Dana White: What it took to save the UFC

Dana White on purchasing the UFC and the lowest point of those early years.
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Episode debuted nationwide in 2011.
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[@garyhov6259]

Dana might only own 10%, but he is the heart of the company!

[@THEBIGGESTSCUMBAG]

LEGEND

[@879sdiaz]

He got a billion after the sale dummy

[@HotBoxTrucking]

and the cock

[@idontwantone132]

@@philpowell9111 ...do you honestly think it's up to Dana how much the fighters make? Fighters pay isn't Dana's choice.

[@idontwantone132]

@@879sdiaz he didn't get a billion, he got 400m. He owned 10% of the company and it sold for ~4b.b

[@joegusset5902]

I’ve always respected Dana for how he’s ran the ufc. But I respect him more now after hearing this. Really seems like great guy/businessman.

[@rakibshaharia5758]

dana really made MMA shine as no one did.

[@joheewrx5278]

The ending "we have the opportunity to go mainstream".. little did dana know he'd get a huge ESPN deal down the line 👏🏼

[@dannyholder9711]

We were gonna get involved in boxing but we realized in boxing we couldn't keep 85 % of the money so we bought the ufc

[@xerxes2044]

Bingo

[@NexVentorGaming]

So much respect Dana. Great interview

[@Jimbo1212121212]

Great job. The whole team, Dana, The Fertitta brothers and the team in Abu Dhabi. Love the show

[@james1327]

really interesting all the pressure and stress behind the scenes. You don't get this at the press conferences.

[@moef.5326]

Great interview.

[@MrTube7776]

Love the videos, keep it up =]

[@user-dx5oj5eu7z]

#1 is Loyalty

[@tommangu9940]

These are great videos

[@trogman43988]

this is a great interview

[@cellphonenut]

Dana is such a influential coach loved the vid broke or rich. Thanks for sharing Dana 💪💪

[@Brandon-vy6uw]

You can tell just by watching Dana's video blogs he truly cares and treats it like he owns 100% of it.

[@JM-cf9xy]

Because he’s on a power trip

[@cashcampbell279]

Now that the Fertitta brothers are selling it and this was about a month ago, Dana had to know about it🤔 and he said he couldn't see himself working without them..intersesting

[@soulsunderseige4946]

It's easy not to care about money when you have 10's of millions in the bank.

[@ecpruthless]

You could say that again....pullin a joe rogan?....irritates the shit outta me when he talkin about "...money isnt important, people should care less about money...blahze blah"....yeah....i wouldnt care about money either with long pockets like them....agh...the arrogance.

[@anasss1197]

It's more than 300m now lmao

[@convex7456]

Imagine no 9-7 job. And just retiring. And relaxing. FOREVER

[@FergieGee]

Dude I don't give a eff about money and I'm broke AF

[@evilumski2]

@@FergieGee respect.

[@ragnar0528]

When things get tough keep going Dana White is living proof.

[@1337flite]

Interesting timing on the release of this video and the "what happens if the Fertitta's want to sell?" question.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

The episode is from 2011 and was put on the channel when it sold on purpose lol

[@joemckim1183]

@@Matt-cr4vv It explains why Dana is still relatively skinny in the video.

[@mediapeace6772]

This lowkey inspirational

[@ericbuzzard2041]

What he meant was that he doesn't care about OTHER people's money, i can absolutely guarantee you that he cares a fuck ton about HIS money.

[@internetpolice1166]

'I don't care about money'...........that's easy to say when you have an unlimited amount of it.

[@michaelsands442]

I read this right as i heard him say it.

[@Mike-mn2uq]

If UFC is sold and Dana and Fertitas goes. Us fans are sure going to miss them. Thanks for everything Zuffa! Been watching since 2002. Was a fan through all the Ups and downs

[@Mike-mn2uq]

Rumor has it that Dana has new % of new Company and new owner is the real life Ari Gold. So it willl be Dana white and Ari Gold. A match made in heaven. Thank you Zuffa we will miss you.

[@Mike-mn2uq]

nothing announce yet, rumors say it will be announce at ufc 200 i only see them doing this if they buying Raiders which I think Dana will also get a cut.

