Tag: Dana White

Dana White Recognizes Alex Pereira’s ‘Halo Effect’ As Artem Vakhitov Gets UFC Contract

Alex Pereira is by far the most outstanding athlete the UFC has signed in recent years. Six of his ten UFC fights have been for a title, and he now holds the record for the quickest turnaround for three title defenses in the promotion. Pereira’s quick rise to the top of MMA has perplexed many […]

Continue Reading Dana White Recognizes Alex Pereira’s ‘Halo Effect’ As Artem Vakhitov Gets UFC Contract at MMA News.

Alex Pereira is by far the most outstanding athlete the UFC has signed in recent years. Six of his ten UFC fights have been for a title, and he now holds the record for the quickest turnaround for three title defenses in the promotion.

Pereira’s quick rise to the top of MMA has perplexed many in the community. He is a kickboxing specialist but the lack of wrestling and grappling experience has yet to bother him in the UFC.

Artem Vakhitov, who defeated Pereira via decision at Glory 78, has signed with the UFC after winning at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8, Week 9. The UFC President is happy to witness the influx of kickboxers in the UFC and thanked the UFC light heavyweight champ for it…

Dana White Explains How Israel Adesanya And Alex Pereira Inspired Kickboxers To Enter The UFC

During the DWCS 75 episode’s press conference, White talked about the recent wave of kickboxers coming to the UFC. He believes the success Israel Adesanya and Pereira have had in the promotion to be the reason behind this.

Over the years, grappling has gradually become one of the most effective tools for success in MMA. Strikers often struggle to keep the fight on the feet against wrestlers but Adesanya and Pereira are huge exceptions. As a result, a lot of kickboxers with similar careers as these legends are now willing to try out their luck in the UFC.

The UFC CEO pointed out that many kickboxers have fought gruesome battles for less money than they deserved. By showcasing their exciting standup in the UFC, they can significantly boost their earnings and fame.

“What I actually think, like we were saying earlier, it’s fascinating how these guys that came out of this whole circuit with Israel and Alex, including them, are doing so well in the UFC. It’s fascinating, so, yeah, why not?” White continued, “I think it’s all of it. Obviously, those guys fought, you know, crazy fights, that I’m sure they didn’t make any money. Joanna J?drzejczyk and many others. And come over here and it’s absolutely life-changing for them.”

While he was announcing the contracts for DWCS Season 8, Week 9, Laura Sanko asked White about Pereira’s halo effect in the UFC. Here’s how he responded:

“100%. It’s fascinating and that these guys are coming over here with so many kickboxing fights. And they’re wrestling is on point. It’s actually fascinating.”

Vakhitov is a great example of the same. He’s just secured a UFC contract but has already generated a lot of hype because of his win over Pereira in kickboxing. Interestingly, “Poatan” himself convinced White to sign Vakhitov.

Continue Reading Dana White Recognizes Alex Pereira’s ‘Halo Effect’ As Artem Vakhitov Gets UFC Contract at MMA News.

WWE’s Triple H Admits Envy Over Dana White’s Noche UFC Production

WWE's Triple H Admits Envy Over Dana White’s Noche UFC ProductionTriple H is envious of what Dana White accomplished at Noche UFC. Last month, the Ultimate Fighting Championship delivered…

WWE's Triple H Admits Envy Over Dana White’s Noche UFC Production

Triple H is envious of what Dana White accomplished at Noche UFC.

Last month, the Ultimate Fighting Championship delivered on its promise to produce an event unlike anything combat sports fans had ever seen before. The promotion’s card inside the already iconic Sphere in Las Vegas was a spectacle that had everyone, including the WWE’s Chief Content Officer, swooning.

“When I see what Dana is doing and they’re just crushing it and I see stuff at The Sphere and I look at that production and I’m like, ‘I wanna do that.’ It’s just like a lot of fun,” Triple H said during a press conference following WWE Bad Blood on October 5. “Man, it’s amazing to watch them do what they do, at the level they do it, and there’s nothing like that in the world” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Noche UFC

Though the budget for the event exceeded $20 million, Noche UFC brought in a record-breaking $22 million gate, breaking the $17 million record set by Conor McGregor’s clash with Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.

It also eclipsed the company’s previous records for highest-grossing merchandise sales and highest-grossing sales for VIP experiences. It also generated more sponsorship dollars than any other event in UFC history.

