Dana White News
Mackenzie Dern says Marina Rodriguez fight isn't done despite Dana White announcing it
Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern says the Marina Rodriguez fight isn’t done despite UFC president Dana White announcing it. White revealed last week that the UFC is targeting a matchup between Dern and Rodriguez, two of the top-10 women’s strawweights in the world. However, Dern says that the fight isn’t done just yet. Speaking to AG Fight, Dern said that the UFC has offered her the fight with Rodriguez as the main event for the July 31 UFC Fight Night card. However, Dern said that Rodriguez isn’t ready to fight on that date, and Dern hopes she gets someone else as her ambitious plan includes fighting someone in July and then fighting again in September.
Dana White views Tatiana Suarez as potential title contender at 125lbs, but believes she will be "a little rusty"
Adam Martin - May 23, 2021
UFC president Dana White says he views Tatiana Suarez as a potential title contender at 125lbs but he believes she will be “a little rusty.” Suarez announced this week that she plans on returning to the Octagon later this year as a flyweight. The former Ultimate Fighter winner was viewed by many as a future title contender at 115lbs, but she has missed the last two years of action due to a neck injury and other issues. Now that she’s ready to fight again, Suarez likes the idea of moving up to 125lbs, where she would be chasing the belt held by UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. There are fewer contenders at 125lbs and it’s conceivable that even just one big win for Suarez could be enough to earn her a title shot against Shevchenko.
Dana White suggests that Francis Ngannou’s first title defense will take place at UFC 265
Adam D Martin - May 23, 2021
UFC president Dana White suggested that Francis Ngannou’s first title defense will take place at UFC 265 when he takes on Derrick Lewis. Ngannou is set to take on Derrick Lewis for his first UFC heavyweight title defense. The UFC originally wanted to have Ngannou fight former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but the fight hasn’t materialized due to Jones and the UFC being involved in a financial dispute over how much money he should make for the Ngannou fight. With Jones out, the UFC has instead given the title shot to Lewis, who is coming off of a huge KO win over Curtis Blaydes in his last fight. We know the fight is coming, and now we have a date.
UFC President Dana White reacts after Paul Felder announces his retirement from MMA
Christopher Taylor - May 22, 2021
UFC President Dana White was asked for his thoughts after Paul Felder announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on Saturday evening. During tonight’s UFC Vegas 27: ‘Font vs. Garbrandt’ main card broadcast, Felder (17-6 MMA) shocked fans by announcing his retirement from the sport.
Dana White reacts to Rob Font defeating Cody Garbrandt at UFC Vegas 27
Chris Taylor - May 22, 2021
Dana White spoke with ESPN moments after Rob Font was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Cody Garbrandt this evening in Las Vegas. Font (19-4 MMA) and Garbrandt (12-4 MMA) squared off in the headliner of tonight’s UFC Vegas 27 main event with the winner presumably entering bantamweight title contention.
Oscar De La Hoya issues challenge to Dana White in hopes of securing future boxing match with Georges St-Pierre
Chris Taylor - May 21, 2021
Oscar De La Hoya has issued a challenge to UFC President Dana White in hopes of securing a future boxing match with Georges St-Pierre. Earlier this week Triller boss Ryan Kavanaugh accused White and company of blocking GSP from competing in a proposed boxing match with De La Hoya.
Dana White claims he has “absolutely moved on” from the idea of Jon Jones fighting at heavyweight
Adam D Martin - May 21, 2021
UFC president Dana White claims that he has “absolutely moved on” from the idea of former 205lbs champion Jon Jones fighting at heavyweight. It was last summer that Jones vacated the UFC light heavyweight title and made his intentions known that he was moving up to heavyweight in 2021. He has spent the last year bulking up to get stronger, and he was widely expected to fight the winner of the UFC 260 main event between Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic, which Ngannou won via second-round knockout. However, after going through a very public contract negotiation with White for his move up to heavyweight, it appears that move is not on the table.
Diego Sanchez following split with Joshua Fabia: "Sometimes you have to look hard in the mirror to see yourself clearly"
Christopher Taylor - May 20, 2021
It sounds like former TUF 1 winner Diego Sanchez did a lot of soul searching following his recent release from the UFC. Sanchez (30-13 MMA) was expected to have his final fight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship earlier this month at UFC Vegas 26 against fellow veteran Donald Cerrone. However, that fight was scrapped just ten days prior to the event after Diego’s coach and mentor Joshua Fabia had a confrontation with promotional officials. The incident also resulted in Diego Sanchez’s release from the organization.
