Dana White News
Dana White suggests No. 1 contender match between Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier
Adam Martin - July 27, 2020
UFC president Dana White suggested a matchup between middleweight contenders Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier to determine the next title challenger. Whittaker is coming off of a unanimous decision win over Darren Till at UFC Fight Island 3, while Cannonier is coming off of three straight TKO wins over Jack Hermansson, Anderson Silva, and David Branch. The UFC middleweight title will be on the line in September when champion Israel Adesanya takes on Paulo Costa in the main event of UFC 253, and White and the UFC matchmakers are already thinking about who will get the next title shot.
Dana White not interested in a rematch between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz
Adam Martin - July 27, 2020
UFC president Dana White says he’s not interested in a potential rematch between welterweight rivals Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. Masvidal and Diaz met in the main event of UFC 244 last November in New York City. After seemingly winning the first three rounds with his striking, Masvidal cut Diaz open around his eye and the doctor stopped the fight in controversial fashion even though Diaz could still see. Veteran MMA official John McCarthy was among those who argued against the stoppage.
Dana White says he would entertain Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. GSP for "The Eagle's" final UFC fight
Cole Shelton - July 27, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Georges St-Pierre could be a possibility according to UFC President Dana White. For quite some time now, both Nurmagomedov and St-Pierre have shown their interest in a possible match. Yet, the UFC shut the idea down and now it is expected if Khabib Nurmagomedov fights again it will be against Justin Gaethje.
Dana White scolds MMA media for reporting Adesanya vs. Costa fight
Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020
UFC President Dana White is not happy about the recent reports that Israel Adesanya will defend the UFC middleweight title against Paulo Costa at UFC 253. News of this UFC 253 middleweight title fight was first reported by Brazilian publication Combate, and subsequently confirmed by MMA Fighting.
Dana White noncommittal on Aljamain Sterling title shot
Tom Taylor - July 20, 2020
UFC President Dana White isn’t ready to guarantee Aljamain Sterling the next crack at the UFC bantamweight title. The UFC bantamweight throne was left vacant after the former champion Henry Cejudo retired in May. A new champion was crowned at UFC 251 earlier this month, when Petr Yan defeated Jose Aldo by fifth-round TKO in a fight for the vacant title.
Henry Cejudo sends a message to Dana White after witnessing the UFC hand his belts to a couple of “Rent A champs”
Harry Kettle - July 20, 2020
Henry Cejudo has sent a message to UFC President Dana White in the wake of new bantamweight and flyweight champions being crowned. “Triple C” retired from mixed martial arts back in May after his convincing win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, opening the door for both of the aforementioned divisions to move on without him. In the last few weeks, Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo have both stepped up to the plate and won titles in their respective weight classes – prompting more than a few responses from Cejudo.
Dana White not rushing Khabib Nurmagomedov back to the Octagon: “He’s going to fight when he calls me”
Natasha Hooper - July 20, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov is taking some time away from fighting according to UFC President Dana White. It has been an unfortunate year for the undisputed lightweight champion. He was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson in an eagerly-anticipated matchup at UFC 249 in May earlier this year. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent travel restrictions, he was forced to withdraw from the upcoming title defence.
Dana White praises incredible striking duel between Rafael Fiziev and Marc Diakiese: "Oh my God"
Adam Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC president Dana White was a big fan of the striking duel between lightweight standouts Rafael Fiziev and Marc Diakiese at UFC Fight Island 2. In what was later deemed the “Fight of the Night” at UFC Fight Island 2, Fiziev and Diakiese went three hard rounds of pure striking, throwing everything in their arsenal at one another over the 15 minutes allotted. Fiziev ended up winning a unanimous decision in the fight, but Diakiese proved his worth with a durable showing against an elite striker.
Dana White responds after Dan Hooker calls out Tony Ferguson
Tom Taylor - July 17, 2020
UFC President Dana White has responded to Dan Hooker calling for a showdown with former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. Hooker last fought in late June, when he lost a decision to Dustin Poirier in a 2020 Fight of the Year contender. Since that setback, he’s expressed interest in fights with Charles Oliveira and Tony Ferguson.
