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Tag: Dana White

  • Tom Aspinall Reacts To Dana White ‘Jumping Ship’ From Jon Jones To Islam Makhachev In P4P Debate

    Tom Aspinall Reacts To Dana White ‘Jumping Ship’ From Jon Jones To Islam Makhachev In P4P Debate

    Tom Aspinall, like many fans and fellow fighters, tuned into UFC 311 to watch a man that many believe is at the very top of the sport right now. Islam Makhachev may have undergone a change to his opponent literally the day before fight night but this didn’t affect him one bit.

    The lightweight champion still went out there like it was business as usual and submitted Renato Moicano in the first round. It may not have been the Arman Tsarukyan rematch that people have wanted to see for such a long time but it once again showed that when Makhachev says it doesn’t matter who you put him in there with, he means it.

    At 33-years old, he’s now the record holder for the most consecutive lightweight title defenses with four and by earning his 15th consecutive win inside the Octagon, he is tied at second with Kamaru Usman for the longest winning streak in UFC history with one spot to go until he draws level with Anderson Silva.

    Another Makhachev win meant more people making the case for why he is the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport today. Whilst some may argue that the accomplishments of Jon Jones speak for themselves, others might state that “Bones” hasn’t been overly active or facing the same level of opposition.

    It was only a matter of time before Dana White was once again asked about this topic having been very vocal in the past that it’s Jones with no room for debate. After seeing the UFC boss change his answer, Aspinall commented on this during a video on his YouTube channel.

    “Now we’re seeing Dana White coming out and saying that he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 in the world, Islam Makhachev,” Aspinall said. “As we all know, to me, pound-for-pound is a lot of made-up stuff. I don’t look into that. But it’s just funny that he’s kind of jumped ship now from Jon Jones to Islam.”

    Regardless of whether or not Makhachev was able to convince anyone else that he is the best fighter in the sport today, Aspinall was happy to see him go out there and get the win. In many ways, it felt like a fairly routine outing for the 155-pound king but that doesn’t bother the Brit one bit.

    “Islam did what he was supposed to do: went out there, fought whoever was put in front of him, which is what a champion is supposed to do. Fought a guy that the UFC told him to fight, got the win, and he’s levels above anybody else in that division. He’s going to hold the belt for a long, long time, and that is something that I’m very excited for because I’m a massive Islam Makhachev fan.”

  • Renato Moicano Urges Dana White To Book His Next Fight Just Days On From UFC 311 Setback

    Renato Moicano Urges Dana White To Book His Next Fight Just Days On From UFC 311 Setback

    UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano is already looking ahead to his next assignment — and a grudge that he wants to settle in 2025.

    Moicano was the recipient of a surprise title shot this past weekend in Los Angeles, where MMA’s leading promotion opened its pay-per-view account for 2025 with UFC 311 from the Intuit Dome.

    Originally scheduled to do battle with Beneil Dariush on the main card, Moicano found himself making the walk for the headliner and sharing the Octagon with champion Islam Makhachev.

    His sudden title shot came about after the late withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, he was unable to shock the world on 24 hours’ notice, instead falling to a submission in the first round.

    While some may say it’s difficult to criticize the fan favorite’s efforts given the manner in which his first championship opportunity arrived, longtime rival Paddy Pimblett found a way.

    “The Baddy” berated the Brazilian in a reaction video, questioning why he tapped so quickly instead of ‘going out on his shield’. Those remarks sparked a tense back and forth between the pair on social media, reigniting talk of a clash inside the Octagon from 2024.

    Moicano, for one, is keen for it to come to fruition as soon as possible.

    “@danawhite just book this fight already,” he wrote on X.

    While Moicano is licking his wounds following an unsuccessful opening outing in 2025 and title shot, Pimblett remains without a date in the calendar for his next bout.

    With that in mind, perhaps the #13-ranked lightweight will find himself with the chance to back up his promise to replicate Makhachev’s performance against the Brazilian later this year.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    Arman Tsarukyan Has Surprising Reaction To Dana White Taking Away Title Shot After UFC 311 Withdrawal

    It would seem that Arman Tsarukyan is no longer the number one contender at 155 pounds.

    Tsarukyan was gearing up last week for his first shot at championship glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead of that, however, he watched on as Islam Makhachev shared the cage with Renato Moicano at UFC 311.

    That came about after the Armenian withdrew on weigh-in day after sustaining a back injury. Moicano was subsequently pulled from his main card clash with Beneil Dariush and handed a sudden title opportunity, which he was unable to capitalize on.

    After quickly submitting the Brazilian by way of a D’Arce choke, Makhachev’s reign has reached a record-breaking four successful defenses. And when it comes to his attempt at a fifth, there’s some uncertainty over opposition.

    During his press conference inside the Intuit Dome, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tsarukyan would not be keeping his title shot following his injury dropout.

    Interestingly, that decision has been supported by the man himself.

    “I agree with @danawhite. Once my back heals, I’ll be ready to prove I’m the true #1 contender by taking on anyone they put in front of me!” Tsarukyan wrote on X.

