Dana White is a very competent businessman. As much as we love to criticize UFC’s base pay it’s hard to not give credit where it’s due. UFC and White manage to straddle the line of politics and employ a number of athletes through many different political and global crisis.
White told Carlson:
“I did not vote for President Biden. He’s my president. He’s the president of the United States right now. And I’m American. I don’t dislike or hate anybody who voted for Biden. The fact that you’re the type of person that would actually hate somebody because of who they voted for shows me exactly who you are. I don’t want to know you anyway.”
“You’re not my kind of person, and I don’t want to be friends with you either. So the feeling is very mutual. And it’s not because of who you voted for. It’s because of how you carry yourself. Who you vote for, or what you decide to do with your life means nothing to me. That’s your own personal choice.”
“In America, this is a free country and you can choose to vote or do whatever you want to do with your personal life.”
Considering UFC is forced to work with any and all US administrations makes this a very nuanced take. UFC has a large number of athletes from problematic regions – and often with criminal histories. This makes Visa issues a very big part of day to day issues in UFC’s offices.
This is note worthy because White and his organization clearly cater to a certain demo audience but despite that they’re business savy and refuse to limit themselves to that demo alone.
Despite being a longtime friend of former president Donald Trump and having spoken at a Republican party convention, White straddled the bipartisan line and demonstrated an openness that’s quite interesting to see in a space that’s predominantly oriented toward white males 18-45.
Dana White started as a cardio kickboxing instructor. His first brush with MMA came when he started managing Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.
White became the president of UFC in 2001 when Fertitta brothers acquired the UFC. He’s been with the promotion since. While White stayed on through the Endeavor acquisition he’s rumored to be taking a back seat to UFC’s chief operating officer Hunter Campbell nowadays. He’s rumored to be in the lead to be White’s successor if he were to retire.