rounds, a stark departure from the UFC’s pay-per-view era, when main card broadcasts featured uninterrupted action.
Dana White Defends Ad-Heavy UFC 324 Debut on Paramount: “They Paid for It”
White, speaking at the post-fight press conference, acknowledged the criticism while framing the ad load as a necessary trade-off for dramatically reduced consumer costs. “I haven’t seen it yet, and all this is a work in progress. It’s $8.99 – you’re not paying however much anymore. These guys got to make some money too. That is a fact – Paramount paid for it, they get to decide. But these guys are incredible to work with already, so we’ll figure it out.”
The shift represents a fundamental change in how fans access premium UFC content. Previously, numbered events cost $79.99 per purchase, creating a significant financial barrier for casual viewers. The Paramount+ subscription model, starting at $8.99 monthly, eliminates that paywall entirely and provides access to all 13 annual numbered events plus 30 Fight Night broadcasts. However, the seven-year agreement, valued at $1.1 billion annually, relies on advertising revenue to justify Paramount’s investment—a requirement that directly impacts the viewing experience.
White’s position shows a pragmatic acknowledgment that Paramount assumes the rights-holder role now. Once a broadcaster purchases content rights, network executives retain operational control over presentation decisions, including ad placement and timing. The UFC president’s comment that “Paramount paid for it, they get to decide” signaling that viewer complaints, while heard, ultimately fall under Paramount’s purview rather than the UFC’s.
The ad placement strategy particularly frustrated fans because commercials ran during critical viewing moments. Walkouts, the theatrical entrances that build momentum before fights, were obscured by advertisements, as were the corner breaks between rounds, where corner teams communicate strategy and fighters receive coaching adjustments. This format had never occurred during UFC’s PPV main cards, making the disruption especially jarring for longtime viewers.
Still, White suggested the situation isn’t permanent. His statement that “we’ll figure it out” implied negotiations between the UFC and Paramount could lead to adjustments. UFC Executive Vice President of Live Production Zach Candito reinforced this on social media, explicitly stating that UFC 324’s ad load was not the new standard and promising refinements for future events.
Just a debut show – lots to get in #UFC324 . Don't expect the new norm to be 30 minutes after the hour. Just trying to do some special stuff. It'll be at least 10 minutes earlier next week. All is well. All is well :)
Dana White brushed off questions about Arman Tsarukyan’s viral media blitz at the UFC 324 pre-fight press conference, even as debate over the lightweight contender’s title snub intensifies. Asked about Tsarukyan’s recent run of podcast and social media appearances.
White replied, “I haven’t seen it… I don’t know anything about it. Good try though.” Sitting beside him, interim title challenger Paddy Pimblett cut in before White could elaborate, saying Tsarukyan was “trying to be like me, going around eating food,” claiming the Armenian has “no personality” and calling him “a little nit.”
Dana White Won’t Budge on Arman Tsarukyan Despite High-Profile Media Push
Tsarukyan has spent the past weeks pushing his name outside the cage, appearing on streams with Adin Ross and other influencers, posting food content, training clips and grappling matches, and using those platforms to hammer Pimblett and the UFC’s matchmaking.
The tension stems from the promotion’s decision to book Justin Gaethje vs. Pimblett for the interim lightweight title in the UFC 324 main event, while Tsarukyan sits as the division’s No. 1 ranked contender. UFC 324 also opens the promotion’s new broadcast era on Paramount+, raising the commercial stakes around who fights for gold on that stage.
From the UFC side, the case against Tsarukyan has less to do with wins and losses and more to do with how the past two years have unfolded. After beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in a title eliminator, Tsarukyan was booked to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight belt at UFC 311 but withdrew the day before the event with a back injury suffered during his weight cut. White’s response at the time was blunt: Tsarukyan was “back to the drawing board” and would have to “fight his way back” to a title opportunity. He later weighed in as backup for Ilia Topuria vs. Oliveira at UFC 317 in what was widely read as an attempt to repair that damage.
👀🍔 Paddy Pimblett says Arman Tsarukyan is trying to copy him by eating food.
Dana White says he hasn't see anything from Arman Tsarukyan's recent media tour.
Regulators and optics have added to the file. The Nevada State Athletic Commission handed Tsarukyan a nine‑month suspension and a $25,000 fine after he swung at a fan who flipped him off during his walk to the cage at UFC 300, with the ban eligible to be reduced only if he completed an approved public service campaign. In November 2025 he then headbutted Dan Hooker during their ceremonial weigh‑in in Qatar, a move that briefly threatened their main-event bout and drew scrutiny from officials. White has since confirmed that the headbutt “100 percent” factored into the decision to keep Tsarukyan out of the interim title fight at UFC 324.