    Tsarukyan also identified a potential opponent, green-lighting a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a subsequent post.

    After recording a second win over Michael Chandler last November, “Do Bronx” was expecting to face the winner of the original UFC 311 main event later this year.

    But with the division appearing to be without a definitive next in line — assuming White’s remarks on Tsarukyan’s status prove true — perhaps the Brazilian will have the chance to avenge his UFC 300 setback to the Armenian.

  • Dana White Finally Concedes Defeat In Controversial Debate: ‘Are You Happy? Is Everybody Happy Now?’

    Dana White Finally Concedes Defeat In Controversial Debate: ‘Are You Happy? Is Everybody Happy Now?’

    For years, Dana White has hailed Jon Jones as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter. However, following UFC 311 on Saturday night, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has finally claimed top spot in the UFC CEO’s eyes.

    The recognition came after Makhachev submitted late replacement opponent Renato Moicano in the first round of the main event at Intuit Dome — an accomplishment White acknowledged to reporters.

    “Yeah, I’ll give it to him,” White said during the UFC 311 post-event press conference. “Are you happy? Is everybody happy now? One hundred percent, there’s no doubt about it. He’s the pound-for-pound best in the world, and he’s definitely the best to ever do it in that division.”

    Makhachev’s victory marked his fourth consecutive title defense, surpassing legends Khabib Nurmagomedov, Benson Henderson, and BJ Penn for the most in lightweight division history. Additionally, it was Makhachev’s 15th straight win in the UFC, placing him second only to Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive victories.

    Makhachev was initially scheduled to face Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch. However, Tsarukyan withdrew during Friday’s weigh-ins due to a back injury.

    Despite the sudden change, White commended Makhachev for his readiness to compete against anyone.

    “Islam was willing to fight anybody,” White said. “He’s stayed active, and he went out tonight and performed the way a guy should on a short-notice fight when you’re the best in the world, and you’re the champion.”

  • Dana White Says Arman Tsarukyan Must Earn Another Title Shot After UFC 311 Dropout

    Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from UFC 311, costing him a chance to compete for the lightweight championship.

    A back injury prevented him from facing lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev in the originally scheduled main event. The UFC secured Renato Moicano as a last-minute replacement, with the Brazilian ultimately losing to the Dagestani via first-round submission. The victory marked Makhachev’s fourth consecutive title defense.

    At the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White addressed Tsarukyan’s situation.

    “He’s not getting a title shot,” White stated. “That means he’s going to have to fight his way back to the title.”

    White further elaborated on the circumstances of Tsarukyan’s withdrawal.

    “He’s going back to the drawing board. I don’t want anybody to ever fight hurt, ever. We’ve been in these positions before. Went down there with the doctor, went down there with Heather [Linden] from the [UFC Performance Institute], who you can ask any fighter or anybody else, she’s the best in the world. You miss opportunities sometimes, and he did. So we’ll see how this plays out for him next year.”

  • VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC 311 Post-Fight Press Conference After Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili’s Headline Wins

    The UFC 311 pay-per-view recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference in Los Angeles.

    The Intuit Dome played host to Octagon action on Jan. 18, as the mixed martial arts leader opened its PPV schedule for 2025 with a strong lineup that featured two championships, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Islam Makhachev, Merab Dvalishvili, Jiří Procházka, Jailton Almeida and Reinier de Ridder.

    And before attention turns to the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia early next month, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 311.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White will appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC 311 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 311 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.

  • Dana White’s Latest Update On Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Is A Promising One

    Dana White’s Latest Update On Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Is A Promising One

    Right at the top of every fight fans’ wish list for 2025 is the potential for a heavyweight title unification clash in the UFC. Jon Jones might be considered by many to be the greatest to ever do it but some still question whether he is the best in his current division.

    Interim champion Tom Aspinall has a claim to be the best heavyweight in the world right now and his speed, power and age makes him such an interesting challenge for Jones to take on. The excitement around seeing them meet inside the Octagon has only increased following the comments that have been exchanged between them, specifically on the side of the heavyweight champion who hasn’t been overly interested in the fight.

    Fortunately, Dana White is and though Jones has proven to be a stubborn negotiator in the past, the UFC clearly wants to make it happen and that’s a step in the right direction. With Aspinall saying that he has already agreed to everything on his side, there appears to be plans in motion.

    White gave the same impression during a recent interview with Jim Rome where he spoke about the fight and his expectations of seeing it take place.

    “We’re in the works, we’re talking on it. I mean, I’ve said that I’m very confident that fight happens this year.”

    Without having a look behind the scenes, many will assume given the narrative surrounding the fight that getting Jones to sign on the dotted line will be the biggest hurdle. White said that despite this, he doesn’t believe there is a substantial barrier stopping this deal from getting across the line.

    “Nothing. Nothing’s holding it up. It’s just a matter of getting it done. You know, this stuff, it’s not as easy to put these type of fights together as people think they are. They take time and we’ll get it done.”