Noche UFC

Noche UFC fails to close the show with a bang

As much as a spectacle as the evening was, the action inside the Octagon left a lot to be desired. Particularly in the case of the co-main and main events. Both Valentina Shevchenko and Merab Dvalishvili deployed a wrestle-heavy attack against their opponents en route to a pair of uneventful world title victories.

Their performances were dominant, but not exactly fan-friendly which left the UFC CEO a bit frustrated.

“You can control how much you spend on the production of an event, but you can’t control the fights,” White said of the lackluster title fights during the post-fight press conference.

PFL Founder Touts Superior Women’s Division After UFC 307 Harrison, Peña Wins

UFC 307 was a big night for the women’s bantamweight division due to two match-ups that took place right at the top of the rankings. Julianna Peña was able to reclaim the 135-pound title by defeating Raquel Pennington via split decision in the co-main event. Earlier on in the night, Kayla Harrison cemented her status […]

Continue Reading PFL Founder Touts Superior Women’s Division After UFC 307 Harrison, Peña Wins at MMA News.

UFC 307 was a big night for the women’s bantamweight division due to two match-ups that took place right at the top of the rankings.

Julianna Peña was able to reclaim the 135-pound title by defeating Raquel Pennington via split decision in the co-main event.

Earlier on in the night, Kayla Harrison cemented her status as the next in line by defeating Ketlen Vieira via a unanimous decision.

Harrison’s return to the Octagon wasn’t without comment from her former home, the PFL, who received some criticism for posting about her loss to Larissa Pacheco on the same evening.

The use of Harrison’s time spent in the PFL didn’t stop being talking point there after the promotion’s founder commented once again on the day after UFC 307.

Donn Davis Says PFL’s Women’s Division Would ‘Crush’ The UFC’s, Lays Down A Challenge To Prove It

In a post on X, PFL founder Donn Davis made a statement that was followed by a challenge to the UFC regarding the strength of their female roster.

He took Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco, who are set to face off on October 19, and put them up against the champion and top contender in the UFC’s 135-pound division.

Davis makes it clear that he would back Cyborg and Pacheco over Peña and Harrison and even offers to put money on it.

Following Dana White’s harsh comments regarding the success of the PFL in his post-UFC 307 press conference, Davis wrote “#DanaScared” underneath the post.

“It is clear from UFC 306 that @PFLMMA female division would crush @UFC. I am so confident… winner take all. PFL: Cyborg + Pacheco. UFC: Harrison + Peña. $2m to each fighter… losing company pays $8m total fighter purses”

Read also: Kayla Harrison On Being Bloodied For The First Time At UFC 307: ‘That Threw Me…’

Continue Reading PFL Founder Touts Superior Women’s Division After UFC 307 Harrison, Peña Wins at MMA News.

Dana White Dismisses Doctors’ Concerns About Power Slap Causing Concussions: ‘Doctors Are Looking for Attention’

Dana White Power SlapDana White’s other promotion, the slap-fighting one, has been a long-running joke in the industry since its release to…

Dana White Power Slap

Dana White’s other promotion, the slap-fighting one, has been a long-running joke in the industry since its release to the masses.

Fighters, MMA media, and even fans have witnessed the viral clips of the traumatic knockouts on slap fighters, and it doesn’t really take a doctor to tell that it’s doing massive damage to the participants’ brains.

Even worse, most slap fighters are reportedly only getting paid around $5,000 U.S. dollars per performance. Not much of an incentive to develop CTE and long-term brain damage. But don’t worry. Doctor Dana White is on the prowl and is fighting back against legitimate doctors’ educated opinions.

Dana White scoffs at doctors’ medical opinions that slap fighting is damaging to the brain

“It sounds legit,” Dana White began (speaking with no medical experience or education on record). “They (the actual educated medical professionals) watched one episode of the show? Know nothing about medicals or what we do, or any of the studies we’ve done. It sounds like these typical doctors that look for attention to me.”

That’s right, folks. You heard it from the UFC president himself. Power Slap is on the up and up, capiche? No need to worry about CTE or long-term brain injuries. It’s also not like studies have come out that signal that up to 78% of Power Slap fighters leave with permanent brain damage. All for a measly $5,000, so what’s not to like?