Publicly, White insists there is no personal feud. In multiple interviews he has said the UFC does not “dislike” Tsarukyan, stressing, “He’s here. You know what I didn’t do? Didn’t cut him,” while also stating he does not care about the number next to Tsarukyan’s name in the rankings. At the same time, he has hinted at unresolved issues he will not spell out in front of cameras, saying there is “man sh*t” and “behind-the-scenes” business that Tsarukyan “knows” and that he prefers to keep private because the media will chase clicks.
Tsarukyan has been trying to swing opinion back his way. After Pimblett’s jab at the UFC 324 presser went viral, he fired back on X with a five‑word reply: “Cry me a river bitch @PaddyTheBaddy.” In recent interviews he has also admitted he regrets key moments that helped sour his standing, telling Ariel Helwani he made “real” mistakes with the late UFC 311 withdrawal and the Hooker headbutt, and that those choices still bother him. At the same time, he has argued that Pimblett’s interim shot is driven by business, not merit, saying the UFC wants to make Pimblett a champion while avoiding a matchup where he believes he would stop the Liverpudlian and damage a valuable asset.
The UFC’s multibillion-dollar Paramount+ deal was supposed to signal a new era of increased fighter compensation. Instead, it sparked a public back-and-forth between UFC President Dana White and main event fighter Justin Gaethje that exposed familiar fault lines around fighter pay just days before the promotion’s landmark UFC 324 event.
Dana White vs. Justin Gaethje: The Fighter Pay Row Before UFC 324
Gaethje, who headlines the January 24 card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title, told media Wednesday that he would not earn a single dollar more for this fight than he would have without the UFC’s seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcasting agreement with Paramount+. The deal, which averages $1.1 billion annually and doubles the UFC’s previous ESPN contract, eliminates traditional pay-per-view fees and makes all numbered events available to subscribers at no additional cost.
“To this day, I hear Daniel Cormier saying everybody is going to get paid more on this card,” Gaethje said during the UFC 324 media day. “I’m not getting paid one dollar more than if this deal hadn’t happened”.
The comments directly contradicted statements from UFC Hall of Famer and commentator Daniel Cormier, who claimed in late December that fighters were already receiving increased compensation under the new structure. Cormier said on his podcast that with pay-per-view revenue no longer a factor, fighters were being offered larger guaranteed purses instead of gambling on PPV points that might not materialize.
White responded Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show, disputing Gaethje’s account entirely. The UFC president claimed the promotion had offered Gaethje a new contract with higher pay ahead of UFC 324, but the fighter never responded to the offer.
“We completely have it dialed in,” White said. “We’ve got really smart kids, and they can get down within single digits on how close it would be to pay them like it was a pay-per-view. Gaethje, without getting into all that stuff, Gaethje was offered more money, and Gaethje never responded. [But] we’re good [with Gaethje]”.
Fighter Bonuses Remain at $50,000 Despite Revenue Surge
Gaethje also expressed frustration that his 14 post-fight bonuses throughout his UFC career have totaled less than $1 million. Based on his bonus history, he earned 13 bonuses at the standard $50,000 rate, plus a $300,000 bonus for his Fight of the Night performance against Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April 2024, bringing his total bonus earnings to $950,000.
“To have 14 bonuses and not equal up to $1 million is not right,” Gaethje said. “It should be a lot more than that”.
The $50,000 standard bonus has remained unchanged since 2013, despite UFC revenues multiplying fivefold since that time. When adjusted for inflation, the current $50,000 bonus has approximately 30% less purchasing power than when it was first instituted in 2007. White has stated that bonuses will increase under the Paramount deal but has not specified amounts or timelines.
When given an opportunity to address White’s claims during Thursday’s UFC 324 press conference, Gaethje declined to engage. A reporter asked him to respond to White’s assertion that he had been offered more money but did not reply. Gaethje immediately shut down the question with six words: “I’m here to talk about fighting”.
The exchange suggested that either a conversation had taken place between Gaethje and UFC management after his media day comments, or the fighter simply wanted to avoid further controversy with White watching from the stage. Fans on social media speculated that Gaethje may have been warned to stop discussing fighter pay publicly.
While Gaethje criticized his bonus totals, he said he has managed his UFC earnings responsibly by investing in real estate and supporting his family. He purchased a commercial property and a house in Arizona near his parents, which his sister now rents from him.
“The best thing I did is probably invest in a commercial property,” Gaethje said. “I purchased a house in Arizona that’s like a mile away from my parents, my sister is renting that from me now, and really just being able to help my family. Give them Christmas gifts that I never would’ve been able to give them, take them on vacations that I never would have been able to. That’s the smartest thing I did because you never get that time back with your family”.
