Dana White on Suga Sean O'Malley, Conor McGregor, and Building the UFC Podcast Interview | E112

My guest today is the incredible Dana White. For last 23 years Dana has been the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts company in the world. During these 23 years, Dana has transformed the UFC from an unwanted, unloved, unsuccessful company heavily indebted into one of the greatest and largest sports franchises in history, and he's viewed by many as the greatest sports promoter in history. He is also the founder of Power Slap, a slap fighting promotion company owned by Ultimate Fighting Championship showcasing his innovative spirit in sports promotions.
00:00 - Introduction
01:16 - Sold UFC for $4 Billion
03:25 - Reflecting on Past and Future
06:03 - The American Dream
08:05 - Joe Rogan's Impact
10:14 - Innovating Fight Production
13:24 - Discovering Conor McGregor
15:20 - Importance of Superstars in UFC
17:55 - Story About Jon Jones
20:31 - Motivation Post-UFC Sale
23:49 - Dana's Current Motivation
27:48 - Impact of Money
31:15 - Family and Prioritizing Children
34:03 - Importance of Preparation
36:45 - Loyalty to Joe Rogan and Donald Trump
42:26 - Starting a Company: Reality vs Expectation
44:26 - Sphere Live Event
46:52 - Power Slap: New Venture
48:30 - Philanthropy: Helping Those in Need
51:53 - Emotional Impact of Charity

[@mikehunt8221]

such a great motivating podcast loved this

[@insearchofexcellence]

Thanks Mike!

[@Marcos6432]

Lol that’s true but I listen every time

[@timw4432]

@@insearchofexcellenceyeah first and last time I’ll be watching. You seem like an egomaniac who is out of touch with reality

[@LIIIIIFE]

DANA SLURPING TOM BRADY AS IF TOM WASNT A MULTI MILLIONAIRE HIS WHOLE CAREER HAHAHA THE WHITES I TELL YOU.

[@ericmarquez629]

Because he’s always being asked the same shit.

[@MC-ss3qc]

What Dana never talks about is how he use to go into the parking lots before the fights at the venue and walk around and hang out with the fans. When this sport was growing the UFC was so fan friendly. You went to an event, met so many fighters, ring girls. Been a pleasure watching Dana grow this sport. Miss the old school Vlogs

[@bigal2417]

Ive trained at that gym in Thailand seen the pictures of Dana and spoke to the coach and his family and trainers . Well done Dana'👏

[@theocoleman1123]

Dana is incredible! He's able to explain the business side of being the president of the UFC while keeping it very engaging

[@TERMINATORofficial]

Uncle Dana White is The Man!!! Great Words!!!

[@Vega_Sports]

The Core of the Business. Continue doing what got you to the dance

[@insearchofexcellence]

Exactly. Don't get distracted with "shiny objects"

[@stuhector3511]

Another great one from Dana 👏🏽

[@JJ-om6nx]

I was annoyed by him trying to be a tough guy and cursing, to seem cool to Dana. But when he started sobbing at the end, you saw the real him. Just a sweet normal guy.

[@closinginonclosure]

26:54 😆 Why's this guy sound so awkward every time he cusses? Haha. He drops F bombs a few times during his conversation with Dana, and every time it just sounds like it's unnatural for him. Like it's contrived and he's only using the word because Dana uses it a lot and he's trying to make Dana think he's cool or something. That's the way it seems to me, at least. Lol

[@randazza]

He does unnaturally sound out the "king" half of the word lol

[@closinginonclosure]

@@randazza Lol. Yeah, maybe that's part of why it sounds weird.

[@ruffhausmalinois]

Nailed it. Sycophants are gross

[@JOkeyo-ll9vs]

That was such a touching and emotional interview. I av always wanted to meet Dana since he does things that reasonate with me a lot. I love the UFC a lot and I follow it to the core.....I want ro save and have an opportunity to see UFC fight live and am sure one day I will....😂

[@jacksonlepert4969]

30:26 might be the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard dude really said u don’t need money to fly to Vegas and race Ferraris and go to a ufc event and play golf 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣💀

[@timw4432]

Yeah this guy is an absolute wanker of a person.

[@leeedgy4736]

This made my day thanks for this one!

[@ToddAtkinsShow]

Joe Rogan had already been working for the UFC for 4 years prior to ZUFFA buying it. Somehow Dana “found” him.

[@confidential02]

he worked as a backstage reporter, doing intervies. Placing him in a commentator seat is pretty much finding Joe

[@josephdeweese2006]

And didn't really "work" he did it for free...allegedly.

