Tag: Dana White

UFC CEO Dana White Open to Dustin Poirier’s Four-Man BMF Tournament

UFC CEO Dana White Open to Dustin Poirier’s Four-Man BMF TournamentDana White is down with a four-man BMF tournament. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s MMA Today podcast, three-time lightweight…

UFC CEO Dana White Open to Dustin Poirier’s Four-Man BMF Tournament

Dana White is down with a four-man BMF tournament.

During an appearance on SiriusXM’s MMA Today podcast, three-time lightweight title challenger Dustin Poirier suggested a four-man tourney to determine who the baddest motherf*cker in mixed martial arts truly is.

“Now that excites me. Because that kind of stuff is for the dogs. That’s like old Pride days or Grand Prix,” Poirier said. “That’s a real BMF. If you can fight a tournament in one night, multiple opponents, that’s the definition of BMF. That would be it. If they put that together and it was a one-night tournament, that would be it” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Dana White

Reacting to the idea following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO gave it his stamp of approval.

“Sounds fun. Never thought about it, but yeah, I love it.”

Thus far, there have been three BMF titleholders since the belt was first introduced in 2019. Jorge Masvidal became the inaugural BMF champion via a third-round doctor’s stoppage TKO against Nate Diaz at UFC 266. ‘Gamebred’ never defended the belt and essentially vacated it after walking away from the UFC following a four-fight losing streak last year.

Dana White

Justin Gaethje claimed the title in July 2023 with a second-round head kick KO against Dustin Poirier, but his time with the title was cut short by Max Holloway, who made a highlight out of ‘The Highlight’ via a buzzer-beating knockout at UFC 300 in April.

Holloway is currently scheduled to challenge Ilia Topuria for the featherweight world title on October 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

Max Holloway KO Justin Gaethje UFC 300

Nate Diaz tells dana white to get those ‘2 nerds’ out of proposed BMF title Tournament

Getting wind of Poirier’s idea, Nate Diaz approved of the idea, but not all the participants.

“@DanaWhite Dan [Hooker] and Max [Holloway] are eligible for my belt.” Nate Diaz wrote on his Instagram story, responding to Poirier’s recent comments. “But get those other [two] nerds out of there they don’t fit the description.”

Dana White

Diaz calling the BMF title “my belt” is an interesting choice of words considering he never once held it. And suggesting that Poirier and Gaethje — two of the most beloved strikers in the game — “don’t fit the description” of a BMF is also pretty wild.

If you could pick any four fighters to compete in a one-night BMF title tournament, who would be in your bracket?

Dana White Discusses UFC Africa Obstacles: Wind, Rain, and Bugs Could Affect the Fights

UFC South Africa and Dana WhiteDana White desperately wants to take the UFC to South Africa. Unfortunately, the amount of obstacles seems almost insurmountable….

UFC South Africa and Dana White

Dana White desperately wants to take the UFC to South Africa. Unfortunately, the amount of obstacles seems almost insurmountable.

Following Dricus Du Plessis’ win over Israel Adesanya in August, White made it clear that he wants to bring his show to the middleweight champion’s home country. Since then, rumors have been swirling that an event in either Johannesburg or Cape Town could be part of the promotion’s 2025 schedule.

Dana White talks UFC in South Africa

However, White revealed following Tuesday’s episode of DWCS that they’re having a difficult time locking down a venue.

“You know how bad I want this, I’ve been trying to get this thing done. The arena situation there is tough, it’s tough to pull off,” White said. “That’s been the challenge with Africa as a whole. We’re trying to figure it out. The place that we would have to do it at, is outdoors, and you know how I feel about that. So I’ve been trying to figure out with the weather…. wind is a big problem. We’ve done it a couple of times, but anything that can affect the outcome of the fight, makes me not even want to try…

“It’s anything from wind, rain, bugs, too much humidity. A lot of things can interfere with the fight” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Dricus Du Plessis is the uFC’s only African World Champion

Even before Du Plessis’ rise to the top of the 185-pound division, White had expressed interest in going to Africa with the promotion and then hosting a trio of African world champions — Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou.

Dana White talks UFC in South Africa

Currently, ‘DDP’ is the promotion’s lone titleholder hailing from Africa, but it sounds like he won’t be competing on his home turf anytime soon.

Dana White talks UFC in South Africa

UFC Revolution: Conor McGregor and Dana White Propose Radical Changes to End Boring Fights in the UFC

UFC Revolution: Conor McGregor and Dana White Propose Radical Changes to End Boring Fights in the UFCConor McGregor and Dana White think it’s time for a change. Aside from a few questionable split decisions, UFC…

UFC Revolution: Conor McGregor and Dana White Propose Radical Changes to End Boring Fights in the UFC

Conor McGregor and Dana White think it’s time for a change.

