Dana White News
Nate Diaz blasts Khabib Nurmagomedov after 'The Eagle' meets with Dana White to discuss his future
Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021
Former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz took aim at Khabib Nurmagomedov on Saturday, this after ‘The Eagle’ met with UFC President Dana White. During today’s UFC Fight Island 7 broadcast, White met with Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA) in hopes of luring him back to the Octagon for one final fight.
Dana White reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov will return "If these guys can do something special" at UFC 257
Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021
UFC President Dana White met with undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov during today’s UFC Fight Island 7 broadcast. Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA) had retired from mixed martial arts immediately following his submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. ‘The Eagle’ cited the death of his father as one of the major reasons behind his decision to walk away.
Khabib Nurmagomedov would need to vacate title to fight GSP, says Dana White
Tom Taylor - January 15, 2021
UFC President Dana White says Khabib Nurmagomedov will need to vacate the UFC lightweight title if he wants to fight Georges St-Pierre. Nurmagomedov retired after his last fight, a submission win over Justin Gaethje, but White has been adamant that he’ll attempt to bring the undefeated Russian back for one more fight before all is said and done.
Video | Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dana White sit down for meeting
Tom Taylor - January 15, 2021
UFC President Dana White and undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov finally sat down for a long-awaited meeting on Friday. See the pair sitting down for their talk below:
Charles Oliveira turned down short-notice fight against Michael Chandler, confirms Dana White
Adam Martin - January 13, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Charles Oliveira turned down a short-notice fight against Michael Chandler, confirmed UFC president Dana White. Oliveira is one of the hottest fights on the planet right now, having won eight straight fights including a dominant performance against Tony Ferguson at UFC 255. Oliveira dominated the former interim champ, prompting White to call him one of the top-three lightweight fighters in the world. Oliveira himself believes that he should be next in line for a title shot and said he hopes to be in attendance at UFC 257 next week, ready to challenge the winner of Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retirement talk will take five minutes, says Dana White
Tom Taylor - January 13, 2021
UFC President Dana White says his retirement talk with unbeaten lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov should only take five minutes. Nurmagomedov last fought in October, when he elevated his pro record to 29-0 with a second-round submission of Justin Gaethje. In his post-fight interview with Jon Anik, he shocked viewers by announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts.
Dana White sends another warning to illegal streamers: "I look forward to the crying and the begging"
Tom Taylor - January 13, 2021
UFC President Dana White has sent another ominous warning to those that take part in the piracy and illegal streaming of UFC events. Earlier this month, White took to Instagram where he vowed to catch and punish illegal streamers.
Dana White breaks down Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown: "Two legendary savages"
Adam Martin - January 13, 2021
UFC president Dana White broke down this weekend’s welterweight bout between “two legendary savages” Carlos Condit and Matt Brown. Condit and Brown are two of the most exciting welterweights of the past decade and this dream fight has been one that the UFC has tried to book twice in the past, both times unsuccessfully. The fight was booked in both 2013 and 2018, with the bout falling off each time. The promotion then booked this fight for the third time, and it’s set to take place as the co-main event of this Saturday’s UFC on ABC 1 event. The hope is that with the fight just a few days away, fans will finally get to see this fight.
Dana White explains why Floyd Mayweather talks went nowhere: "The world imploded"
Adam Martin - January 11, 2021
UFC president Dana White gave an update on the lack of talks with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, saying it’s because “the world imploded.” White and Mayweather were famously photographed sitting courtside at an LA Clippers vs. Boston Celtics NBA game in Los Angeles. But that was back in December 2019, well before COVID-19 caused a global pandemic. White had said at the time of the meeting that he had an agreement with Mayweather to work together in 2020, but that never happened. White said last summer that he had some talks going on with Mayweather, but so far, those talks have gone nowhere.