    (White appears on the show and talks about the fight at around the 2:37:00 mark)

  • Dana White Dismisses Talk Of Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul Boxing Match

    Dana White Dismisses Talk Of Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul Boxing Match

    Speculation surrounding a potential boxing match between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul has recently gained traction, but the former UFC champion’s employer isn’t keen.

    The Irishman hinted at ongoing discussions for a showdown, sparking widespread interest among fight fans. Reports suggest the bout could be financed by India’s Ambani family, headed by Mukesh Ambani, one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. If the fight were to materialize, it would mark McGregor’s first return to the boxing ring since his high-profile bout with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

    Rumors have escalated to suggest that the Irishman and Ohio native might earn an extraordinary $250 million from the event. However, UFC CEO Dana White dismissed the possibility of the fight during an appearance on Pardon My Take, responding with a definitive “no” when asked if McGregor’s highly anticipated comeback would occur in the form of a boxing match against Paul.

    It’s worth noting that McGregor’s exclusive UFC contract grants the organization control over any of his competitive engagements.

    White previously co-promoted McGregor’s fight with Mayweather, highlighting a precedent for UFC’s involvement in cross-promotional bouts. Despite the speculation, White has consistently indicated that the star fighter’s return will eventually happen, aiming for a comeback this fall.

    “The Notorious” has not fought since his 2021 bout against Dustin Poirier, which ended with a severe leg injury in their trilogy fight. While originally scheduled to face Michael Chandler in July, that matchup was postponed due to McGregor suffering a broken toe.

  • Dana White Reacts To Viral Video Of Khabib Nurmagomedov Being Kicked Off Frontier Flight: ‘That’s How Humble He Is…’

    Dana White Reacts To Viral Video Of Khabib Nurmagomedov Being Kicked Off Frontier Flight: ‘That’s How Humble He Is…’

    Dana White recently tore into Frontier Airlines after their staff removed Khabib Nurmagomedov from one of their flights.

    This past Sunday, the UFC Hall of Famer found himself embroiled in a tense dispute with a flight attendant aboard a flight from Las Vegas to San Francisco. The footage captured Nurmagomedov being asked to change seats, allegedly due to concerns over his English communication skills in a potential emergency — an aspect tied to a strict Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation for passengers seated in the exit row aisle.

    Even after the request, Nurmagomedov remained steadfast, seemingly adamant in his refusal to cooperate. This prompted the flight attendant to suggest involving a supervisor, who could have him escorted off the plane. Ultimately, “The Eagle” made the decision to leave the aircraft of his own accord.

    During a recent appearance on Pardon My Take, White reacted to Nurmagomedov’s removal from a Frontier Airlines flight. The UFC CEO didn’t hold back, ripping into the airline and humorously remarking that the undefeated Dagestani should have known better than to choose such a service for someone of his stature.

    “What the f**k is he doing on Frontier Airlines?” White said. “This kid’s got more money than anybody, and that’s how humble he is — he’s flying on that piece of sh*t airline. What do you expect? … I don’t know what you have to do to get kicked off Frontier Airlines, but yeah, listen, Khabib doesn’t fight anymore because he’s got sh*tloads of money. Yeah, I gotta teach Khabib how to charter a plane.”

    White continued his tirade, taking aim at the airline and asserting that, in his view, there was no one more suited than “The Eagle” to handle any potential emergency.

    “That’s how dumb they are on Frontier Airlines. If there’s anybody you want in that position, it’s Khabib Nurmagomedov. Good job, Frontier Airlines.”

    Following the polarizing incident, the former UFC lightweight champion took to social media to share his perspective. He asserted that, while he believed he had approached the conversation with courtesy, the flight attendant’s behavior was “very rude.” Additionally, he voiced concerns about whether the altercation had been spurred by “racial” bias.

    In response, Frontier Airlines released a statement unequivocally denying any allegations that Nurmagomedov was singled out due to his ethnicity. The airline instead argued that the retired mixed martial artist had initially failed to respond when asked if he could assist other passengers seated in the exit row.

  • Merab Dvalishvili ‘Grateful’ Dana White Defended Him Over UFC 310 Fan Incident

    Merab Dvalishvili ‘Grateful’ Dana White Defended Him Over UFC 310 Fan Incident

    UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili found himself in the middle of an altercation with a fan shortly after cornering Aljamain Sterling for his bout against Movsar Evloev at UFC 310 last month.

    Security intervened to separate Dvalishvili from the individual. However, tensions flared further when the fan began exchanging punches with Dennis Buzukja, a UFC featherweight and another member of Sterling’s team.

    UFC CEO Dana White addressed the incident during the post-fight press conference with a mix of frustration and understanding.

    “He’s my mini-Strickland — without the mouth,” White said of Dvalishvili. “What do you do? Let him buy the pay-per-view, I guess. You can’t keep fighting with f*cking fans. You can do it, but it’s going to cost you a lot of money. I say it all the time: we’re in the f*cking fight business. This happens. We’ve got to deal with it.”

