Dana White has been instrumental in the rise of the UFC, playing a pivotal role in transforming it from a struggling organization into the global powerhouse it is today. Taking over as the head honcho in 2001, White’s vision helped secure broadcasting deals, attract top talent, and popularize mixed martial arts worldwide.

White’s often polarising yet effective leadership style has made him one of the most influential figures in combat sports history. ‘Big’ John McCarthy, a former UFC official was once an integral part of the UFC. However, the vet has had his fair share of controversial moments with the head honcho. Let’s hop onto this straightaway!

‘Big’ John McCarthy weighs in on Dana White’s matchmaking efforts

‘Big’ John McCarthy, one of the most influential figures in MMA history, holds a storied connection with the UFC. Known as one of the sport’s earliest referees, McCarthy played a vital role in legitimizing mixed martial arts during its early days. However, his relationship with UFC CEO Dana White has seen its share of friction, marked by disagreements on fighter safety and officiating decisions.

McCarthy’s dedication to fighter welfare and advocacy for proper officiating protocols sometimes clashed with White’s business-driven mindset. His public criticisms, especially regarding the rapid scheduling of events and referee management, highlighted differing priorities between the two.

During a recent conversation on the JAXXON podcast, McCarthy shed light on White’s pragmatic approach to handling controversies in the UFC. “Dana is that person that he’s going to say certain things at times,” McCarthy shared. “You know Dana would come up at times he would sit there and goes, ‘Hey, that was a good call, but I’m going to have to throw you under the bus.’ It’s like, whatever. So that he can make the rematch. So he can say, ‘You know what, yeah that was, you know, in my opinion, that was controversial. We are gonna have to put that fight back together.’ It just starts the whole thing.”

Dana White was under the scanner for a long period for not pulling off the fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. Despite the UFC’s persistent efforts and five attempts to organize the fight, it never came to fruition. A series of complications, including the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately prevented it from happening.

By 2025, the opportunity for this clash has definitively passed away. However, the former referee feels the UFC head honcho tried everything in his hand to pull off the clash.

McCarthy lauds White for trying to pull off Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov

The potential matchup between UFC legends Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov is often regarded as one of the most jinxed rivalries in MMA history. Fans eagerly anticipated seeing the two face off in the Octagon, but various obstacles and setbacks prevented it from ever happening as if fate was determined to keep them apart.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has retired from MMA, leaving behind a flawless legacy, while Tony Ferguson is nearing the end of his career, currently enduring a record-breaking eight-fight losing streak. Despite the contrasting paths both fighters have taken, the disappointment over the fight that never happened still lingers with fans.

Recently, ‘Big’ John McCarthy shared his thoughts on why the highly anticipated bout never came to be. On his Weighing In podcast, alongside co-host and former UFC fighter Josh Thomson, McCarthy reflected on the series of events and said, “You know, they put it out like I said I thought it was wrong they were going to do fights during COVID. That’s not what I said at all. At the time, when the whole COVID thing happened before they went to Jacksonville, Dana wanted that damn Khabib versus Tony fight, and he was going to do anything he could to get it. Then COVID hit, and it put a kibosh on it because no one was doing fights.”

McCarthy also revealed the extreme measures Dana White took to ensure UFC 249 took place during the pandemic. How highly do you rate Dana White as the leader of the UFC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.