Entering Week 15 of the NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams have kept their playoff hopes alive after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 12-6 in a hard-fought game. The standout performance came from wide receiver Puka Nacua, who stole the spotlight with what could be the catch of the season. The wide receiver made a jaw-dropping grab, catching the ball with the help of a 49ers defender’s helmet. The catch left fans reminiscing about the famous David Tyree Super Bowl catch.

Puka Nacua’s catch seemed impossible. The ball, tossed by quarterback Matthew Stafford, sailed high and seemed beyond the Utah native’s reach. Undeterred, Nacua soared into the air, making a spectacular catch that defied expectations. By the time Week 15 arrived, Nacua had already accumulated 708 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 54 receptions in just eight games. This jaw-dropping performance even left UFC boss Dana White speechless, who shared his praise on Instagram with the caption, “Puka, you are so bad-ss.”

Despite his limited playing time, Puka Nacua has made a huge impact, much like last week when his performance helped the Rams defeat the Buffalo Bills for their first home win against the Bills since 1983. The wide receiver caught 12 of his 14 targets for 162 yards, adding 16 yards rushing and a touchdown, cementing his status as a rising star.

Puka Nacua’s performance last week earned him widespread praise, including from Dana White, who took to his Instagram stories to express his excitement, writing, “Still trying to figure this out.” You might be wondering why the UFC boss has such admiration for the 23-year-old wide receiver. The reason lies in their close relationship, since Dana White’s eldest son, Dana White III, is a close friend of Nacua’s, making White and the NFL star almost like family.

From time to time, Dana White has openly shown support for Puka Nacua, often displaying a sense of fatherly pride in the young wide receiver’s achievements, just as he did earlier this year when he spoke about their close relationship.

Dana White opens up about his connection with Puka Nacua

It’s no surprise that UFC head honcho Dana White has a penchant for identifying athletic talent. After all, he has spent 30+ years scouting for and surrounded by some of the greatest combat sports athletes in the world. As mentioned before, White has a soft corner for Puka Nacua, but how did the two form a connection? Well, before moving to Utah, the Los Angeles Rams star spent his early life in Las Vegas, where Dana White’s promotion was based. Nacua grew up playing football alongside Dana White’s son, Dana White III, in the Pop Warner league.

Pop Warner Football is well-known for providing opportunities for over 40,000 young athletes between the ages of five and 16. Dana White, himself a sports enthusiast, also funded a team called the ‘Little Cowboys,’ which Puka Nacua was a part of. White opened up about his relationship with Nacua during an appearance on ‘Games with Names,’ expressing his pride in seeing the wide receiver’s success.

White stated, “My kids grew up with Puka. He grew up in our house ‘Ballin’. Me and Lorenzo used to fund a team called the ‘Little Cowboys,’ and he was on the ‘Little Cowboys’ with my kids and a bunch of other guys that are playing right now. There’s a few kids that went to the NFL from that team, and good colleges, too. To see Puka doing what he’s doing now, it could not happen to a better human being. When you meet this kid, you will love this kid. He’s such a good kid.”

Now, all eyes are on December 22nd when Puka Nacua and the Los Angeles Rams will face off against the formidable New York Jets at their home ground, MetLife Stadium. With Dana White’s support, can the Utah native replicate his earth-shattering performance against the Jets? Fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming challenge next week.