[@closinginonclosure]

35:03 🤔 That's honestly insane for people knowing his dogs name to be a barrier of entry on whether or not he takes you seriously. Not only is he expecting an assuming that they looked at his website. Why would any rational business person view their dogs name as being information that's important enough that they should remember it? That's just a personal detail and isn't relevant to a company or business. Him expecting people to focus on that and retain that information is not only crazy and irrational, it seems like it laced with ego. He thinks he's so important that they should deep dive on him before meeting and remember his dogs name from his website, like it's an important business detail or something. Unbelievable.

[@closinginonclosure]

You can tell Dana thought it was nuts too 😂

[@furiousd123456]

What a huge ego lol

[@timw4432]

Yeah this dude seems like an absolute wanker

[@300blkreepin]

This guy talking about being a nerd growing up and now talking about shutting down meetings is they don’t know his dogs name is a fucking clown. Dana a no nonsense dude but this guy an egomaniac.

[@XDrewcifer2023]

Aww. Dana your the man. Much love for the woman your helping

[@gioch8882]

Anybody know what brand black T crew neck shirt Dana’s wearing?

[@closinginonclosure]

53:24 😂😂😂💀 Over Dana giving his kid tickets to a press conference. LMAO

[@mikehunt8221]

u don't have a heart, maybe if u had a son you'd understand

[@closinginonclosure]

@@mikehunt8221 Weird how you'd assume I don't have a heart or a son. I, in fact, would say I have a large heart. I also have an 11 year old son.

[@steve5nash]

@@closinginonclosure then why?

[@closinginonclosure]

@@steve5nash Why, what? Are you asking why I found his reaction to be a little dramatic, over Dana getting his son into a press conference or whatever it was? I understand his son had a great time, and as a parent, obviously you want your children to have experiences they love. But I was initially expecting him to say Dana payed for a life saving medical procedure or something, based on his reaction. To become so emotional over something like you son being able to go to a fun event seems a little excessive. It's all about perspective, I guess. I feel like your perspective of what's really important in life must be pretty skewed to have such an emotional reaction to your kid getting tickets to a UFC press conference. Parents have children with cancer. Children with no food on the table, and far more important thing's. A fun event for his son is what he values that much? Don't get me wrong, that's definitely something to be thankful and appreciative for, but to illicit and sobbing response seems really excessive to me. That's just my opinion. I'll also add, that I definitely have love in my heart for so many things, and genuinely feel like I'm a good person. I also shouldn't be alive today, and have a heart problem that has left me with a pacemaker/defibrillator in my 30s. I was on life support for a week and it's genuinely a miracle I'm alive. I'm also a father who wants every day my son has to be great. But I also have life and what truly matters in life, put into perspective. That's just my personal view and opinion. I feel like the reason for his crying is probably rooted in something else other than just the actual event. Maybe he has a fear of failing his son or letting him down. When he couldn't get tickets himself, he felt like he let his son down. Dana getting tickets possible fulfilled his son's desire which illicited the emotional response that he attributed to his son having "the best time of his life" which isn't hard to achieve in a young boys short life.

[@patrickrolny1169]

​@@closinginonclosureagreed, this guy is such a clown

[@shanejohnson2384]

Great interview. And Go Blue !

[@insearchofexcellence]

Go Blue!

[@Kyleobie]

I started this and even commented that this guy wasnt a good interviewer and basicly copied lex freidmans questions. But i got to the charity questions and i take my previous statment back. Great ending!

[@insearchofexcellence]

Thanks for the feedback, Kyle!

[@Guru-ue2yp]

Dana saying things like “power slap does more numbers than all other sports combined “ I need to see proof. He says it repeatedly but never produces proof

[@UFCFan1996]

Its actually legit, do some research buddy

[@justinlyle7831]

What's my dogs name?? Wtf bud. How does Dana end up with this shit.

[@furiousd123456]

"If you don't know my dumb ass dog's name I'll kick you out of a meeting" - Rich Dork. Great guest tho dork

[@jackjackson4851]

Yra, fk dude

[@Sean-zz2lj]

Went the first time to ufc 127 in 2011 and got great seats for a decent price even tho the show sold out in minutes zuffa never priced the the tickets high because they knew it was good for ppv sales to allow fans to experience a live show, they do a great show but not for what ticket sell for now because you could do a 4 night trip abroad for what wme img want for a decent seat

[@ardhirhamdhani]

I saw other side uncle dana here 💯🔥

[@XDrewcifer2023]

Hes right he is the only expert

[@Tarantino111]

Fooor Maaaaay Soooooooon

[@elj1678]

What’s his son sick or dying? 🤔

[@santanachannel1861]