    Dvalishvili shared his perspective in an interview with MMA Fighting, expressing gratitude for White’s support and addressing the situation in detail.

    “He defended me,” Dvalishvili said. “Before, the media would always ask him weird questions about me, like, ‘What about Merab doing this?’ They do that to get a bad answer from him. But this time, he defended me. The media again says, ‘Merab is scared of Umar.’ Bro, Dana knows I’m not scared. Every time they mention his name, I say yes, and Dana knows that’s true.”

    Describing the incident with the fan, Dvalishvili explained his side of the story.

    “Yeah, so Umar’s friend tried to provoke me and make me look bad. I’m a professional fighter. I love people. Usually, when I walk through the crowd, I show everyone love and support. But this guy was recording me [on his phone]. I thought he was being friendly, so I went closer. I was smiling, but then he started speaking Russian, using bad words. I know those words. He provoked me, and I wanted to fight the guy, but security jumped in.”

    He also reflected on the negative energy surrounding some fans and media members.

    “Thank you to Dana for defending me. I love the UFC; I’m grateful for this company. But there are so many haters and so many people — also in the media — who aren’t professional. Drama sells more, and that’s why they ask crazy questions. But I have a good relationship with the UFC, and we have no problems.”

    Dvalishvili will now shift his focus to defending his title for the first time against undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 this Saturday night.

  • Mark Zuckerberg On UFC CEO Dana White Joining Meta’s Board Of Directors: ‘His Ability To Build Such A Beloved Brand…’

    Mark Zuckerberg On UFC CEO Dana White Joining Meta’s Board Of Directors: ‘His Ability To Build Such A Beloved Brand…’

    Mark Zuckerberg announced on Monday that UFC CEO Dana White has become a member of Meta’s board of directors. The two business men have struck up a relationship in recent years due to their mutual interest in each other’s companies which has seen Zuckerberg sit cage-side for multiple UFC events.

    At one point, there was even talks of White promoting a fight between the Meta CEO and Elon Musk although that eventually dissolved.

    This move presents a new challenge for White who is always looking to challenge himself. Of course, the financial gain in becoming a part of a massive organization like Meta is sure to be a motivating factor also with White set to reportedly receive a retainer of at least $50,000 after joining the board alongside two other new members.

    Zuckerberg and Meta have been specifically linked to the UFC in recent times following White’s comments on the way that the promotion creates its ranking system for the fighters. He has spoken about wanting to use AI in order to take opinion out of the conversation following his criticism throughout 2024 regarding the current method.

    “I’ve never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta’s board,” White said in a statement. “I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future.”

    Zuckerberg is also excited to see the value that White can bring to Meta as in his own statement. As an avid mixed martial arts fan, he praised the UFC boss for the work that he has done to transform the promotion into a major player in sport which in turn, has made MMA into a mainstream product.

    “(White) has built (UFC) into one of the most valuable, fastest growing and most popular sports enterprises in the world,” Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook. “I’ve admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand.”

  • Brendan Schaub: Only Francis Ngannou Return Would Live Up To Dana White’s Tease For 2025

    Brendan Schaub: Only Francis Ngannou Return Would Live Up To Dana White’s Tease For 2025

    Dana White teased fight fans in his final UFC press conference of 2024 by claiming that there is something in the works for 2025 that will have fans losing their minds when it gets announced. Speaking after the promotion’s Fight Night event in Tampa, the UFC boss spoke about how they always manage to exceed the previous year after going all out.

    Without giving anything away, he said that alongside the big fights that have already been announced for next year’s schedule, there’s something fresh off the press that nobody will be able to predict ahead of time.

    “I anticipate a lot of big fights, I’ve got something in the works right now that’ll drive you [media] crazy. All you guys will be running around. I got something in the works that you will never f**ing see coming for 2025. It literally started to come together last night. Yeah, we got some fun stuff coming up.”

    In a response to White’s comments, former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub attempted to speculate what this mind-blowing fight announcement could possibly be. The return of the former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov would elicit that kind of reaction in Schaub’s opinion but he also knows that “The Eagle” has made it very clear that he will not go back on his decision to retire.

    One potential major shift in the MMA landscape that Schaub did pinpoint is the current status of Francis Ngannou. “The Predator” recently made his return to the cage in his PFL debut at Battle of the Giants where he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round.

    After tearing right through his Brazilian foe, there were two big questions on everyone’s mind, who is out there for Ngannou to face next and is he still the best heavyweight on the planet considering that he never lost the UFC title having vacated it when he departed the promotion? Schaub believes that Ngannou stepping back inside the Octagon to mix it up with the likes of the division’s two titleholders, Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, would come out of left field and set the bar extremely high for 2025.

    “With the internet today, and like the rumors and fake news, it’s damn near impossible to blow somebody. No matter what he [White] says, when I heard them like, ‘What could it be?’ The only thing that would blow me, like blow me hard, like b*st hard, would be if it’s Francis. He has one fight left on PFL contract. He’s going to finish that out fighting who, God knows what poor soul they’re going to find to get knocked out by him.

