Has Dana White and Co. shown “bias” toward certain fighters? This contentious issue resurfaced at the UFC 262 media day, when former UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson accused the promotion of favoritism. Ferguson argued that Michael Chandler benefited from “Dana White privilege” by securing a title shot after only a few fights. Initially met with laughter, the accusation sparked growing tension, which intensified before UFC 272. Ferguson escalated his criticism, calling Dana White a “d–g dealer.“

While that conflict is now a thing of the past, Dana White and the UFC have continued to face accusations of bias, particularly towards ‘Muslim fighters’ like Belal Muhammad and Magomed Ankalaev. Despite the obstacles they faced on their way to title shots, both fighters are now champions in the promotion. The Chicago native, for instance, earned his title shot after 19 fighters and 14 wins, including a 9-fight win streak, but his path to the title was far from easy—similar to Colby Covington‘s journey.

Belal Muhammad finally earned his title shot against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester last year. He is now set to defend his title against Jack Della Maddalena in May at UFC315. In a recent YouTube podcast with former UFC welterweight title challenger Jake Shields, the host asked ‘Remember The Name’, “It just shows you there might be a little bit of bias in that direction.” Jake Shields, however, gave credit to Dana White, saying he’s “good with the Muslims.”

‘Bully B’ then responded, “Yeah, and then, for me, right, I’m just happy that I got the opportunity. People like to say things and do this, but like you said,—[for] Dana, it doesn’t really matter to him. I’m glad that it took me the long road, but they did give it to me, right? So, I just had to make the most of it.” While Belal Muhammad expressed gratitude for his opportunity, he hasn’t hesitated to call out the Bossman when necessary.

Dana White, known for his tough personality, is someone many fear. A notable example is last year, when Muhammad Mokaev (13-0-0), another Muslim fighter, defeated Manel Kape at UFC 304—the same event that featured Belal Muhammad’s fight against Leon Edwards. Despite Mokaev’s victory, White made the contentious decision to part ways with the fighter after his contract expired.

White chose not to extend the contract, citing dissatisfaction from UFC matchmakers, who reportedly “weren’t happy” with Mokaev’s performance. Returning to Belal Muhammad, tensions with Dana White flared up once more last month when fans noticed the absence of the Palestinian flag on ‘Remember The Name’s fighter profile ahead of his upcoming title defense. Muhammad, who proudly represents his Palestinian heritage along with his American identity, took to social media, issuing an ultimatum to Dana White & Co. He reminded the Bossman of his stance on “free speech,” signaling that this issue may not end quietly.

When Belal Muhammad pressured Dana White to restore the Palestinian flag

The connection between fighters and their flags has always been strong, as displaying their flags is a way for fighters to represent their nations and gain recognition on the global stage, especially in live broadcasts. However, flags were banned in 2022, with many speculating that the Russian-Ukrainian war influenced the decision. Just a year later, Dana White reversed the policy, allowing flags to reappear on fighter profiles.

However, Belal Muhammad’s profile was notably missing the Palestinian flag, leading to backlash from him and others, including Jake Shields, who criticized the UFC and its parent company, TKO Holdings (formerly Endeavor), for perceived bias. Shields even mentioned Ari Emanuel’s alleged ties to the Irgun—a former Israel paramilitary group—further fueling the controversy. Despite the criticism, the Palestinian-American export took a more measured approach, choosing not to cross the line as Shields did.

Instead, he calmly urged Dana White to address the issue. The CEO acted swiftly, and Belal Muhammad later took to social media to clarify the situation. In a video shared on X, he said, “I just want to give a quick shoutout to Dana. Talked to him—he said flags are back up tonight, apologized, and that’s why I love the UFC. I love this company, and that’s why Dana is the man. The only organization that lets you be yourself, stays true to his word and doesn’t let other people sway his attitude or decisions. So, shoutout to Dana, shoutout to the UFC, and the flag is back, baby!”

Dana White kept his promise by restoring Belal Muhammad’s flag on his fighter profile. What do you think about the comments made by Jake Shields and ‘Remember The Name’? Do you believe the UFC has shown bias toward certain fighters without the CEO’s intervention? Share your thoughts below.