Im sure it's easier to say, "I'm never going to retire," when you haven't worked a hard manuel labor job for 25 plus years and barely making ends meet. Not saying Dana doesn't work hard, but lets be real, his job has PLENTY of great "PERKS." Not to mention he's a MULTI-MILLIONAIR

[@skylerjohnson8874]

Yeah no shit, Dana wouldn’t disagree

[@Eric-pv4jy]

Bud, the old saying is work smarter not harder. You chose to use your body for a living not you’re brain so don’t complain get it 🤣🤣🤣

[@danielbarnes547]

This conversation happened so long ago.... 🙄

[@Tarantino111]

Same story, different pod

[@Guru-ue2yp]

Dana says the same exact stuff every single podcast he’s on

[@justinmorieko221]

Would you rather him change everything he says everytime and lie?

[@Guru-ue2yp]

@@justinmorieko221 I’d rather him talk about new stuff, upcoming fights, up and coming fighters.. I’ve heard these same exact stories every third podcast he does

[@justinmorieko221]

@Guru-ue2yp i can get on board with that. But it seems like dana doesnt do these types of long form podcasts for promoting specific events. Its more so the behind the scenes stuff and his past. But i see your point. UFC is such a power house now that alot of the events sell them selves

[@Kyleobie]

It's completely on the interviewer Dana's just answering questions

[@josephdeweese2006]

They ask the same questions.

[@jackjackson4851]

Whet ?

[@6AlphaMikeCharlie9]

O'Mally is no way going to be on the same fame level as McGregor. It's a well known fact that the lower weight classes just aren't a big draw. Just look at mighty mouse he's one of the GOATS and never even got pov points.

[@cory7229]

“Most prepared person ever” asked Dana about his convo with Dyedek that never happened😂 according to you dana shouldve kicked you out

[@kreatingsound4946]

Dana says it doesn't matter who you are or who you know to become successful...meanwhile Dana's entire career was because of who he knew (the Fertitta brothers who financed the UFC)...LMAO

[@6AlphaMikeCharlie9]

I guarantee you if she didn't have she would 100% give a f..k about it. It's funny how the ones who have it (and good for them) Say they don't care about it.

[@matt.r18]

This guy wants people to put his dogs name on a flashcard

[@Thessalonians22-kg8pf]

"You can Love JESUS just don't do it publicly"- Dana White YEHOVAHS watching.

[@rhysrittgers2183]

Idk how this dude gets Dana on a show and asks the most boring overly asked questions ever in the most mono toned voice ever. A pain to listen to honestly

[@joecoreano]

🇺🇸

[@michaelhenderson1034]

Is any mf’er that interviews Dana gonna ask a new god damn question ? Or is it gonna be these same six every god damn time .

[@gc-hn4ky]

He asked what’s his dogs name

[@magnusstark6233]

Noo Dana White , please dont take up powerslap and compare with the ufc 😂😂😂😂 Its pretty obvious powerslap is not gonna be big . People dont think its competition !!!!!!!! I belive in almost everything Dana says but please ...!!!

[@JG-sg6wl]

I prefer more interview questions about Dana vs telling ur own stories…save your horn toot’s for the time ur interviewed …js

[@user-bb8tz2kq7y]

💪💪👍👍💰💲💴💳💵💸🤑

[@charlescharlemagne4907]

Pretty insufferable listening to him whine about the media constantly and talk about how popular he thinks Power Slap is. His ego wont let him admit that no one actually likes it.

[@TheCadborosaurus]

This is a meme of real interview. Terribl....

[@Angryblonde]

The podcaster knows nothing about UFC, also it’s Jon Jones not “John”

[@closinginonclosure]

28:14 Says he doesn't chase money and isn't a big money guy. Interesting words coming from a longtime poker player and habitual gambler, and someone whose constantly talking about money.

[@LIIIIIFE]

DANA SLURPING TOM BRADY AS IF TOM WASNT A MULTI MILLIONAIRE HIS WHOLE CAREER HAHAHA THE WHITES I TELL YOU.

[@yeorges]

Clickbait nothing about sphere

[@insearchofexcellence]

42:42 has some great info about the Sphere. Thanks for the comment!

[@user-bx3gk9sb1o]

so much out of touch shit being said by dana lmao

[@AN-hv1vm]

Dana's ego has jumped the shark

[@Eric-pv4jy]

If you don’t like Dana white, you may have some problems 🫡

[@imupinthetrees]

u don’t know him. I like some of Dana whites traits but impossible to know the guy on that level

[@Eric-pv4jy]

@@imupinthetrees douche lame ass reply 🤣