UFC News: Dana White Reveals 'Holy S***' Moments Are What Make MMA Exciting

UFC CEO Dana White appeared on "The Shop" YouTube show to discuss Power Slap, the UFC, and more.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

UFC CEO Dana White has a simple philosophy about why people love fighting: whether they know it or not, it's inside them.

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"Fighting Works Everywhere"

The 20-plus-year fight promoter continues to pump out weekly events, including Saturday night's UFC Vegas 95 event headlined by a heavyweight rematch four years in the making.

White appeared on "The Shop" with a number of well-known celebrities earlier this month to discuss business philosophy, the UFC, Power Slap's growing success and the future of MMA as a whole.

White gave an impassioned rant during the discussion, using a famous line from over a decade ago that he coined himself about the definition of what it means to be a professional fighter.

"I feel the pulse of what people are interested in and are fascinated by and what they want to see," White said. "And, at the end of the day, I’m in the fight business. Fighting sells. Fighting works everywhere. Doesn’t matter what color you are, what country you come from or what language you speak. We’re all human beings, and fighting is in our DNA. We get it and we like combat sports.”

White credits the the success of both promotions to the way he goes about his day-to-day public image and persona: he doesn't care about what any detractors believe.

UFC News: Dana White Reveals 'Holy S***' Moments Are What Make MMA Exciting
Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC president Dana White (center) separates Ricky Simon (left) from Vinicius Oliveira during weigh ins for UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

"I'm in the backlash business, man," White said. "That's what I do. "

White continues to have a hand in combat sports because he loves it. The UFC CEO claimed seven months ago that he would "die working" if he had to.

"What I sell are holy s*** moments, you know what I mean," White said regarding the purpose of his role as CEO and president.

It's safe to assume that, whether loved or hated, the UFC's presence will be different if he decides to retire.

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Zain Bando

ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99