Zabit Magomedsharipov will fight in the next three months, says Dana White
Adam Martin - January 11, 2021
UFC president Dana White said that featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov will fight again within the next three months. The Russian had a nightmarish 2020 as he didn’t fight at all due to a proposed bout with Yair Rodriguez falling through on two occasions. The UFC keeps trying to book this awesome matchup, but it keeps falling apart. The promotion actually tried to book it way back at UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till in September 2018, but Rodriguez withdrew due to injury. The two were re-booked to fight at UFC Vegas in August 2020, but Rodriguez once again withdrew due to injury. The UFC was hoping to match them up for an event this past October, but that fight also fell through.
Dana White reveals getting lone loss removed from Jon Jones' record is "not looking good"
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2021
UFC president, Dana White has revealed he is having a hard time getting the lone loss removed from Jon Jones’ record. The former UFC light heavyweight champion has never truly lost, as his only loss on his record came in his 10th fight as he was disqualified due to illegal elbows. However, it was a controversial DQ and since the event, White has made it clear he wanted to get the loss overturned to a no-contest.
Dana White not ruling out immediate title shot for TJ Dillashaw
Adam Martin - January 11, 2021
UFC president Dana White says he is not ruling out an immediate title shot for former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. Dillashaw is set to return from his two-year suspension by USADA in January 2019 for performance-enhancing drugs. The former bantamweight kingpin recently shared photos of his current physique, and he looks like he’s ready to come back and dominate. Considering he’s a big name in the division and a former champion, we’ve seen fighters such as Jose Aldo and Rob Font call him out. They are both top-10 opponents, but it’s possible Dillashaw is chasing after even bigger fish.
Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya should happen at light heavyweight, says Dana White
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021
UFC President Dana White believes a potential fight between Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya should happen in the light heavyweight division, not at heavyweight. Jones and Adesanya are two of the biggest stars in MMA at present, and White has made no secret of his interest in a fight between them. That being said, it’s unclear what weight class this potential superfight would occur in.
Dana White reflects on being "in a really bad place" with Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021
UFC President Dana White says he’s repaired his relationship with Conor McGregor after being in “a bad place” with the Irishman last year. White and McGregor have butted heads several times over the years, most recently in mid-2020, when the Irish MMA star released some of his DMs with the UFC boss. Unsurprisingly, White was upset that what he believed was a private conversation was leaked to the public, particularly because he and McGregor were speaking about aging UFC veteran Diego Sanchez.
UFC files applications with the NSAC to hold four events in February
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2021
The UFC has filed applications with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to promote four proposed events in the month of February. The UFC has been in an ongoing cycle over the course of the last nine months between hosting events in Nevada and hosting events in Abu Dhabi – outside of their brief stint in Florida, of course.
Dana White on Robert Whittaker: "I don’t think he’s going to get a title shot next"
Adam Martin - January 10, 2021
UFC president Dana White hinted that Robert Whittaker will have to fight again, saying “I don’t think he’s going to get a title shot next.” After beating Jared Cannonier at UFC 254, most figured that the UFC matchmakers would look to book a rematch between Whittaker and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, the man who took his title back at UFC 243. Instead, Adesanya is moving up to fight UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in March. That leaves Whittaker in a tough position because he’s done enough to earn a rematch against Adesanya, but at the same time, the champ may not return to 185lbs.
Dana White confirms winner of Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier in line for lightweight title shot
Adam Martin - January 7, 2021
Dana White confirmed the UFC 257 main event winner between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier will be in line for a title lightweight shot. The UFC lightweight title is currently held by Khabib Nurmagomedov, though the champion is currently in a quasi-retirement and may or may not fight again. The Russian will meet with White on Fight Island to try and hash out a deal. He could agree to defend his belt again, vacate it, or the UFC could create an interim belt. There are many question marks about the belt, but we now know who at least one half of the next lightweight title bout will be.
UFC contributes one million dollars towards brain research
Adam Martin - January 7, 2021
The UFC announced on Thursday that it has contributed a one million dollar donation towards brain research with the Cleveland Clinic. The one million dollar donation is set to help fund brain studies over the next five years with the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. According to ESPN.com, the Cleveland Clinic has been working on the in-depth Professional Athletes Brain Health Study for a decade, and the UFC has been right there with them every step of the way. According to the report, the UFC has donated over two million dollars over three rounds of support.