    “And then, he’ll be a free agent. If they’re like, ‘We got Francis back in the mix. Francis is going to fight the winner, guaranteed winner, of Aspinall-Jones.’ That would blow me. But that’s where I’m at. That’s very difficult to get done. Outside that, what else could it be?”

  • Dana White Gives Short Reaction To Host Of UFC Veterans Returning For Global Fight League Launch

    Dana White Gives Short Reaction To Host Of UFC Veterans Returning For Global Fight League Launch

    The Global Fight League (GFL) recently announced a huge number of additions to its roster ahead of the promotion’s full launch in 2025. Many of the names are familiar to fight fans as a whole host of former UFC fighters, veterans and champions are available to be drafted before the GFL’s team-based season format gets underway.

    Despite this being a major announcement in the MMA landscape, the reaction from a lot of fans wasn’t overly positive because many of the top names that have come to terms with the GFL are fighters that are either in the final years of their careers or seen to be past their primes. Given his previous comments on other promotions that have looked to change the MMA landscape, it’s not surprising that UFC boss Dana White was sceptical to say the least.

    Rather than criticizing the GFL, White welcomed them to come and try their hand at mixed martial arts during his post-fight press conference in Tampa this past weekend. With a smirk on his face, he is happy to see how other promotions will attempt to compete and do things differently.

    “I actually don’t know anything about it. I saw this all the time, I welcome everybody. Listen, there’s no barrier to get into this sport. I hear a lot of people saying that we ‘don’t do this right’ or we ‘don’t do that right’. Come on in everybody, dive in.”

    Though White said that he wasn’t familiar with the promotion’s recent announcement, after having a list of some of the top signings read out to him, he gave his response to hearing some of the names that GFL has acquired. There was a particular emphasis places on the inclusion of Wanderlei Silva who at 48-years old, hasn’t fought since he departed the UFC in 2013 and returned to fight twice in Bellator in 2017 and 2018.

    “Fascinating. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

  • Manel Kape Has Title Shot Pleas Rejected After Standout UFC Tampa Performance

    Manel Kape Has Title Shot Pleas Rejected After Standout UFC Tampa Performance

    UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape didn’t shy away from letting the brass know what he wants at Saturday’s event in Tampa.

    After having his title plans stalled by Muhammad Mokaev in Manchester this past July, Kape returned to action at the UFC’s final event of 2024, where he was tasked with defending his position on the ladder against Bruno Silva.

    “Starboy” bounced back in style, putting on a show with the kind of striking and confident showboating that attracted the MMA leader’s attention while he held gold under the Rizin banner.

    And following two strong rounds, Kape closed the show with strikes in the final frame to cap off a near-flawless return to the win column.

    In the aftermath, the Angola-born Portuguese fighter pleaded with Dana White cageside, making his case for the next shot at Alexandre Pantoja. That was a continuation of a conversation Kape also attempted to start in-between rounds.

    Unfortunately for “Starboy,” he seemingly wasn’t persuasive enough.

    During the post-fight press conference backstage at Amalie Arena, UFC CEO Dana White reflected on Kape’s perseverance when it came to pitching a rematch with champ Pantoja, whom he lost to in his promotional debut back in 2021.

    White did not, however, have the answer the flyweight contender would have been hoping for.

    “No, he’s not getting a title shot,” White said. “But we’ll definitely give him what he’s looking for.”

    It’s unclear what White is referring to, given that Kape was looking for a shot at redemption opposite Pantoja with the flyweight gold on the line next year.

    Regardless, it seems “Starboy” has some work to do if he’s to secure a first championship opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage and the chance to add UFC gold to his trophy cabinet in the sport.

  • Dana White Teases Something In The Works That Fans Will ‘Never F**king See Coming’ For 2025

    Dana White Teases Something In The Works That Fans Will ‘Never F**king See Coming’ For 2025

    Following UFC Tampa, the promotion’s final event of the year, Dana White dropped a tantalizing hint that has fight fans buzzing.

    Reflecting on a banner year for his promotion — one filled with massive fights, record-breaking moments, and unforgettable highlights — White suggested that even bigger surprises await in the near future.

    Speaking to the media at the post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO shared his excitement about what lies ahead for both the organization and his other ventures, including Power Slap and Nitro Circus. While he remained tight-lipped about specifics, his comments hinted at seismic plans in the works.

    “Every year over the last 17 years, I’ve said, ‘How is next year gonna be bigger than this year?’” White said. “And some of the stuff that we’re already working on is…on multiple levels, not just UFC. We got Power Slap meetings going on down there. SLS [Street League Skateboarding], which I own a piece of, did an event down there today, and UFC stuff is being worked on right now in Brazil.”

    White then upped the intrigue, promising a major announcement that would shock fans.

    “I anticipate a lot of big fights,” he said with a grin. “I’ve got something in the works right now that’ll drive you [media] crazy. All you guys will be running around. I got something in the works that you will never f**ing see coming for 2025. It literally started to come together last night. Yeah, we got some fun stuff coming up.”