Aside from a few questionable split decisions, UFC 307 was a successful night of fights punctuated by Alex Pereira’s destructive fourth-round knockout of Khalil Rountree in the evening’s main event. However, there was one scrap that left a lot of pundits frustrated. That being the lackluster scrap between former featherweight king Jose Aldo and rising contender Mario Bautista.

Throughout the three-round affair, Bautista regularly clinched with Aldo, pressing him against the fence and refusing to do much more than that. The lack of offense prompted the referee to separate them, but each time he did so, Bautista would go right back to clinching against the cage.

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That ultimately won’t Bautista the fight which prompted a lot of heated reactions from fighters and fans alike. McGregor offered his take on the situation by suggesting a simple guideline for when referees should separate fighters.

Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor

“As referee, if the fighters go go the same place of stawl over and over, I would be putting the position on a clock,” McGregor wrote in a since-deleted post. “Each time they end up back there, the clock goes shorter… 30 second clock, 20 second clock, 10 second, 8 second, 6 second, etc, etc, etc.”

“Separate, separate, separate. No point prolonging these positions as if they haven’t taken place exactly the same way prior and nothing has taken place but stawling. My opinion. Ya’s want blood, call us.”

Dana White Agrees with Conor McGregor … Mostly

UFC CEO Dana White echoed a similar sentiment while addressing members of the press following the fight card in Salt Lake City.

“I always think that the referees should be more active on [fighters stalling],” White said during the post-fight press conference. “100%. Especially when somebody keeps doing it to stall… If you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? If you’re looking at attempted takedowns, well what about stuffing the takedowns?”

“When you can tell that the guy definitely doesn’t want to stand and strike and just wants to stall against the fence, yes. The refs, that’s their job, they’re supposed to see it. When they see it continuingly happening and that the guy is not trying to win the fight, then you [should] keep breaking them up.”

Responding directly to McGregor’s suggestion of a sort of countdown clock, White doesn’t believe you’d necessarily need a timer for each instance of stalling.

“Yeah, I don’t think you even need a clock. I mean, it’s common sense. When the guy keeps doing it and is doing everything he can to not fight and to not win the fight, as a ref, you should break it up immediately.”

Dana White Shuts Down Rumors of Conor McGregor Ducking Justin Gaethje: ‘I Don’t Know If That’s True’

Dana White Shuts Down Rumors of Conor McGregor Ducking Justin Gaethje: 'I Don't Know If That's True'Dana White isn’t buying Ali Abdelaziz’s recent claim that Conor McGregor turned down a fight with Justin Gaethje on…

Dana White Shuts Down Rumors of Conor McGregor Ducking Justin Gaethje: 'I Don't Know If That's True'

Dana White isn’t buying Ali Abdelaziz’s recent claim that Conor McGregor turned down a fight with Justin Gaethje on five different occasions.

During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Abdelaziz, the manager of top MMA fighters including Kayla Harrison, Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, and Gaethje, claimed that the Irish megastar was offered to scrap with the former BMF titleholder, but refused to do so after ‘The Highlight’ had talked trash about him on social media.

Justin Gaethje

”[Conor McGregor] got offered this fight at least five times,” Abdelaziz said. “He never wanted to have to do anything with Justin Gaethje. He said the reason he didn’t want to fight Justin was because Justin talked bad to him on Twitter and Instagram before and the history we have with him. He didn’t want to lose to our team, I guess.”

Dana White disputes Abdelaziz’s claim about conor McGregor

Asked if there’s any truth to Abdelaziz’s comments, White denied the statement suggesting that the promotion has never had a problem with McGregor accepting a fight no matter who the opponent.

”I don’t know if that’s true,” White said following Tuesday’s episode of DWCS. “I’ve said this many times and I’ll say it again, I mean, we actually have video footage of Lorenzo and I walking into his [McGregor] house that he was renting here. He just woke up, telling him the fight fell out, and he’s literally leaving going, ‘Well, I’m going to train, let me know who I’m fighting when I get back.’ We’ve never had those kind of issues with Conor McGregor.’

McGregor may be willing to step inside the Octagon with anyone, the former two-division titleholder hasn’t made competing a big priority in recent years. In June, he was scheduled to headline UFC 303 against former Bellator champion ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler before bowing out due to a broken pinky toe.

Conor McGregor

Chandler has since opted to move on and will now face Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 next month. As for McGregor, there’s still no date for when fans can expect to see him compete. Previously, McGregor was rumored to fight at UFC 296 in December. When that didn’t happen, everyone assumed he would return at UFC 300 in April. Clearly, that didn’t happen.