Sadly, it seems as if Dana White won’t abandon his latest dream, and it hurts the heart of a UFC fan when you consider how much is currently going on in the sport that can use some much-needed attention. Resources, time and energy are going into the dangerous brand of Power Slap, and no amount of professional medical opinions will convince the UFC president that this is a sport best left alone.

Skip to (8:57) in the video below to see Dana White’s comments on what Doctors are saying about Power Slap.

What’s your opinion on Power Slap?

Dana White Dismisses Doctors’ Concerns About Power Slap Causing Concussions: ‘Doctors Are Looking for Attention’

Dana White Power SlapDana White’s other promotion, the slap-fighting one, has been a long-running joke in the industry since its release to…

Dana White Power Slap

Dana White’s other promotion, the slap-fighting one, has been a long-running joke in the industry since its release to the masses.

Fighters, MMA media, and even fans have witnessed the viral clips of the traumatic knockouts on slap fighters, and it doesn’t really take a doctor to tell that it’s doing massive damage to the participants’ brains.

Even worse, most slap fighters are reportedly only getting paid around $5,000 U.S. dollars per performance. Not much of an incentive to develop CTE and long-term brain damage. But don’t worry. Doctor Dana White is on the prowl and is fighting back against legitimate doctors’ educated opinions.

Dana White scoffs at doctors’ medical opinions that slap fighting is damaging to the brain

“It sounds legit,” Dana White began (speaking with no medical experience or education on record). “They (the actual educated medical professionals) watched one episode of the show? Know nothing about medicals or what we do, or any of the studies we’ve done. It sounds like these typical doctors that look for attention to me.”

That’s right, folks. You heard it from the UFC president himself. Power Slap is on the up and up, capiche? No need to worry about CTE or long-term brain injuries. It’s also not like studies have come out that signal that up to 78% of Power Slap fighters leave with permanent brain damage. All for a measly $5,000, so what’s not to like?

Sadly, it seems as if Dana White won’t abandon his latest dream, and it hurts the heart of a UFC fan when you consider how much is currently going on in the sport that can use some much-needed attention. Resources, time and energy are going into the dangerous brand of Power Slap, and no amount of professional medical opinions will convince the UFC president that this is a sport best left alone.

Skip to (8:57) in the video below to see Dana White’s comments on what Doctors are saying about Power Slap.

What’s your opinion on Power Slap?

Dana White Blasts UFC 307 Officiating: ‘Just Madness… Atrocious’

Dana WhiteUFC judges and referees have always erred on the controversial side, and at UFC 307, they made multiple decisions…

Dana White

UFC judges and referees have always erred on the controversial side, and at UFC 307, they made multiple decisions that left many people scratching their heads.

Chief among those who were annoyed by the officiating at UFC 307 was UFC president Dana White. Like always, White didn’t hold back when it came time to discuss the frustrating decisions made by the officials, and he let his thoughts be known to the world.

The first annoyance was the referee’s decision to let Mario Bautista stall Jose Aldo out against the cage in the last round of their fight. White maintained that it is the referee’s job to prevent fighters from stalling out the fight, and he was not too happy that Bautista was able to do this against Aldo and quite literally clinch a split-decision victory over the legend.

Dana White vents about terrible judging and referee’s at UFC 307

“I always think that the referee should be more active on that, 100%, especially when somebody keeps doing it to stall,” White told the media during the UFC 307 post-fight press conference (H/T MMA Mania). “You guys aren’t going to f—king let up on this, are you? I guess we’ll get into it. If you’re judging a guy, whether it is control, if it’s this or that, if you’re not trying to fight, how do you win the fight? Right? And if you’re looking at attempted takedowns, what about stuffing the takedowns? Just madness.”

“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,” Dana White continued. “When they see it continually happening and that the guy is not trying to win the fight, then you keep breaking them up…I mean, it’s common sense when the guy keeps doing it and is doing everything he can to not fight and not win the fight. As a ref, you should break it up immediately.”

The second frustration of the night was due to the poor judging. Several decisions on the card seemed wrong, and many fellow fighters, media members, and fans seemingly unanimously scored the fight the other way. When asked about this, Dana White didn’t hesitate to comment on that as well.

“I thought the judging tonight was atrocious,” White sighed, not amused. “I felt like I was at a boxing match in Ireland tonight.”

Do you agree with Dana White’s sentiments about the atrocious officiating at UFC 307?