    While fans speculate about the cryptic remarks, the UFC is gearing up for its first event of 2025. UFC Vegas 101 is set to take place on Jan. 11 at Las Vegas’ Apex, headlined by a women’s strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas.

    With White’s tease of groundbreaking news for 2025, anticipation for what the new year will bring is already at an all-time high.

  • Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Dana White On Colby Covington’s Defeat To Joaquin Buckley: ‘That Fight Doesn’t Get Stopped In Vegas’

    Joaquin Buckley delivered a commanding performance against Colby Covington in the UFC Tampa main event. However, the fight concluded on a somewhat anticlimactic note when the ringside physician halted the contest due to a gruesome cut on Covington’s face.

    The injury, which worsened as the fight progressed, raised concerns about potential damage to the former interim welterweight champion’s eyelid, prompting the doctor to stop the fight in the third round.

    Dana White shared his thoughts on the stoppage during the post-fight press conference. While acknowledging Buckley’s dominant performance, the UFC CEO expressed disagreement with the decision to end the fight, suggesting the outcome might have been different under different circumstances.

    “No doubt that was a bad cut, but that fight doesn’t get stopped in Vegas,” White stated. “That fight keeps going in Vegas. 100 percent.

    “Listen, Colby’s an older guy who fights every once in a while. He’s always durable and tough. Did you hear the body shots he was taking tonight? And the head shots? Those would have stopped other guys. Colby’s tough, but I feel like he wasn’t too pissed about the stoppage. The cut was definitely bothering him.”

    White emphasized Covington’s resilience, noting that, despite the damage, “Chaos” remained competitive.

    “He’s obviously still one of the top-ranked guys. What we were saying about him all night — he took big shots and stayed in there. But I also believe if that fight’s in Vegas, that fight doesn’t get stopped with that cut. Still, I don’t think Colby was very upset when it did. The cut was bothering him.”

    While the fight’s ending sparked some debate, Buckley’s victory underscored his status as a rising force in the division, with a performance that left no doubt about his dominance.

  • VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC Tampa Post-Fight Press Conference After Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson’s Headline Wins

    The year-ending UFC Tampa event recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference at Amalie Arena.

    The venue played host to Octagon action on Dec. 14, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its schedule for 2024 with a strong lineup that featured a former interim champion, ranked contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for Joaquin Buckley, Cub Swanson, Manel Kape, Dustin Jacoby, Daniel Marcos, Michael Johnson and Sean Woodson.

    And before attention turns to next year’s offerings from the mixed martial arts leader, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC Tampa.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White is expected to appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC Tampa will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC Tampa post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1 AM ET.

  • Cris Cyborg Sends Message To Dana White Amid Growing Discontent Among PFL Fighters

    Cris Cyborg Sends Message To Dana White Amid Growing Discontent Among PFL Fighters

    Since acquiring Bellator and the majority of the promotion’s roster towards the end of 2023, it has been a difficult year for the PFL in some ways. Throughout 2024, several big names and champions have publicly voiced their issues with not being offered fights for various reasons.

    As a result, we’ve seen big names like Gegard Mousasi leave the promotion whilst other top stars like Patricio Pitbull and Patchy Mix have recently started to air their issues over fights being cancelled and not rescheduled with little communication. Pitbull in particular stated that if he isn’t going to be offered any fights, he would like to be released so that he can go and fight elsewhere with an opportunity to finally compete in the UFC being a big attraction for him.

    In his post-fight press conference for UFC 310 this past Saturday, Dana White gave his thoughts on the fighters that are becoming frustrated with how they have been treated in the PFL.

    “Listen, the last couple of months, we’ve been talking a lot about the PFL. They’re cancelling a lot of shows, I know that a lot of guys that are supposed to fight aren’t fighting and… I mean, you guys know what the f*** is going on. When you see that start to happen, you’re running out of money, things aren’t looking good and you’re gonna have people that want to jump ship. These guys want to fight. You have a very limited time of opportunity when you’re a professional athlete and even less when you’re a fighter. So I’m sure you’re gonna see a lot of that and we’ll see how this plays out over the next several months going into 25.”

    Arguably the most outspoken major name regarding being unsatisfied with their treatment in the PFL has been Cris Cyborg. After beating Cat Zingano at the second to last Bellator event before the promotion was sold, she had to wait just over a year to get her next fight booked.

    Despite getting the fight that she wanted against Larissa Pacheco at Battle of the Giants where she won the inaugural PFL Super Fights title in the women’s featherweight division, this hasn’t completely mended the bridge between Cyborg and the PFL.

    Following her win over Felicia Spencer back in 2019, White stated that the UFC would not be re-signing the former champion after Cyborg’s contract had expired following a less than stellar relationship between the two parties. However, in a social media post reacting to the UFC boss’ recent comments at the press conference, it appears that the Brazilian isn’t opposed to stepping back inside the Octagon, especially if it means settling a score once and for all.

