UFC CEO Dana White recently shared his thoughts on the fine line in professional sports between staying on top or fading into mediocrity. Using the example of Tom Brady’s dedication to his craft, which led to him being widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, the UFC boss took a subtle dig at Conor McGregor’s struggles with maintaining the same level of commitment amidst his own newfound wealth and fame.

In his appearance on the ‘In Search of Excellence’ podcast, the UFC boss discussed the challenges fighters face once they start earning a significant income. He also highlighted the fact that many combat sports athletes find themselves struggling to make their way to the top once they taste success, but according to him Tom Brady’s career provides a remarkable ‘blueprint’ to avoiding the pitfalls of fame and fortune.

Dana White takes an indirect jab at Conor McGregor with praise for Tom Brady

In a candid statement on the podcast, Dana White revealed “So, when you’re a fighter, you know, and you’re into the sport and you want to, you want to win a world title and you want to do this and you wanna do that, then you start to make millions of dollars. It’s impossible to be the same type of fighter you were. You’re not as hungry as you were, and all this other stuff, unless you are wired a certain way…”

He further went on to use Tom Brady’s career to illustrate his point as White questioned if the NFL legend who retired in 2023 was ever, “the highest paid quarterback when he was on his run.” The UFC head honcho also claimed that Brady was never involved in endorsement campaigns and “…he was focused on football, he focused on winning… and that “he would take less money so that they could bring more good players in and build a great team.”

However, once his career was drawing to a close and with 7 Super Bowl championships under his belt leaving no doubts about his ‘GOAT’ status, White revealed, “He’s got endorsements like f*king, what did he do, f*king half a billion dollar deal with Fox for commentating, right now he’s making all the money based off everything that he has worked on.. Always took care of his body, never, you know, partied and did all that sh*t.”

These remarks stand in stark contrast to his statement about Conor McGregor from the UFC 298 post-fight press conference from earlier this year where he had stated, “Conor McGregor’s got a lot of money. Any time we get Conor, we’ll be happy. You know, we’ll be thrilled when he comes and fights, money complicates a lot of things.”

When comparing Brady’s disciplined approach to McGregor’s struggles, White’s statements highlighted the crucial elements of sustained success in sports. Brady’s example underscores the importance of unwavering dedication and strategic sacrifices, while McGregor’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the potential distractions that come with fame and fortune.

Nevertheless, Dana White was also present at the recent ‘roast’ of the NFL ‘GOAT’ where despite getting in a few jabs of his own, the UFC boss found himself in the cross-hairs of the comedians on stage!

White gets roasted for UFC fighter pay at Tom Brady’s roast on Netflix

At the recent ‘The Greatest Roast of All Time’, NFL icon Tom Brady was the man of the hour at the event that was aired live on Netflix.  Having a long history with Boston and being a huge fan of the NFL, Dana White was also present at the show but found himself on the receiving end of some jabs about the UFC’s struggles with fighter pay.

Comedian Andrew Schulz took aim at the UFC boss when he went up on stage and proclaimed, “That’s why Dana’s here: So you can learn to f*ck a Brazilian out of half their purse.”

However, it appeared as though the UFC boss wasn’t fazed by the jokes at his expense as he was seen laughing during the broadcast. But it is interesting to note that while White criticizes fighters for chasing fame and wealth, the UFC’s current pay structure has been under scrutiny for a staggering disparity in the revenue shared with the athletes compared to other major sports leagues.

In conclusion, White’s insights about Tom Brady’s success and Conor McGregor’s distractions, provide an intriguing comparison for the fans between two iconic athletes with very different paths to success. Do you think Dana White is right about Conor McGregor choosing the wrong path to cementing his legacy? Why or Why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!