Now early 2025 appears to be the plan, but don’t expect to find anyone holding their breath in anticipation.

Conor McGregor

Ngannou Dismisses Dana White, Says His Boxing Paychecks Surpass UFC Earnings

Francis Ngannou recently waved off Dana White’s disparaging comments regarding his boxing earnings. In January 2023, “The Predator” relinquished his UFC heavyweight title and parted ways with the promotion after a heated contractual dispute with the UFC CEO. The primary point of contention was Ngannou’s desire to compete in boxing matches, which his UFC contract […]

Continue Reading Ngannou Dismisses Dana White, Says His Boxing Paychecks Surpass UFC Earnings at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou recently waved off Dana White’s disparaging comments regarding his boxing earnings.

In January 2023, “The Predator” relinquished his UFC heavyweight title and parted ways with the promotion after a heated contractual dispute with the UFC CEO. The primary point of contention was Ngannou’s desire to compete in boxing matches, which his UFC contract did not permit.

Ngannou went on to sign a lucrative deal with the PFL, securing special autonomy to pursue boxing matches. The 38-year-old Cameroonian soon realized his long-held dream of stepping into the squared circle.

Although his high-profile bouts against former champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua didn’t deliver the outcomes he had hoped for, Ngannou still walked away with a pair of hefty paychecks.

White recently downplayed the belief that Ngannou earned more from two boxing matches than he would have with the UFC, dismissing the concept of massive payouts in the sport as merely “a myth.”

Ngannou Challenges Validity Of White’s Statements

During a recent interview, “The Predator” dismissed White’s remarks that belittled his boxing earnings and urged him not to fall for the narrative spun by the UFC’s head honcho. Ngannou further asserted that his earnings far exceeded what he could have ever achieved in the UFC.

“Personally, at this point, it’s been a while since I’ve taken anything from Dana White as credible,” Ngannou said. “I don’t give any importance because the things that he says a lot of times cannot make sense. But just for this statement, I will say for everything that I left the UFC for—every single thing—I have had more. Way more. Everything. Name it. Just say I have had everything way more.”

Ngannou is preparing for his eagerly awaited return to the MMA arena, set to clash with 2023 heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in the headling bout of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants. The event is scheduled for October 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Continue Reading Ngannou Dismisses Dana White, Says His Boxing Paychecks Surpass UFC Earnings at MMA News.

Ngannou Dismisses Dana White, Says His Boxing Paychecks Surpass UFC Earnings

Francis Ngannou recently waved off Dana White’s disparaging comments regarding his boxing earnings. In January 2023, “The Predator” relinquished his UFC heavyweight title and parted ways with the promotion after a heated contractual dispute with the UFC CEO. The primary point of contention was Ngannou’s desire to compete in boxing matches, which his UFC contract […]

Continue Reading Ngannou Dismisses Dana White, Says His Boxing Paychecks Surpass UFC Earnings at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou recently waved off Dana White’s disparaging comments regarding his boxing earnings.

In January 2023, “The Predator” relinquished his UFC heavyweight title and parted ways with the promotion after a heated contractual dispute with the UFC CEO. The primary point of contention was Ngannou’s desire to compete in boxing matches, which his UFC contract did not permit.

Ngannou went on to sign a lucrative deal with the PFL, securing special autonomy to pursue boxing matches. The 38-year-old Cameroonian soon realized his long-held dream of stepping into the squared circle.

Although his high-profile bouts against former champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua didn’t deliver the outcomes he had hoped for, Ngannou still walked away with a pair of hefty paychecks.

White recently downplayed the belief that Ngannou earned more from two boxing matches than he would have with the UFC, dismissing the concept of massive payouts in the sport as merely “a myth.”

Ngannou Challenges Validity Of White’s Statements

During a recent interview, “The Predator” dismissed White’s remarks that belittled his boxing earnings and urged him not to fall for the narrative spun by the UFC’s head honcho. Ngannou further asserted that his earnings far exceeded what he could have ever achieved in the UFC.

“Personally, at this point, it’s been a while since I’ve taken anything from Dana White as credible,” Ngannou said. “I don’t give any importance because the things that he says a lot of times cannot make sense. But just for this statement, I will say for everything that I left the UFC for—every single thing—I have had more. Way more. Everything. Name it. Just say I have had everything way more.”

Ngannou is preparing for his eagerly awaited return to the MMA arena, set to clash with 2023 heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in the headling bout of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants. The event is scheduled for October 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Continue Reading Ngannou Dismisses Dana White, Says His Boxing Paychecks Surpass UFC Earnings at MMA News.