  • VIDEO: Dana White Tells Alexander Volkov The Judges ‘F*cked’ Him In Cageside Interaction At UFC 310

    VIDEO: Dana White Tells Alexander Volkov The Judges ‘F*cked’ Him In Cageside Interaction At UFC 310

    UFC CEO Dana White offered words of support to Alexander Volkov after the heavyweight contender was controversially beaten by Ciryl Gane at this past weekend’s pay-per-view.

    Volkov returned at UFC 310 on Saturday night for his second outing of the year, having extended his winning run to four straight fights with an upset win over Sergei Pavlovich in Saudi Arabia this past June. That result put the Russian up to #3 in the rankings and earned him a shot at avenging his 2021 main event loss to Gane.

    In the eyes of many, “Drago” did enough to do just that inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. But while judge Eric Colón agreed, Adalaide Byrd and Junichiro Kamijo shocked plenty by submitting scorecards in favor of the Frenchman.

    Among those who disagreed with the result in an arena filled with boos after the result was the UFC CEO, who engaged in discourse with a clearly baffled and distraught Volkov as he exited the cage.

    The moment was captured and posted by ESPN MMA on X.

    White told the Russian he was “f*cked” by the judges and that the promotion would try to do right by him.

    The result marked Gane’s second victory over the Russian, coming three years on from a more convincing five-round decision over the former Bellator champion. “Bon Gamin” has now won back-to-back fights since a crushing defeat to Jon Jones in March 2023.

  • Dana White On Merab Dvalishvili After UFC 310 Fan Clash: ‘He’s My Mini-Sean Strickland — Without The Mouth’

    Dana White On Merab Dvalishvili After UFC 310 Fan Clash: ‘He’s My Mini-Sean Strickland — Without The Mouth’

    Fight fans — and even UFC CEO Dana White — are drawing comparisons between former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and current bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili, albeit with a twist.

    Dvalishvili is being dubbed the “mini-Strickland,” but “without the mouth,” according to White.

    The Georgian is set to make his first title defense against undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025. However, his antics outside the octagon are grabbing the headlines.

    At UFC 310 on Saturday night, Dvalishvili was involved in an altercation with a fan after cornering Aljamain Sterling for his bout against Movsar Evloev. Security stepped in to separate “The Machine” from the fan, but the situation escalated when the fan began exchanging punches with another member of Sterling’s coaching team, UFC featherweight Dennis Buzukja.

    Addressing the incident during the UFC 310 post-fight press conference, White expressed both exasperation and resignation.

    “He’s my mini-Strickland — without the mouth,” White said of Dvalishvili. “What do you do? Let him buy the pay-per-view, I guess. You can’t keep fighting with f*cking fans. You can do it, but it’s going to cost you a lot of money. I say it all the time: we’re in the f*cking fight business. This happens. We’ve got to deal with it.”

    This isn’t Dvalishvili’s first clash with fans. In August, he confronted a heckler during the Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas, climbing into the audience to address the situation.

    At the UFC 311 on-sale press conference this week, White admitted he had to keep an eye on Dvalishvili after noticing another fan taunting him from the crowd.

  • Dana White Calls For Three Retirements After UFC 310 Results

    Dana White Calls For Three Retirements After UFC 310 Results

    Dana White has made it clear he believes Chris Weidman, Anthony Smith, and Clay Guida should consider hanging up their gloves following their losses at UFC 310.

    During Saturday’s preliminary card, Weidman suffered a TKO defeat at the hands of Eryk Anders, Guida was submitted by Chase Hooper, and Smith fell via TKO to Dominick Reyes.

    Among the three, “Lionheart” hinted at retirement, stating it was “probably” his final fight. However, neither the former middleweight champion nor inaugural Strikeforce lightweight titleholder addressed the possibility during the event.

    At the UFC 310 post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO didn’t mince words, expressing his hope that all three fighters would call it a career.

    “They should all retire tonight,” White said.

    This isn’t the first time White has encouraged Weidman to consider retirement. His loss to Anders marks a 1-3 record in his last four fights.

    Meanwhile, Smith removed his gloves in the octagon but stopped short of making an official announcement.

    For Guida, the defeat extends a challenging stretch, leaving him 1-4 record in his last five bouts.

  • VIDEO: UFC 310 Post-Fight Press Conference After Pantoja, Rakhmonov’s Headline Wins

    VIDEO: UFC 310 Post-Fight Press Conference After Pantoja, Rakhmonov’s Headline Wins

    The UFC 310 pay-per-view recently concluded, and MMA News has you covered with the post-fight press conference in Las Vegas.

    T-Mobile Arena played host to Octagon action on Dec. 7, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its PPV schedule for 2024 with a stacked lineup that featured a championship, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.

    Of note were victories for reigning UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja, top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell, “Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi and the undefeated Movsar Evloev.

    And before attention turns to next weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 310.

    Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White will appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC 310 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.

    With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 310 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.