[@Mike-mn2uq]

Raiders promoting UFC makes sense

[@mooseendeavors]

Any updates

[@matthewmurray4159]

The reason bellatore, strikeforce and whoever else ain't bugger then the ufc is because they don't have Dana. Without Dana the ufc just ain't the ufc

[@sanatsrivastava2814]

Dana and the millions of dollars in capital.

[@23bitchris60]

Scott Coker is the president of both lol

[@valemus8372]

Dana is not in the money business... He's in the empire business!

[@BigDH28]

Who is he talking about when he says Abu Dhabi is part owner... The sheik?

[@watchthe1369]

as if there is a difference.....

[@russellward4624]

Sheik Tanhoon is who he’s talking about. He’s the person that started the ADCC combat club and the ADCC submission wrestling world championships. He’s a BJJ BB.

[@wasfiahad3993]

Yes the sheikh

[@GrantPatN]

Lol Dana doesn't care about money, yeah ok bud.

[@adamwonder9607]

yeah thats what people WITH money love too say lol

[@A96000]

I mean if you owned only 10% and were willing to put in that much effort...

[@LeMoNSBrAAA]

Yeah %10 of 4.5 billion

[@stevena9231]

I believe me.

[@keemoify]

Yeah right. Dude has like 500.000.000,-$ net worth.

[@talk2s5061X]

Excellent

[@bobloblaw9461]

"WHat happens if they decide to sell?" lol aged well

[@thcthehonestclone6329]

Everybody gets super f****** rich

[@cjg28]

Very impressive what they have done

[@beaver3532]

dana has a mind and passion in ufc and biussness as big as his biscepps fukin well done man. lets see how it plays out. 2021 and its still awsome! 💪

[@watchthe1369]

Started it up, lasted 10 years, got into the 20% survivors category. After a few years beyond 10 they took their profit. Look at World of Warcraft, same sort of engaged guys making their bone doing something they love. Dana is keeping it real, Warcraft is withering on the vine now that the business wonks have taken over completely.

[@clivejd]

'44 million is 80 million when you think about tax' , just love the way this guy thinks about money.

[@noelkemmy1694]

very interesting dude

[@maxbiggtluffy4955]

Your damn right man

[@johnbailey2024]

GREAT INTERVIEWER! HE LOOKS LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN JAY MOOR AND THE OLDER C IN THE MOVIE A BRONX TALE! LOL

[@clivejd]

Dana's a smart entrepreneur. Not many know that under the earlier ownership the Fertitta Brothers didn't allow live events of the UFC at Las Vegas. Dana gets the Fertitta Brothers, part of las vegas' political scene as funding partners and immediately UFC is allowed to host live fights. I'm sure all this has a back story to squeeze the UFC founders out.

[@devildickdeep]

5:51 I can care less about money. I love this sport, I love this brand, and I love what I’m doing. I get up everyday and treat this thing like I own a 100% of it 💯🔥

[@zamiel3]

He's full of shit. It was never about the "love of the sport". He saw a chance to make money and jumped on it. The sad part is he managed fighters and faught for them to get paid...then became an owner and has been fighting tooth and nail to NOT pay the fighters.

[@Lilsushi352]

@@zamiel3 damn

[@zamiel3]

@@Lilsushi352 I can give the guy props for helping take the UFC where it is, but people need to quit kidding themselves. That pos drops more at the blackjack table in one sitting, than most of the fighters, on an entire card, make combined. He talks about wanting the sport to be legalized and legitimate everywhere, like boxing. Then hires attorneys and lobbyist, to fight legislation, that would allow his fighters the protections given to boxers. As well as fighting to block fighters from unionizing, like other athletes. *P.O.S.*

[@bussyhaver]

Bruh 🤣 Dana said all that about “we’re the only ones that can do it, I can’t do it without them”. yadayada then turned around and all sold their shares less than 1 month after 🤣🤣

[@beatsbyrafa]

Yea if you don't mind sharing, what's the real story behind UFC from where it stands now

[@ryanjohnson948es8]

Dana white saved the ufc and never gave up

[@camoomac7411]

one thing is for sure: dana gets the job done.