UFC 324 marks the official start of the UFC’s Paramount+ era, with the main card beginning at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 24. Gaethje faces Pimblett for the interim lightweight title, with the winner expected to face undisputed champion Ilia Topuria later in 2026.
Conor McGregor says he’s ready to make his long-awaited UFC return — regardless of who that may be against.
In a recent interview with Complex, UFC CEO and President Dana White said he has no interest in trying to make a fight between McGregor and Michael Chandler happen. Chandler had been on CBS recently promoting a positive sign that the two could face off at UFC White House.
Now, McGregor has taken to social media, seemingly to respond to White’s remarks. And it appears that McGregor is not crying over the spilled milk that would be a fight with Chandler never coming to fruition.
Pick who ya want! The Mac sweats nothin and nobody.
“Pick who ya want!” McGregor posted. “The Mac sweats nothin [sic] and nobody. I’m tasty shots.”
Conor McGregor Open To Any Fight After Dana White Scraps Potential Fight With Michael Chandler
McGregor and Chandler had been rumored to fight for about three years now. This stretches back to when the two were opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023.
Despite no rumblings of a fight in that year, the two were booked to fight in the originally planned UFC 303 main event. Less than a month before the fight, however, McGregor withdrew with a toe injury.
McGregor re-joined the UFC drug testing pool this past summer, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s first revelation of the UFC’s plans for a card at the White House.
The UFC card on the White House lawn is scheduled for Sunday, June 14.
McGregor has not been seen in the Octagon since losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Michael Chandler can hope all he wants, but UFC CEO and President Dana White claims a fight between Chandler and Conor McGregor is dead in the water.
A fight between Chandler and McGregor has been nearly three years in the making now, stretching back to when the pair faced off as opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Chandler recently appeared on CBS as part of the network’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash show to ring in 2026 and promote the UFC’s new partnership with Paramount. As part of his time there, Chandler claimed that things were looking up for a fight with McGregor to finally happen — and happen at the UFC’s card on the White House lawn in June.
In a new interview with Complex, however, White suggested that the fight is no longer possible.
Dana White Says No Shot To Conor McGregor Vs. Michael Chandler At UFC White House
“I mean, that was a couple years ago,” White said. “No.”
Despite promotion that the two would face off at the end of TUF 31, the year 2023 came and went without a hint of a matchup announcement.
Finally, at the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, White announced that the two would face off in the main event of UFC 303. The fight went up in smoke less than a month before the event, however, due to a toe injury suffered by McGregor.
Since then, no fight announcement has been made, and Chandler has gone on to lose to Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 309 and UFC 314, respectively.
Since the first announcement of the UFC White House card this past summer, McGregor has publicly advocated to make his UFC return at the event, going as far as to re-join the UFC’s drug testing pool.
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since losing his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
UFC CEO Dana White is scheduled to go live on Instagram later today (Tuesday, January 13) for what the promotion is billing as a “special announcement.”
🚨 DANA ANNOUCNEMENT INCOMING 🚨
The Boss Man (@DanaWhite) will be going LIVE on Instagram later today! 👀
The announcement comes just one day after MMA journalist Ariel Helwani devoted a segment of his show to criticizing White’s recent media appearances, calling him “disconnected and disinterested” in the UFC product.
Helwani specifically pointed to White’s CBS Mornings appearance promoting the upcoming Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes fight, noting the UFC CEO failed to mention Harrison’s two-time Olympic gold medal credentials while calling it “the greatest female fight of all time.”
Paramount+ added fuel to the speculation by responding to UFC’s announcement tease with an eyes emoji, strongly suggesting the news involves the promotion’s new streaming partnership. UFC officially transitioned to Paramount+ on January 1 as part of a $7.7 billion, seven-year deal that eliminates the traditional pay-per-view model.
UFC 324, set for January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will mark the first live event of the Paramount+ era. The card features Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title and Harrison defending her women’s bantamweight championship against returning legend Amanda Nunes.
While no specific time has been announced for today’s Instagram Live, fans can expect updates on UFC 324 and potentially broader scheduling news as the promotion kicks off its new broadcast era.
Francis Ngannou’s head coach Eric Nicksick is hoping his fighter and UFC CEO Dana White can put their differences aside, even if a return to the Octagon never happens.
Speaking with MMA Fighting, the Xtreme Couture coach addressed the ongoing tension between Ngannou and White, which has intensified since the former heavyweight champion’s departure from the UFC in 2023.
