“We own everything, and we control everything. We are basically creating our own destiny.” Dana White stated ahead of the UFC 313 PPV in Las Vegas. And the head honcho proved that he is indeed busier than ever shaping his own destiny. At the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, the head honcho revealed a series of major updates, including big moves for Power Slap and his latest boxing venture with GEA head Turki Alalshikh. However, all of this was overshadowed by a significant push and investment in Jiu-Jitsu. And when it comes to taking risks, he’s no stranger to high-stakes moves!

While addressing the reporters in Vegas, White stated, “We’re gonna invest like 10 to 12 million dollars in Jiu-Jitsu over the next year. We’re gonna go big on that.” This development is in line with White’s vision for the martial arts discipline that essentially gave birth to the UFC way back in 1993. Last year, the head honcho promised to “take BJJ to a whole other level” and this was followed by signing 5-time IBJJF world champion Mikey Musumeci who is by far one of the greatest practitioners in the world at the moment.

“Over the course of the last year, I’ve been working on developing the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu program in the world. I am excited to announce that we’ve signed Mikey Musumeci to the first-ever exclusive BJJ promotional agreement in the company’s history,” White announced last year.

The UFC making a serious investment in jiu-jitsu is an exciting development—one that could elevate the sport to new heights and introduce it to a broader mainstream audience. However, with this expansion comes a few lingering questions and potential concerns. One of the biggest uncertainties is how restrictive these exclusive contracts will be. Dana White has promised to sign a wave of BJJ athletes, but what will that mean for their ability to compete elsewhere?

UFC Fight Pass Invitationals only take place every few months, with a limited number of slots available per event. If these contracts are too restrictive, athletes could find themselves sidelined for long stretches with fewer opportunities to compete. A similar situation played out in ONE Championship, where many elite grapplers signed exclusive deals—only to end up with significantly reduced schedules and lower-level opposition.

With the UFC and TKO Group launching a new boxing league and committing $10 to $12 million to Jiu-Jitsu over the next year, Dana White has a full plate. But with so many ventures in motion, a pressing question arises—how long can he keep up with the relentless pace? “We’re going to find out this year,” White stated. “This year is going to be the—We’re going to find out this year. We’ll see. See how long I can run this hard.”

Beyond his ambitious moves in BJJ and boxing, White is also steering Power Slap in a new direction, shifting it to YouTube. But is this a strategic masterstroke or a risky gamble? Only time will tell—but if history has shown anything, betting against Dana White rarely pays off.

Dana White’s ambitious plans for Power Slap

The controversial yet rapidly growing sport of slapfighting is making a major shift—leaving Rumble behind and stepping into a whole new domain: YouTube. This move marks a significant transition, one that is expected to bring massive changes. But that’s not the only big update for Power Slap.

At the post-fight presser, White said, “We’re gonna go big on boxing. We’re gonna continue to do what we do with UFC, you know, switching Power Slap over to YouTube. I told you guys two years ago. Watch what happens to Power Slap in the next two years. And I’ll say it to you again. Watch what happens to Power Slap in the next two years.”

Combat sports insider Jed I. Goodman recently revealed another game-changing development, posting on X: “Dana White tells Forbes that 350 creators have committed to attend Power Slap 12.” So why bring in digital creators and influencers? Because YouTube is their playground. By tapping into this vast network of online personalities, Power Slap is setting itself up for a surge in viewership, leveraging influencers to push the brand to new heights. But why take the risk of leaving a platform that was already pulling in millions?

For the unversed, Rumble hosted 11 Power Slap events, generating millions in revenue. But White is always chasing the next big thing—settling has never been part of his playbook. His latest high-stakes move? A massive six-year, $76 million deal with blockchain giant VeChain, which is now the official naming rights sponsor of Power Slap. Interestingly, this deal will bring in significantly less money than Rumble did, so why take the leap? Because White believes it’s a long-term investment in attention.

“At the end of the day, this thing was built on the internet. I already know the sport works; now it’s about delivering it to as many eyeballs as possible,” he told Forbes. With new challenges, massive deals, and bold bets on the future, will Dana White once again prove the doubters wrong? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!