After ‘Staging’ Accusations, UFC President Dana White Says Dan Hardy ‘Mistreated a Woman’ & Got ‘Fired’

Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is well-appreciated for his concern for the fighters. This was shown in many fights, where White would rush the injured warriors directly to the hospital without any interviews. The same happened with the featherweight fighter, Calvin Kattar.

Dana White was accused of staging his sympathy for his fighters. He finally responded to that in the UFC 280 post-fight press conference. 

Dan Hardy was a former UFC welterweight fighter and commentator. But he was allegedly fired from UFC in early 2021, for mistreating a woman during a promotion event. His final days in the UFC were not made with rose petals. Hardy believed that Dana White’s concern for Calvin Kattar was not genuine. “The whole thing was staged to protect the UFC”, he said.

Dana White responds to Dan Hardy’s accusation

During the post-fight press conference, a journalist asked Dana White about his views on Don Hardy’s statement. The journalist said, “Dan Hardy, your former commentator, had made a statement this week saying that the last time you guys were in Abu Dhabi for the Max Holloway Calvin Kattar fight, that you staged a video where you showed sympathy for Calvin Kattar, and it was all staged. Did you see that and do you have a response to those comments?”

The UFC president stated that he didn’t quite get the question. “He said we did what?”, White asked. The journalist clarified that Hardy claimed that the video was staged. White asked him to be specific, “What kind of sympathy? What does that mean?” He replied, “To make it seem like you were showing concern for Calvin Kattar’s health when you really didn’t have it.” White further asked him to be specific. The journalist said, “He said you had a mic pack on and the camera was on you and it was kind of all done to show like you know, sympathy towards the fighters.” 

Finally, Dana White stated his response. He replied, “Well, I don’t even know what that means but I can tell you this, we have never staged anything ever.” Further, he justified that he wore a microphone pack because they were shooting during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’ve never been mic’d. I was mic’d because of that”, he said.  

Dana White’s concern was genuine

White then justified his statement to take Kattar to the hospital. “Do you know how many fights a week I say that to Hunter, or Doc Davidson? No interviews, no nothing”, said White. “That guy goes straight to the hospital. I mean you guys know how many times that has happened.” He added.

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Additionally, he said, “I don’t give a f**k what anybody thinks! I definitely don’t give a f**k about what Dan Hardy thinks!” He explained that the media doesn’t have to worry about Dana White staging anything. Dana White explained that Dan Hardy was fired because they caught him mistreating a woman. “Dan Hardy was a guy who mistreated a woman who worked here. That’s why he was fired. So obviously, he’s bitter and I’m assuming that’s why he would say something like that”, said White. 

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White asked the journalist if he was at the Calvin Kattar vs. Max Holloway fight. When he replied that he was present, White asked him, “Should I have been concerned about Calvin Kattar?” As the affirmation came from the journalist, White said that everybody should have been concerned about Kattar.

White, undoubtedly, has shown his concern for the fighters countless times. However, it was necessary for him to clear the air. What are your thoughts about the incident?