While several countries question the growing participation in sports betting, Dana White consistently viewed the global legalization of bookmakers as a positive development. A few years ago, the UFC president confessed that he is obsessed with betting, that he loves to bet, and that he always does it because it is more fun, although sometimes it can cause you an upset. However, it seems like White has completely changed his stance on the ‘fun’ activity now. During the recent press conference at the Dana White Contender Series, the UFC boss revealed that he has changed his stance on the habit. In fact, he now believes that it ruins the sport of MMA.

He said, “Sports betting is f*ckin brutal. I don’t do it. I stopped doing it a long time ago. It drives me… ‘Yeah, but it’s more fun if you bet’, no, it’s not more fun. It actually makes the game miserable. But yeah, if you like sports betting, this is one that actually where underdogs really do win.” This is a complete turnaround from his previous interviews, in which he acknowledged that sports betting can attract more people to the UFC while acknowledging that he lost $1 million on a frustrated hunch in a boxing match. Maybe the losses have made him change his mind about the habit.

It is worth noting that the UFC president once withdrew all MMA events from the Las Vegas Palms after the casino reduced its betting credit line by 50%. They reconciled a few years later, and White received his own undisputed blackjack champion belt. But now, with this new viewpoint, he may no longer have such disputes with other hotels and casinos in the future. Something that would prove much more beneficial for the promotion.

This isn’t the first time that White has ascertained a strict stance toward betting, though. Since the sports betting market surely is booming and, as it could not be otherwise, the world of MMA also joined this wave. In recent times, several fighters began to be sponsored by companies in the field. The rapid growth of the activity even led the UFC to update its code of conduct for athletes on its roster.

When UFC put a betting ban on their athletes

As per the aforementioned update on the code of conduct, it prohibits UFC fighters from betting on fights promoted by the organization. A necessary decision, in Dana White’s opinion. At the press conference following UFC 280, the league’s president was questioned about the matter and explained the motivation behind the ban imposed by the franchise on fighters.

According to Dana, the new rule adopted by the company he presides over aims to avoid any room for mistrust about the integrity of the sport and how the issue will be viewed in the eyes of the public. He said, “People who regulate gambling don’t think it’s a good idea for fighters to be betting on themselves, and I agree… It just shouldn’t happen. It should never happen. It doesn’t look good—more optics than anything.”

Despite the ban, bookmakers can still sponsor athletes or even serve as a kind of ‘ambassadors’ for the company. The measure is already in force, and any fighter who violates it will be sanctioned. However, it would be interesting to see if White brings any more additional rules after his latest stance on the activity. What do you think? Does sports betting affect mixed martial arts negatively? Let us know in the comments.