“His Whole World Is Fights”- Insider to Dana White’s Life Reveals UFC’s $500M Worth President’s Behind the Scenes Dedication to the World of MMA

When Dana White took over the UFC in 2001, it was struggling for its survival. Relegated to holding events in civic centers of third-tier cities, a far cry from marquee venues the likes of Madison Square Garden, O2 Arena, MGM Grand, and Etihad Arena around the world. The promotion (and the sport of MMA in general) was looked down upon as a barbaric and brutal sport, “Human cockfighting” as former Presidential candidate and Senator John McCain put it. Not to mention that it was outright illegal in some states such as New York.

The journey from being a fledgling sport far from the mainstream to a respected $12 billion company that has reached mainstream consciousness is a long and arduous one. And no one is more responsible for it than Dana White. It was, therefore, interesting to see an old video of a typical day for Dana White as he navigates his various responsibilities as UFC President.

A Day in the Life of Dana White circa 2013

In the video from 2013 before UFC 167, shows the UFC boss, clad in jeans, a Boston Celtics shirt, and a black baseball cap entering the UFC offices in Las Vegas. He apologizes to his Executive Assistant, Andrea Fabrizio, for being late and sits in on a meeting. His assistant explained that even though people have to make appointments months in advance to see White because of his busy schedule. Nonetheless, White attends even unscheduled meetings when required. She pointed out that his whole life revolves around the UFC and making fights.

“People try to book him like months in advance, but he’s more day to day. Even when he’s here and he’s scheduled for a meeting, he’s constantly being pulled in different directions. So he’ll go sit in on a meeting that, maybe, wasn’t scheduled for him but they want him in there because they want his opinion or something. He’s always on the phone, he’s always talking about fights when he’s not with his kids I mean it’s his whole world is fights,” she said.

UFC – from struggling for its survival multi-billion dollar company

Dana White bought the fledgling UFC from SEC Promotions in 2001 with financing from his friends the Fertitta brothers. The trio formed a company called Zuffa LLC for that purpose. The promotion, which Zuffa had bought for $2 million was sold to the WME-IMG group, now called Endeavor, for $4 billion – a 4000X appreciation from the $2 million they had bought it for.

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Fans often levy legitimate criticisms at Dana White over issues like fighter pay, health insurance, and in-octagon sponsorships. Fighters, too, including Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou have time and time again spoken out against some of its business practices that, are not in the best interest of the fighters. But despite the ongoing debates, no one can deny that the UFC and MMA wouldn’t have been where it is, if not for the extraordinary efforts that Dana White has put in from the start. As it is his vision and dedication that have played an integral role in shaping the sport’s unprecedented growth and global recognition.

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