ARTICLE AD BOX
Dana White, the UFC president, believes that MMA is set to become the biggest sport in the world. Since taking over UFC in 2001, White has overseen its growth from a $2 million valuation to a $4 billion sale. The recent merger with WWE, now part of TKO Group, values the combined organizations at over $12 billion in 2023.
It has become clear that Dana White, the key figure behind UFC, has made a brilliant move, generating massive profits for himself and his partners. Since its inception, UFC has experienced steady annual growth, and it can now be considered one of the strongest sports organizations, with no plans of slowing down. Their ambitions have only grown, aiming to break even more records and surpass many other sports in popularity.
White is confident that MMA, with UFC leading the way, could surpass football and basketball in global popularity. The sport has seen huge growth in the last decade, driven by stars like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya, and Weili Zhang, who have helped expand its reach worldwide.
Many other stars have contributed to this success, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. The Dagestani fighters have been crucial in popularizing MMA and UFC, proving themselves as some of the best athletes in the organization. It’s hard to mention all the stars who have played a role, but those who have followed UFC from its early days know just how many talented fighters have come through and helped build its reputation.
In an interview with Fox News, White highlighted that MMA’s appeal cuts across all boundaries; race, nationality, and language. He also spoke highly of Joe Rogan, a longtime UFC commentator who started out part-time and became a major media figure. White put an accent on Rogan’s early dedication, including working without pay for the first 13 fights, which contributed to his current status as a leading podcaster and commentator. It's hard to leave out Rogan in this story, who many consider to be probably the most important person in the company after Dana White.
White’s optimism reflects a strong faith in MMA’s potential to dominate the global sports scene.
White also addressed current U.S. political figures, expressing his view on Donald Trump. Dana White, the key figure at UFC, has high praise for a potential future U.S. president, who is known for his strong support of sports, including MMA. Donald Trump has never hidden his love and passion for the sport, and his visits to UFC events are expected to continue. As a presidential candidate, Trump intends to keep attending UFC matches, hoping to witness more outstanding performances from fighters.
"Trump is the most resilient human being I've ever met.
He showed up for the first fight and stayed till the last fight for both events,” White said, as quoted by Bjpenn.
Dana never hid that Trump is a person who congratulates him after every match on the spectacle he has put on, hoping for equally exciting matches.
“He’s a guy who would reach out to me my entire career when good things happen and say, ‘Hey, congratulations. I always knew you were going to do it.'”-he continued.
Dana White on MMA and his goals
Dana White has consistently believed that MMA will one day become one of the greatest sport in the world. He explains that the sport's universal appeal transcends race, nationality, and language, emphasizing that fighting is inherent to human nature. According to White, the universal understanding and love for combat make it a sport that resonates with everyone.
He also points out that when people see fighters who are the best in the world and share their nationality, language, or appearance, it creates a strong connection. This connection leads to widespread support and enthusiasm. White is confident that there is no country or background where you can’t find a fighter who will attract attention and support.
Dana White’s goal is to take UFC to every corner of the globe and attract the attention of fans from all sports to MMA. He has been quite successful in this attempt so far, but he has no intention of stopping. White aims for UFC to become a global brand, recognizable everywhere.
The main man of the UFC admitted that he has a lot of plans in the game and that the UFC will give fans even greater shows in the future. The UFC as a company has come a long way since day one.
According to many, the competition is much higher now, there are a large number of quality fighters, and perhaps the most important thing is that many boys want to become MMA fighters and build a career in the UFC.
English (US)