Dana White: I was never in this business for the money

According to UFC president Dana White, the last thing he cares about being in the fight game is making money.

It is no secret that UFC president Dana White is a man passionate about the sport of mixed martial arts. In 2001, White, along with childhood friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta put all their money in to purchase the struggling company from then owner Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG).

The UFC did skyrocket into mainstream recognition in its 15 years under the Fertittas and Zuffa LLC. In July of 2016, the company was sold to WME for $4 billion, in which White reportedly made $360 million. Yet despite his monetary success among others, the brash UFC executive says it is the last thing on his mind.

“Rob Dyrdek called me after the sale, and he said, ‘I’ve got to ask you a question – how do you get up every day and run the race when you’ve already won the race?” White recalled during his recent appearance on The Exchange with Megan Olivi. “I want to know how you strap your f—-ng shoes on and go to work every day.’ I said, ‘Because I was never in it for the money.’ I don’t even think about the money. I’m not like, ‘woo-hoo, let’s go!’ It’s a weird thing. It’s not what I’m in it for.”

If anything, White’s primary concern is to grow the sport even further. And with the help of his new partners, he is confident that he will be able to make it happen, as he already promises bigger things for the near future.

“The level that we’re gonna take this thing to is gonna blow people away,” White confidently said. “And I’m taking globally. It’s gonna be so much bigger than this. So much bigger. We’re working on some cool sh-t.”

According to UFC president Dana White, the last thing he cares about being in the fight game is making money.

It is no secret that UFC president Dana White is a man passionate about the sport of mixed martial arts. In 2001, White, along with childhood friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta put all their money in to purchase the struggling company from then owner Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG).

The UFC did skyrocket into mainstream recognition in its 15 years under the Fertittas and Zuffa LLC. In July of 2016, the company was sold to WME for $4 billion, in which White reportedly made $360 million. Yet despite his monetary success among others, the brash UFC executive says it is the last thing on his mind.

“Rob Dyrdek called me after the sale, and he said, ‘I’ve got to ask you a question – how do you get up every day and run the race when you’ve already won the race?” White recalled during his recent appearance on The Exchange with Megan Olivi. “I want to know how you strap your f—-ng shoes on and go to work every day.’ I said, ‘Because I was never in it for the money.’ I don’t even think about the money. I’m not like, ‘woo-hoo, let’s go!’ It’s a weird thing. It’s not what I’m in it for.”

If anything, White’s primary concern is to grow the sport even further. And with the help of his new partners, he is confident that he will be able to make it happen, as he already promises bigger things for the near future.

“The level that we’re gonna take this thing to is gonna blow people away,” White confidently said. “And I’m taking globally. It’s gonna be so much bigger than this. So much bigger. We’re working on some cool sh-t.”