“I know what Francis brings to me and my family, and the way that he treats me, and that’s the way I judge him by his character. Same with Dana. Dana’s been nothing but nice and great to me,” Nicksick said. “I wish that somewhere down the line that these two could mend those fences, just on a personal level. I’d rather have friends than enemies.”
White recently shared details of an alleged physical altercation with Ngannou from years ago, further straining their relationship. But Nicksick isn’t interested in the drama.
“It’s like, f*ck, I don’t want to carry that energy every day. So hopefully they can reconcile and just let that sh*t go. Even if Francis never fights in the UFC ever again, like just move on.”
Ngannou has competed just once since signing with PFL, stopping Renan Ferreira in the first round at PFL Battle of the Giants in October 2024. A potential matchup with PFL heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov looms, though Nicksick admitted he’d love to see Ngannou back in the UFC.
“He can do whatever the hell he wants to do. I think, on a personal level, I’d love to be able to see him compete in the UFC just because of the level of competition that he would go against.”
Ngannou Open to UFC Return at White House Card
Nicksick’s comments come as Ngannou himself has opened the door to a potential UFC return. The 39-year-old revealed on The Ariel Helwani Show that his PFL contract is nearing its end and could expire in time for the UFC’s planned White House event on June 14.
“I’m getting very close on the PFL contract ending,” Ngannou said. “They have to give me a fight.”
When asked about facing Jon Jones at the White House card, Ngannou expressed interest while acknowledging the uncertainty. He said he’s not “confident” a deal can be made but believes “there’s a chance” and that “anything can happen.”
However, White has shown no signs of warming to the idea, recently dismissing any possibility of bringing Ngannou back for the event. Despite Ngannou’s openness, a UFC return appears unlikely unless both sides can find common ground — something Nicksick clearly hopes will happen.
UFC boss Dana White has given his thoughts on the possibility of him retiring at some point in the future.
As we know, Dana White is one of the hardest workers in all of combat sports. While he has certainly made more than a few enemies over the years, he’s also been instrumental in building the Ultimate Fighting Championship into the juggernaut that it is today. There are always going to be critics, but in terms of business success and financial gain, he has been able to achieve some great things throughout the course of his career.
As is the case with many figures in positions of power for this long, people constantly wonder about what life will be like once Dana White steps away from the limelight. In recent times he has suggested that he wants to keep going for as long as he possibly can, which isn’t surprising given the work ethic that he has consistently shown.
In a recent workout video with Luke Elsman, Dana White spoke about those who have previously said to him that he could have retired a long time ago.
Dana White discusses his future plans
“When I was younger, older people used to say, ‘When I retire, I’ll be drinking Mai Tais on the beach,’ etc.
“I go on great vacations — after 10 days, I’m sick of drinking, I’m sick of all this sh*t, and I’m ready to get back to the grind.
“I’m always thinking about how to make the business bigger and bigger every day.”
After about three days of silence following UFC Vegas 110 and the snowballing controversy that has engulfed the MMA world, UFC CEO and President Dana White is breaking his silence in regard to the situation involving Isaac Dulgarian.
Dulgarian was involved in a highly controversial fight with Yadier Del Valle, which saw Dulgarian, who was originally pegged as a massive favorite earlier in the fight week, fall victim to a first-round submission via rear-naked choke.
As the fight time got closer, however, the line on Dulgarian being a favorite massively shrunk.
In an interview with TMZ, White claimed the UFC were informed of the matter and confronted Dulgarian and his team.
“Probably about 1:00 pm that day, we’re with a company called IC360, and they are the best bet monitoring company in the business, and they reached out to us and they told us that there was some unusual action going on with that fight,” White said. “Do we know anything? You know, we didn’t. So, what we did was we called the fighter and his lawyer and said, “What’s going on? There’s some weird action going on in your bet…”
Dana White Gives His Side To Isaac Dulgarian Situation
White says that Dulgarian and his team said they were ready to go for the fight and nothing suspicious was going on — this coincides with Ariel Helwani’s reporting on the situation.
White says the promotion took action after the fight played out as it did.
“Literally, the first thing we did was call the FBI,” White said, adding that he had two meetings with the FBI on November 4.
“Now, you see people out there talking, ‘Oh, there’s hundreds of fights under…’ – it’s total usual clickbait,” White said. “IC3, our company, they monitor all all of the betting. Like I said, they’re the best in the business. There aren’t hundreds of fights being investigated. all clickbait BS.
“We’ve been with them for years and we get a report after every single fight that we do.”
White added that he is in direct contact with FBI Director Kash Patel about the investigation. He added any fighter who has made comment about being offered to throw a fight — such as Vince Morales and Vanessa Demopoulos recently did on social media — will be contacted by the FBI for an interview.
