Dana White on the Contender Series: ‘If you like watching fights, there’s no better show on television’

White also discusses makes his prediction on which fight–Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler or Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg–will happen first

For the next 10 weeks, Tuesday nights are appointment-viewing for fight fans.

Dana White’s Contender Series returns tonight, offering a look at some of the best prospects in the sport. The fights take place at the UFC Apex, and contract winners from prior series have already produced a number of must-see fighters, including Jamahal Hill, Sean O’Malley, Jailton Almeida, Maycee Barber, Jack Della Maddalena, and Bo Nickal.

White is especially proud of the success of the Contender Series. Last season, 43 UFC contracts were awarded. It is a feeder system to the main roster, and allows viewers to watch their development in real time.

In addition to the premiere of this season’s Contender Series, the UFC also airs the penultimate episode of The Ultimate Fighter later tonight. There is also Power Slap 4 tomorrow, which airs live and for free on Rumble, and an upcoming UFC on ESPN card, headlined by Rafael dos Anjos against Vicente Luque, at the Apex on Saturday.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, White discussed the Contender Series, the upcoming UFC 292 card in Boston, and made his prediction on which fight–Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler or Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerburg–will happen first.

Justin Barrasso: Looking at a number of alums–Jamahal Hill, Sean O’Malley, Taila Santos–the future of the UFC is on display in the Contender Series.

Dana White: If you like watching fights, there’s no better show on television. They’re all the best unsigned fighters in the world. This is their one shot to come into the UFC, and they put on a f------ show every Tuesday night. This is my favorite f------ to watch. I love going to the Apex every Tuesday.

Barrasso: In the past, you have purposely avoided knowing too much about the fighters on the Contender Series.

White: I know nothing. I don’t even know who is showing up. I won’t know until I get into the arena, sit down at the table, and there is a sheet in front of me.

Barrasso: Is that to avoid any bias?

White: Exactly. I don’t want to know who trains with this guy or trains with that guy. My mind is absolutely clean when I walk into the Apex. I don’t want to know anything about these guys until I see them fight. They’ve made it this far, so I know they’re f------ good. Now it’s time to show me how good you are.

Barrasso: You also hold Power Slap 4 tomorrow, which is headlined by Ayjay Hintz vs. Austin Turpin. What excites you about this card?

White: Power Slap is a fun, fast, exciting show to watch. You can bet on it, you can live bet during it. It’s great content and you can hang out with your buddies and watch it. It’s f------ incredible to watch live. And everybody gets it. You don’t have to understand an armbar and all that. It’s over in three slaps or less.

Barrasso: You make an interesting point. I’m a big a Cory Sandhagen fan, and I know the crowd in Nashville wasn’t enamored with his approach against Rob Font this past weekend, but I mention that because of the difference. That was a very technical fight highlighting the finer aspects of jiu jitsu, where Power Slap is built around knockouts.

White: For the record, Cory Sandhagen tore his tricep off the bone in the first round of that fight. The fact that kid fought is incredible. He’s a f------ stud. He lost an opponent [Umar Nurmagomedov], then took Rob Font, who is a f------ machine on his feet. Props to the kid for being willing to take any opponent, especially with where he is in the rankings. Nothing but respect for him.

Barrasso: It’s been an eventful summer for the UFC with The Ultimate Fighter. That performance and knockout from Rico Disciullo will go down as an all-time TUF moment.

White: It was awesome, especially with everything that was on the line. Michael Chandler’s team hadn’t lost. Conor McGregor’s team hadn’t won. That was f------ incredible.

Barrasso: And UFC 292 is only a week-and-a-half away. Aljamain Sterling, perhaps not at full health, is defending the bantamweight championship against Sean O’Malley.

White: That card is awesome. It’s sold-out, and I’ll tell you this, the only bigger gate at the TD Garden was from the Celtics-Warriors during the NBA Finals. We’ll have more info on that, but that’s the only gate bigger.

Boston is a great city. I’m staying at Encore, which is f------ incredible. There’s a badass restaurant in the North End, Carmelina’s, that I rented out. Boston makes me feel like I’m home again.

Barrasso: The last time you were in Boston, you filmed Lookin’ for a Fight.

White: We haven’t dropped an episode in a while. The Boston episode drops next week.

Barrasso: There is plenty of speculation surrounding whether Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg will actually compete against one another in an MMA fight. Musk mentioned potential injuries preventing the fight. Do you think it will actually take place?

White: We’re waiting on Elon right now. Does he need surgery? Does he need physical therapy? It’s all riding on that right now.

Exact date is still in flux. I’m getting an MRI of my neck & upper back tomorrow.

May require surgery before the fight can happen. Will know this week.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 7, 2023

Barrasso: Which fight happens first: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler or Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg?

White: That’s a great f------ question. That’s a great question. I do not know the answer. If I had to bet, I would say Conor happens first.

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.