[@mannyurdaneta7883]

Jack reacher 2 ...OMG

[@Kigoz4Life]

5:50 easy to not care about money when you are super rich. u cared about money when u started the business. dont lie.

[@ryanleexuanhao]

what he is trying to say is that as long as he puts food on the table for his family, he is good. money is an indicator of how successful a business is so of course he has to care about money.

[@Kigoz4Life]

Ryan Lee lol this is way beyond putting money on the table. he's worth several hundred million. and now he got the balls to say this shit. disrespectful. if u dont care about the money. give it away lmao

[@nercoG]

money is a step. After the step, it's everything else.

[@Kigoz4Life]

dark zaku theres nothing judgmental about my comment u fucktard. I Caught his LIE.

[@yamabushi_nate7825]

Kigoz4Life It's his opinion on how he felt you fucking idiot. lol God damn you're stupid as fuck

[@patricklutherwinchester4260]

4:30 The Fertittas moved on and sold the UFC, but Dana White is still here.

[@lukebell2683]

If Dana left the UFC that would change everything he's such a part of the brand !! The would just be like every other MMA league

[@brodyharris7631]

He will never leave the UFC. Its his child

[@Molloy1951]

This guy is way smarter than I initially thought.

[@Evan-Sean.Osborne.67]

Since the sale he owns 9% which is up 2021

[@bykrydr1380]

Haters r gonna always hate(he don't care ab money. He jumped fighters. He got millions from others sweat n blood), but who else took chance to buy the UFC and survive all it took to come out on top. It's all biz folks(haters). Dana, and few others, took a 60/40 chance to bust or big, and came outHUGE. Can't b denied, Dana came out a genius, period! Mad props to Dana!

[@fmj-j2327]

Smart man

[@rast4man]

Dana gets a lot of hate but he is a true businessman. He figured out a way to bring people on and save UFC, meanwhile building an empire. Love him or hate him, you can't deny his prowess for business.

[@GMHI-Corporation]

Dana white is 100% what a CEO should be!

[@jaffamovieclips9588]

Haha love it when he says abhu dabi, he means the Arabs, most from Dubai, Saudi Arabia .

[@russellward4624]

No. Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia are 2 completude differ t countries. He’s talking about Shiek Tanhoon. He started the ADCC submission wrestling world championships and is a BJJ BB.

[@MMAjsf7]

Graham wrap it up on the questions, quicker questions haha

[@stephenrodgers981]

Dana got 10% of the 4.2 billion when it was sold AND he's still working there for a huge annual salary.

[@e13kid]

Did he actually sell his share?

[@deku8910]

@@e13kid He did and got 360M dollars. Now he is getting 20M dollars a year as the President of the UFC. Danas net worth is right now half a billion dollars

[@cogen651]

Nobody invests 44 million for a hobby.

[@ikigai47]

That is incorrect. Billionaires spend over 100 million for stupid yachts all the time.

[@BEASTBSG1982]

Dana White for president ✌️❤️🍊🌴🇺🇸❤️🗽😎👍🏻

[@dakusan9053]

Like hell Dana White doesn't like money. If he did not like money he would pay the fighters more cause you know he has a lot of influence on fighter pay.

[@doyouevenblaze155]

dakusan 90 he pays the fighters that make money. he doesn't waste money on every fucking fighter on a same salary. that doesn't make sense. it's competing for that no.1 spot boi

[@tiarnan76]

yes - they run a capitalist company - the harder u work n more fans that wana see you the more u get paid - its called incentive - as opposed to communism - which pays everyone the same no matter how shit u are - which disincentives the best athletes - so ure left with a bland, homogenous, dreary shitfest

[@xerxes2044]

@@tiarnan76 actually if you knew anything youd know ufc is like communism. 85/10 revenue split. Not close to 50/50 like every other major US sport.