Dana White confirms Colby Covington signed contract: "Just waiting on Woodley"
Tom Taylor - July 17, 2020
UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Colby Covington signed a contract to fight former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, adding that the promotion is waiting on Woodley to sign and make the bout official. Woodley and Covington have been engaged in a heated war of words since the height of Woodley’s reign as the UFC welterweight champion. They’ve been linked to fights several times over the years, but as of yet, have not stepped into the cage together.
Gilbert Burns will get next shot at Kamaru Usman, Dana White confirms
Tom Taylor - July 17, 2020
UFC President Dana White has confirmed that No. 1 welterweight contender Gilbert Burns will get the next crack at the division’s champ Kamaru Usman. Usman and Burns were expected to fight in the main event of UFC 251 last weekend, but the fight was nixed when Burns tested positive for COVID-19. Burns was then replaced by Jorge Masvidal, who Usman defeated by unanimous decision.
Dana White responds to Jorge Masvidal vs. Conor McGregor talk
Tom Taylor - July 17, 2020
UFC President Dana White has responded to talk of a potential super fight between UFC stars Jorge Masvidal and Conor McGregor. Masvidal fought at UFC 251 last weekend, taking on UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman on just six days’ notice. While Masvidal put up forth valiant effort, he wound up losing the fight by unanimous decision.
Dana White boasts UFC has "never been bigger" despite pandemic
Tom Taylor - July 16, 2020
UFC President Dana White claims the UFC has never been bigger, despite the numerous challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. White says the recent UFC 251 card, which went down as the most successful pay-per-view since UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor in 2018, was a key indicator of the UFC’s success.
Dana White has a backup plan if Nevada enters lockdown
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2020
The UFC has been able to promote multiple events in Las Vegas since the coronavirus pandemic took hold, but the organization’s president Dana White recognizes that future events in the state of Nevada can’t be guaranteed. As COVID-19 cases spike in many states, there’s widespread concern that a second wave of lockdowns might be necessary. If such a lockdown were to occur in Nevada, even audience-free events at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas could become impossible.
Dana White updates on Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa fight: "There’s no hold up"
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2020
UFC President Dana White recently provided an update on a long-awaited middleweight title fight between champ Israel Adesanya and challenger Paulo Costa. Fans have been dying to see Adesanya and Costa, both undefeated, fight for middleweight gold for close to a year.
Dana White says it's still possible Khabib Nurmagomedov fights in September
Adam Martin - July 14, 2020
UFC president Dana White says it’s still possible Khabib Nurmagomedov fights in September following the death of his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov, the UFC lightweight champion, is set to take on interim champ Justin Gaethje at UFC 253 on September 19. However, after his father passed away recently after a battle with COVID-19, many fans and media members speculated that the fight could be pushed back to a later date to give Nurmagomedov time to mourn his father’s passing.
Dana White rips referee for “horrible” stoppage in Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo fight
Adam Martin - July 12, 2020
UFC president Dana White ripped referee Leon Roberts for a “horrible” stoppage in the Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo vacant bantamweight title fight. After Yan and Aldo split the first two rounds, Yan started to pull away as he won the third and fourth rounds, and then in the fifth, he made it clear who the superior fighter was as he beat Aldo to a pulp. It was hard to watch as Yan rained down hundreds of punches on Aldo’s head, only to see the referee Roberts refuse to stop the fight. Fans, media, and fighters on social media were upset about the stoppage, and rightfully so, and it appeared that the fight could have been stopped far sooner and Aldo could have been saved damage.
Dana White on Max Holloway vs. Alex Volkanovksi 2: “We have some bad judging”
Adam D Martin - July 12, 2020
UFC president Dana White slammed the judges at UFC 251 for their scorecards in the co-main event between Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway. Volkanovski and Holloway met in a rematch after their first fight last December at UFC 245, where Volkanovski won a unanimous decision to capture the featherweight title in an upset. The rematch at UFC 251 went different, as Holloway was able to make the necessary adjustments and fight a far more competitive battle. Although many fans, media, and fighters though Holloway won the fight, the judges ended up giving it to Volkanovski, who retained the belt with scores of 47-48, 48-47, and 48-47.