White ended with a strongly-worded message to his fighters.
“If you try to do this, I have been very vocal and open about this; we will be your worst enemy,” White said. “We will immediately go after you, guns ablazing, with the FBI and whoever else we need to get. We will do everything we can to make sure you go to prison.”
While plans are still being discussed and yet to be revealed for the UFC White House event next summer, it sounds like U.S. President Donald Trump will not be the only VIP from the political world present.
Per a new report from Variety, which discusses the start of David Ellison’s time with Paramount, a pre-fight dinner is expected to be held by Trump and UFC CEO and President Dana White at some point in the lead up to the card.
The report notes that “dignitaries from around the world will attend a dinner and then head to the Octagon, the eight-sided ring where the main event will play out. Trump and UFC CEO Dana White are spearheading the telecast.”
The targeted date of the event is Sunday, June 14, 2026, to coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday. That date, however, is not set firm at this time.
Dinner With Dignitaries Expected As Part Of UFC White House Festivities
The UFC event on the White House lawn is to be a part of a series of events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
Trump first announced the plans for this card during a speech this past July 4th, with the UFC confirming plans to hold such a festivity. White has been adamant about this card going down as one of the biggest in the history of the promotion — promising several big names to be a part of the event.
Fighters such as Conor McGregor and Jon Jones have put their names in the hat to potentially headline the card.
The event will reportedly have a limited in-person audience and is presumed to be one of the CBS-broadcasted cards as part of the new UFC-Paramount broadcasting deal that begins in 2026.
MMA journalist Harry Mac posted several allegations to X (formerly Twitter). One of these alleges that the FBI informed the UFC of the Dulgarian vs. Del Valle fight being flagged and closed to bets by sportsbooks; however, the UFC allowed the fight to go on.
Additionally, Mac claims that over 100 additional fights, including another two from UFC Vegas 110, were supposedly flagged by the FBI due to unusual betting patterns. Moreover, Mac claims that there is a possibility that fights refereed by Jason Herzog are being sought after by federal officials for an audit.
VERY important tidbit here: the FBI notified the UFC of the abnormal action and line movement and gave them hours to pull the fight. They chose to continue and from my perspective are now complicit in fixing a fight
Grain of salt here, but Hard Rock would have alerted authorities local (gaming regulators) and federal (wire act, etc), and those authorities would have contacted UFC… https://t.co/DWupCac6DO
I keep trying to tell people that this is happening every single week, many times in multiple fights. Bizarre line moves, followed by an even more bizarre performance from the fighter, ref or judges. https://t.co/W3ORtjiEv6
Will have an update on the backstage post show fallout tomorrow morning. Lot of chickens without heads running around the apex at the moment. Shits gonna get real ugly
Update: federal regulators have flagged OVER 100 UFC fights this year for abnormal betting patterns, including 2 additional fighters on last nights card. Shit is about to get VERY ugly. Still working to confirm but it sounds like the Feds are moving to audit Herzogs fights https://t.co/mtx6XiTFJS
MMA Journalist Alleges More Than 100 UFC Fights Flagged By FBI
It should be noted that none of Mac’s claims have been verified by other sources. However, several sportsbooks, including Caesars, William Hill, and DraftKings all provided refunds to bettors following the line movement and potential violation seen for the Dulgarian vs. Del Valle fight.
Reports noted that Dulgarian entered the fight as a -250 favorite, but the odds shifted so much so that he was just a -166 in a short time. Additionally, a lot of money had been placed on the Del Valle via first-round finish prop bet.
Del Valle completely dominated the fight, easily taking Dulgarian down before scoring a first-round submission. Dulgarian’s performance was criticized after the fight by several members of the MMA community.
These allegations come nearly three years to the day of the infamous Darrick Minner vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke that resulted in James Krause being blackballed from MMA. It should be noted that Dulgarian has had a previous association with Krause, having previously trained at Glory MMA. The UFC subsequently also tightened gambling rules in the immediate aftermath, forbidding fighters, coaches, managers, and any affiliated members from betting on any UFC fight.
The news also comes as the mainstream sports world is bearing witness to the NBA and its own gambling scandal.
UFC President Dana White delivered a controversial response to the eye poke incident that ended UFC 321’s main event, telling reporters “Who gives a s–? What are you going to do?” when asked about the organization’s longstanding eye poke problem.
The highly anticipated heavyweight title defense between champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane came to an abrupt halt at 4:35 of the first round when Gane accidentally poked both of Aspinall’s eyes. Unable to see properly after the incident, Aspinall could not continue, leading referee Jason Herzog to declare the bout a no-contest.