Dana White says the UFC will be "ready" for Kayla Harrison when her PFL contract is up
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
UFC president Dana White says that the UFC will be “ready” for lightweight standout Kayla Harrison when her PFL contract is officially up. Harrison is currently in the PFL, where she is the defending lightweight champion. She is part of the promotion’s third season and is already well on her way to winning another $1 million dollars after smashing Mariana Morais in her first outing this year. Harrison’s contract is up later this year and there have been whispers that she could test free agency once that happens. It’s possible that Bellator could be interested in having her fight Cris Cyborg, but Harrison has made it clear that her goal is to ultimately join the UFC roster.
Henry Cejudo offers to help Dana White, open to comeback fights with 3 current UFC champions
Harry Kettle - May 19, 2021
Former two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo has offered to come out of retirement for a fight against one of three UFC title holders. Cejudo, also known as “Triple C”, has spent the last few years building a real platform for himself as he continues to spread his name and brand out there in the mainstream media.
Dan Hardy opens up on "weird" split from UFC, reveals he turned down fights with Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller
Christopher Taylor - May 18, 2021
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy was officially released by the promotion last week after requesting his dismissal. ‘The Outlaw’ was granted his release from a nine-year old contract with the UFC, this after his relationship with Dana White and company went sour.
Dana White signs two new fighters to the UFC following Fury FC 46 event in Houston
Adam D Martin - May 18, 2021
UFC president Dana White signed two new fighters to the UFC following the Fury FC 46 event in Houston that took place on Sunday evening. White was in Houston for UFC 262 and the next night he was in attendance at Fury FC 46: Lookin’ For a Fight where he was scouting future UFC talent. According to Nolan King of MMAjunkie.com, the UFC leader found several fighters that he was interested in. In fact, White signed two of the event’s winners and invited another to the Contender Series.
Dana White reacts after Las Vegas goes Mask Off and Lifts Social Distancing Rules, commends Florida and Texas for “leading the way”
Adam D Martin - May 17, 2021
Dana White reacted after Las Vegas goes mask off and life social distancing Rules, commending Florida and Texas for “leading the way.” The UFC president is a Las Vegas resident and he’s excited to get back home where he doesn’t have to wear a mask now and where social-distancing rules will be lifted. Taking to his social media on Sunday evening, White reacted to Las Vegas lifting its rules, while commending the states of Florida and Texas for leading the way about these changes.
Dana White says "nobody is going to force Jon Jones to fight" in the UFC again
Adam Martin - May 16, 2021
Speaking to the media following UFC 262, president Dana White said that “nobody is going to force Jon Jones to fight” in the Octagon again. White and Jones have been involved in very public contract negotiations for a potential showdown with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Jones and Ngannou both want the fight, but Jones wants more than the promotion’s offer of $10 million, with suggestions that he could want $30 million for the fight. With White and the UFC not budging on their offer, the promotion went ahead and booked Ngannou against No. 1 contender Derrick Lewis. It leaves Jones on the sidelines once again, and while he could potentially fight the winner of Ngannou vs. Lewis 2, that’s not set in stone, either.
Dana White responds to accusations that he prevented Georges St-Pierre from boxing Oscar De La Hoya in Triller
Adam D Martin - May 16, 2021
UFC president Dana White responded to the accusations that he prevented Georges St-Pierre from boxing Oscar De La Hoya in Triller. It was alleged his week that White blocked Triller promoter Ryan Kavanaugh from signing St-Pierre to fight in a boxing match against de la Hoya for Triller. Though GSP is retired, he is still under UFC contract and White apparently exercised his right to block the fight. Speaking to the media following UFC 262, White went on an epic rant against Triller.
Charles Oliveira not closing the door on featherweight: "If Dana White gave me the opportunity to go back down to featherweight and win, I'd take it"
Chris Taylor - May 15, 2021
Charles Oliveira is not closing the door on a return to featherweight after defeating Michael Chandler for the lightweight title at tonight’s UFC 262 event. Oliveira (31-8 MMA) and Chandler (22-6 MMA) squared off for the promotions vacant lightweight title this evening in Houston.
Dana White responds after Tony Ferguson suggests Michael Chandler received "Dana White privilege" with UFC 262 title shot
Chris Taylor - May 15, 2021
Dana White has responded after Tony Ferguson insinuated that Michael Chandler received his UFC 262 title shot due to “Dana White privilege”. During Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, ‘El Cucuy’ took aim at Chandler by suggesting the former Bellator champ had “dodged him” and was then handed a title shot.
Dana White and the UFC block Georges St-Pierre from boxing Oscar De La Hoya
Chris Taylor - May 15, 2021
Dana White and the UFC prevented a boxing match between Georges St-Pierre and Oscar De La Hoya from coming to fruition according to Triller boss Ryan Kavanaugh. St-Pierre (26-2 MMA) had retired from mixed martial arts shortly after dethroning Michael Bisping for the promotions middleweight title in November of 2017. Despite having not competed in over three and half years, ‘GSP’ still needs permission from the UFC to fight with other promotions.