  • Dana White Cancels Trip To Watch Fighter From UFC 308 Presser After Martial Law Declared In South Korea

    Dana White Cancels Trip To Watch Fighter From UFC 308 Presser After Martial Law Declared In South Korea

    At the UFC 308 press conference in October, undefeated fighter Dorobshokh Nabotov stole headlines when he made the most of his time on the mic. Speaking directly to UFC President Dana White, he called for an opportunity to prove himself inside the Octagon and after listing his accomplishments, he was called down from the crowd and onto the stage where he shook hands with the boss.

    It was later announced that Nabotov would be offered the chance to fight on Z-Fight Night, the South Korean MMA promotion which is owned by MMA legend, Chan Sung Jung, AKA “The Korean Zombie”. The promotion is set to host it’s second event on December 14 in Goyang on the same night as the UFC’s final event of 2024 in Tampa.

    White said that they would be attending the card in order to record a new episode of “Looking For A Fight”, a UFC series where White often travels alongside Matt Serra and Din Thomas to visit some tourist attractions, dine on some local delicacies and most importantly, head to a fight card that features a few interesting fighters. If Nabotov had looked impressive in his fight against Brazil’s Matheus Camilo, it’s likely that he would have been offered another big opportunity right there on the night.

    However, travel plans have been changed as a result of what is happening in South Korea right now. On Tuesday, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, sending heavily armed forces into the streets which has led to significant protesting and unrest. Though opposing parties were able to cancel Yoon’s declaration just six hours after it began by voting against it, this difficult situation is still far from over.

    In a post put up on the promotion’s Instagram, Z-Fight Night announced that White will no longer be attending their event as a result.

    “Due to the declaration of martial law in South Korea on December 3, Dana White, who was scheduled to attend ZFN 02 on December 14, will unfortunately no longer be able to attend the event. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was looking forward to his visit. ZFN will do its best to invite Dana White to a future event. Thank you for your understanding.”

    It appears that the event will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass so Nabotov will still have a big opportunity to impress people from the UFC that will be tuning in to see how he performs.

  • Dana White Touts The Major Success UFC Had Because Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

    Dana White Touts The Major Success UFC Had Because Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

    During the global shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, most sports leagues went on hiatus for several months. However, organizations like the UFC and WWE resumed operations relatively quickly.

    The UFC utilized its Apex facility, conveniently located near its headquarters, to host events without fans in attendance. This setup proved ideal, as Nevada’s relatively lenient restrictions at the time allowed the UFC to avoid disruptions caused by stricter state mandates elsewhere.

    The UFC continues to hold Fight Night events at the Apex, though CEO Dana White has indicated a potential reduction in their frequency in 2025. White recently highlighted the pivotal role the Apex and the UFC’s quick adaptation played during the pandemic — a period that significantly contributed to the organization’s current success.

    “Going through COVID definitely didn’t hurt us,” Dana White told Bloomberg. “There were no sports on TV except for us. Fights that should have been doing 300,000 buys were doing a million. Our fan base grew something like 68 percent during COVID.”

    UFC Apex
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC

    Looking ahead, the UFC is showing no signs of slowing down. The organization has ambitious plans for 2025, including its first pay-per-view event at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome near Los Angeles.

    Additionally, the UFC will return to Saudi Arabia for a major event on February 1 and begin negotiations for a new television deal.

  • Dana White: Mike Tyson Was Right & I Was Wrong — Jake Paul Couldn’t Do S**t To Him

    Mike Tyson and Jake Paul faced heavy criticism following their highly anticipated fight on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    The bout, which aired exclusively on Netflix, was plagued by streaming issues and an underwhelming performance that disappointed many fans as the fight went the distance.

    UFC CEO Dana White had expressed reservations about the event but chose not to dissuade his friend Tyson from participating. Reflecting on the fight, White commended Tyson for accurately assessing the matchup, predicting Paul would fail to knock him out despite the hype.

    “I told him, ‘Mike, you’re basically 60 years old,’ and he’s like, ‘You honestly think this f—ing kid’s gonna do anything to me? He’s not good. He’s not gonna f—ing knock me out. He’s not gonna do this. You saw him. He tripped when he was walking down to the ring. He had a hard time walking up the stairs. He had a knee brace on, and Jake Paul still couldn’t do anything to him. He made a ton of money, and I know people are mad. You stayed home on a Friday night, but you didn’t pay for it, you know what I mean?’”

    White further emphasized that Tyson’s presence guarantees profitability. He acknowledged Tyson’s savvy decision-making, even if the fight didn’t meet expectations.

    “Jake Paul couldn’t do s— to him. So he was right, and I was wrong,” White admitted. “(Dave) Portnoy went out and said it was the greatest con job of all time. But if you didn’t think that’s the way the fight would go — I don’t know what people expected. Mike’s almost 60 years old. He’s Mike Tyson, but he’s 60, and he knew Jake Paul couldn’t do anything to him.”

    Despite the controversy, the fight demonstrated Tyson’s enduring ability to captivate an audience and generate significant revenue.