”I just got poked knuckle deep in the eyeball. What am I supposed to do about it? I can’t see,” Aspinall said in the octagon while addressing the booing crowd. The champion was immediately taken to the hospital following the incident.
During the post-fight press conference, White appeared unsympathetic to both the situation and calls for reform. When pressed about potential solutions to prevent eye pokes, he responded: “Who the f– knows? Who gives a s–? What are you going to do? Just happens. Yeah. I mean, no matter what you do with the glove, I mean, they’re going to happen.”
White’s comments drew criticism from fans and media members who viewed his response as dismissive of fighter safety concerns. The UFC president also made controversial remarks suggesting Aspinall may have chosen not to continue, stating “Only Tom knows what happened. Could he see? Couldn’t he see? Could he continue? Only he knows that.”
The Persistent UFC Eye Poke Problem
Eye pokes have plagued the UFC for years, with research showing the organization has a significantly higher rate of incidents compared to other promotions. A 2022 study by the Association of Ringside Physicians found the UFC’s eye poke rate was 23 incidents in 233 bouts, translating to one eye poke per ten fights. This rate was dramatically higher than Bellator’s rate of 2 incidents in 87 bouts, or one in every 44 fights.
The UFC has had seven fights end in a no-contest due to eye pokes since 2005. Between 2001 and 2020, Nevada State Athletic Commission data showed 369 eye injuries occurred across 2,208 professional MMA fights, with 73 percent of events reporting at least one eye injury.
Notable fighters like Jon Jones have faced repeated accusations of eye poking throughout their careers. Analysis shows Jones has committed at least 33 genuine eye pokes across his UFC career, with 58 instances of fingers in opponents’ eyes. Despite this history, Jones has never received a point deduction specifically for eye pokes.
Photo By Tim Wheaton
Failed Solutions and Glove Design Issues
The current UFC glove design has been identified as a contributing factor to the eye poke problem. The gloves naturally extend fighters’ fingers outward, increasing the likelihood of accidental contact with opponents’ eyes.
MMA coach Trevor Wittman developed alternative glove designs through his ONX Sports company that curve fighters’ fingers inward to promote a natural fist position, potentially reducing eye poke incidents. The gloves received widespread praise from fighters and commentators like Joe Rogan, who called them “absolutely superior.”
However, negotiations between Wittman and the UFC broke down when the organization demanded exclusive ownership of the patent. Wittman refused to sell the rights to his design, creating an impasse that has prevented implementation of the improved gloves.
In 2024 the uFC introduced a new glove design to help lower eye pokes in the sport. However, the organization later threw away the gloves and reverted to the original design. The reasons are still unclear.
Impact on Fighter Safety and Careers
Eye poke incidents can have severe consequences for fighters. Research shows 57 fighters who sustained eye injuries were recommended for further ophthalmology clearance, with 43 receiving no-contact recommendations ranging from three to five weeks. More serious injuries like retinal damage require longer recovery periods.
In the UFC 321 incident, Aspinall suffered what he described as being “poked knuckle deep” in both eyes. Medical examination revealed both eyes were affected, with his right eye bearing the worst damage. The champion shared images on social media showing the extent of the injury aftermath.
White confirmed that Aspinall and Gane will have an immediate rematch, despite the controversial ending. “Total pain in the a** but yeah,” White said regarding rebooking the fight. The rematch announcement came unusually quickly, as White typically avoids booking fights at post-event press conferences.
UFC boss Dana White has admitted that it took him a while to warm to Merab Dvalishvili as the UFC bantamweight champion prepares to try and defend his world title for a fourth time this year.
At UFC 323, Merab Dvalishvili will make a quick turnaround as he defends his UFC bantamweight title against Petr Yan, who he defeated a few years back. If Merab is able to pick up the win, many believe that it would cement him as the greatest to ever do it at 135 pounds. Regardless of whether or not you agree with that, though, there’s no denying that his level of activity is absolutely out of this world.
There are very few UFC champions, if any, who have maintained a similar schedule to Merab Dvalishvili with the belt around their waist. He’s known as ‘The Machine’ for a reason, and if he keeps going at this pace, we may need to start talking about where he ranks in the ‘greatest of all time’ conversation. Yes, we’re serious.
In a recent media scrum, Dana White had the following to say about Merab Dvalishvili’s insane run.
Dana White’s view on Merab Dvalishvili
“I love it,” White told reporters at the most recent Contender Series scrum, when asked about Dvalishvili’s quick turnaround. “Listen, it took me a minute to warm up to Merab. I’m very warm now. I love that mentality.
“He wants to be the first guy to defend his title that many times in a year. If you look at what he’s gone out there and done, and how he’s proven himself as a fighter, and as a world champion, it’s impressive.”
The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series concluded with one more highlight-filled night in Las Vegas.
DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.
Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode ten of season nine — the season finale — this week saw five prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.
This brings this year’s total of UFC contracts handed out to 46, an increase of four from last season and tying the number handed out in 2023. This season also broke the record for finishes in a season with 36 of this season’s 51 fights ending in a finish, breaking the previous record of 32.
The action opened up with DWCS veteran Wes Schultz finally getting the win he needed, defeating Mario Mingaj. Schultz seemed to get the better of exchanges with Mingaj before scoring a brief knockdown with a left hand before adding in a takedown. Mingaj tried to get to Schultz’s back, but Schultz got the better in grappling, too. Schultz executed a Suloev Stretch — the first in DWCS history — to get the first-round submission and score a UFC contract on his third opportunity.
Michael Oliveira continued to bring the heat with a second-round finish of Victor Valenzuela. Oliveira looked to bring pressure early, trying to cut off the cage from Valenzuela with low kicks and his left hand. Valenzuela tried to counter with level changes and leans in his strikes, including a right hand that connected flush. The kickboxing battle continued into the second round, with Oliveira busting up Valenzuela’s face before dropping him with a hard right hand.
Valenzuela tried to go back to his signature hook, but that only got him knocked down and rocked again. Oliveira continued to land before dropping Valenzuela a third time, which finished the fight and earned Oliveira the contract.
Marwan Rahiki and Ananias Mulumba then put on a wild affair that saw Rahiki score a KO win. Rahiki seemed to get a strong start with a right hand, looking for spinning attacks. But Mulumba landed a right hand that dropped him, putting him in trouble as Mulumba countered his scrambles and threatened a choke. Rahiki worked his way out of it and got back to his feet. Mulumba took advantage of Rahiki’s hands being down, landing again, but Rahiki landed a combination that dropped Mulumba. Mulumba then reversed and got to the back before Rahiki returned the fight to the feet, only for Mulumba to score another knockdown in this wild opening round.
Rahiki opened the second round by threatening a ninja choke, and while Mulumba survived that, Rahiki landed a head kick to wobble him before a combination of vicious elbows and an uppercut dropped Mulumba out cold for the exciting, contract-earning win.
Juan Diaz then brought one of the most exciting finishes of the season in the co-main event, scoring a highlight knockout of Won Il Kwon. Kwon looked to use his speed to his advantage, but Diaz brought forward pressure and connected on several powerful punches during the fight. Diaz also made use of his grappling, pressuring Kwon to the fence and scoring a key takedown during the fight’s second round. Kwon looked to turn things up in that second frame, increasing his boxing output and landing a strong elbow, but Diaz continued to make him eat shots. Diaz took advantage of a leaning Kwan, landing a spinning back elbow that knocked Kwan out cold — the first such knockout in DWCS history — with mere seconds left in the second round to earn the win and a contract.
The main event saw Freddy Vidal fall short in his second chance opportunity this season, falling to the undefeated Levi Rodrigues Jr. Vidal pressured Rodrigues to the fence early on, trapping him against the fence. Vidal landed a series of short shots and knees to the body as the two battled within close range. Rodrigues clipped Vidal and appeared to rock him as Vidal continued to look for the takedown. Rodrigues would land a solid pair of knees to the head that dropped Vidal, quickly finishing him off to earn the first-round finish and a UFC contract.
The night also featured Jovan Leka defeating Azamat Nuftillaev. Nuftillaev scored an early takedown and tried to smother Leka with top pressure. In spite of referee Marc Smith giving a pair of warnings for stalling and Leka getting back to his feet, Nuftillaev scored a brief mat return and locked Leka up in a body lock from the back, completing controlling the opening frame. Nuftillaev appeared to gas, however, as Leka easily took him down and took control in round two, landing several punches and elbows upstairs and threatening chokes.
Leka looked to use his striking, but Nuftillaev caught a kick and dumped Leka to the mat. Leka would endure for a couple of minutes before working his way back to his feet, landing his strikes and getting back in top control after stuffing a Nuftillaev takedown attempt. Despite nearing finishes a couple of times, Leka settled for a decision win, but it was far from enough to earn a UFC deal.
The latest season of Dana White’s Contender Series continued with one of the best episodes in the show’s history tonight in Las Vegas.
DWCS began in 2017 and has produced a notable number of fighters currently on the UFC’s roster. Since the show’s inception in 2017, a couple have even gone on to claim UFC championships. Known as “The ultimate job interview,” DWCS features five fights weekly, over the course of 10 weeks, as combatants compete to impress UFC CEO and President Dana White and earn a UFC contract.
Last year’s edition saw 42 fighters earn a contract with the world’s leading MMA organization across 10 events, slightly down from the 46 handed out in 2023. Episode nine of season nine this week saw six prospects earn the opportunity to taste the Octagon’s bright lights.
Luke Fernandez made a statement to open the action, scoring one of the fastest knockouts in the history of Dana White’s Contender Series. In mere seconds, he landed a left jab and a right hand that cracked Rafael Pergentino on the jaw. A few follow-up shots later, and Fernandez earned the win and a UFC contract.
Luis Felipe Dias continued the finishes with a submission win over Donavon Hedrick. Dias quickly worked his way to Hedrick’s back to start the fight and seemed to get the better of the striking exchanges early in the first round. Hedrick worked his way back in, but Dias appeared to briefly stun him late in the round. Hedrick scored a takedown during the second round, and did some damage with ground-and-pound. But Dias scored his own takedown and controlled the action in a dominant position, landing ground-and-pound and threatening a couple of chokes.
Dias would finally sink in a rear-naked choke with less than 30 seconds left in the second round to score the tapout win and a UFC deal.
The Ultimate Fighter season 33 participant Imanol Rodriguez then made the most of his second opportunity at a UFC contract, scoring a first-round finish of Roque Conceicao. Rodriguez had a wrestling-based focus, but it was his striking that got the job done. After surviving a knockdown on a right hand by Conceicao, Rodriguez tagged Conceicao multiple times, starting with a right hand after blocking a high kick attempt. Rodriguez then rocked Conceicao with a knee and scored a couple of knockdowns and unleashed flurries, ending with a left-right combo that slept Conceicao.
In the evening’s co-main event Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin produced one of the greatest fights of 2025, let alone of the greatest fights in the history of Dana White’s Contender Series, both earning contracts as well as — in a Dana White first — $25,000 bonuses. Vologdin stayed on the outside, but Martinetti managed to work his reach advantage by tagging him and putting him to the fence. But Vologdin not only fought out of it, but he proceeded to trade with Martinetti blow for blow, creating a violent, all-out action fight. In the second round, however, Martinetti’s pressure and clinch knees seemed to get the better of Vologdin, but again, he managed to clip Martinetti and get back right into things.
Martinetti had already broken the DWCS bantamweight record for most significant strikes in a fight in just two rounds; he landed 213 in total by the fight’s end. But Vologdin rushed Martinetti, appearing to hurt him in the first minute of the final round, before Martinetti scored a takedown. After another action packed war, Martinetti scored the decision win 29-28 on all three scorecards.
In the main event, Magomed Zaynukov made a statement with a one-sided beatdown of Lucas Caldas. Zaynukov had to endure an early knockdown and multiple eye pokes in the fight, resulting in a one-point deduction for Caldas. But Zaynukov poured on the pressure and striking, setting a new DWCS lightweight record for significant strikes (making it two straight fights on the night to set division DWCS records in significant strikes) with 248. In fact, if the fight had taken place in the UFC, it would have set the record there, too.
Zaynukov scored the unanimous decision 30-26 on all three cards.
Luke Fernandez vs Rafael Pergentino
QUICK FINISH ALERT 🚨
Luke Fernandez only needed :15 to get the job done!
In what will go down as one of the greatest fights in MMA — let alone of the greatest fights of 2025 and perhaps the greatest fight to ever happen on Dana White’s Contender Series — Adrian Luna Martinetti and Mark Vologdin both earned UFC contracts and $25,000 bonuses from UFC CEO and President Dana White.
Vologdin took early control in the opening round, landing some crisp boxing and working combinations on Martinetti, including a counter shot that dropped Martinetti. Martinetti would not be deterred, however, landing his own combinations, and he stormed back in the second round with barrages of blows. In fact, through two rounds, Martinetti set a new record for significant strikes by a bantamweight in DWCS history.
Martinetti seemed to trouble Vologdin in the second round with plenty of clinch knees, leaving his mark literally on Vologdin, but the Russian battled back and produced more trading between the two. Martinetti then scored a takedown in round three and did plenty of damage with ground-and-pound to bring a fantastic slugfest to an epic conclusion.
Martinetti won the fight with 29-28 scores on all three judges’ scorecards.
DWCS Fighters Earn UFC Contracts And $25K Bonus After Critically Acclaimed Slugfest
Martinetti vs. Vologdin is #DWCS version of Lawler vs. MacDonald 2!
This is legitimately one of the best wars I've ever SEEN in my time watching MMA 😮💨 hundreds of strikes landed on both sides pic.twitter.com/VXywdD9CYe