[@mikko3]

Imagine comparing UFC to major league sports, does boxing do 50/50 split with everyone? NOPE@@xerxes2044

[@danielbreitkreuz4136]

Money talks lol, said it probably wasn't gonna sell anytime soon then sold. Then Dana said he couldn't work there without the brothers

[@jackmc2475]

Dana.. you know what I mean

[@BasicBodThor]

Well now we know....He made 300 million and is still the president after they sold it for 4 billion haha

[@dannyelmism0]

Any job on the UFC?

[@supercharged00gtp]

When was this interview recorded? Sounds like the UFC has sold for 4.2 Billion USD.

[@Mike-mn2uq]

Maybe its not true after seeing what Dana is saying in this, I don't think its that old, maybe a few weeks. Also rumor the new owner is the real life Ari Gold. That be crazy with Dana White and Ari Gold running this. But I think if they sell it, they only selling a % of Zuffa so 30% for $4 Billion. That's a good sell.

[@supercharged00gtp]

+Mike Dana has 10% of the company. Rumor was it sold, Dana got paid and negotiated a stake in the new ownership group to stay on and run/promote.

[@Mike-mn2uq]

Yeah but in the video he says If ferrita is out so is he, also the deal was prob in progress or almost done while he filmed this, he doesnt sound like his lying.. All things can change though if he got $400 mil from the deal and 15% cut on the new deal. Plus i heard ferrita is buying raiders, prob Dana will have a % of that too.

[@supercharged00gtp]

He also said Lesnar wasn't coming back and the next day he had a fight against Mark Hunt.

[@Mike-mn2uq]

Yeah true, he looked like he was lying though. After watching heaps of his interviews u can kinda tell when hes lying. He said they working on a deal, so I still think only about 40% is sold or something like that. Ferittas has the same passion as Dana for the sport, Zuffa have the same passion as us as fans.. Dana did say once he and Fertitas are UFC biggest fans. But I think Ferittas have more love for football, so I only see them selling it if they buying raiders. If not maybe 40% sold or like 100% of UFC asia or something like that

[@rothervan7875]

I love dana! What's 30 sum mill to 4.over billion in today's dollars!? Genius...

[@chumpvoodoo]

this guys are smart and super athletes but you pay'em shit! cmon Dana...

[@rickyparry7472]

The only people who say they don't care about money are the people who have a lot of money.

[@whipitstudio]

don't care about money so you wouldn't sell or stop working in the business if they are not included

[@Jimmythekid007]

It was just your soul, you'll be alright .?

[@MrLew1965]

Sure helps when you have a Billionaire as a start-up partner going into a business, makes things just a little bit easier ya think ?? "If you never cared about money", like you stated in this interview Dana, you would be out of business .... Lol

[@boogiestreet594]

People always talk sh*t about Dana and in general, everyone hates him. I don't understand why at all? He's a great guy, with ALOT of responsibility. Like he has to talk to HUNDREDS of fighters, try to meet their needs and understand them and listen to and try to solve their problems... they hate him because he's rich i suppose, or jealousy?

[@russellward4624]

It would take too long to explain. A lot of the moves he’s made have been to make the winners a shit load of money and nonsense for the fighters. They get scrapes really. The deal with EA for the video game they got like 10m I think. The fighters got nothing. Had to sign there image rights away for life for free or he kicked them out of the UFC. The recent deal with ESPN has really hurt the fighters. They get percentage points on PPV buys and going through ESPN has dropped the buys by 50%. The UFC is getting compensated by ESPN, the fighters aren’t. That’s a 50% pay cut. The ADIDAS deal is a other one. Fighters were making 60k or more on sponsorships. Now they have to wear ADIDAS and get maybe 5k. Dana claimed it was because “guys looked like NASCAR on there shorts” that there was too many sponsors and they wanted to streamline. Yet every inch of the octagon is covered in sponsors for the UFC to make money, none for the fighters.

[@jasonmitchell31680]

How can u not like Dana white???? Guy is awesome

[@LucasPenido]

And then they sold it for $4 Billion and it’s now worth between $5-6 Billion and it will continue growing!

[@thepistolguy859]

Dana should own all of it imo I guess now that they sold it for 4 billion he doesn't own any of it but is still the president of the company.

[@yellowjoe.2000]

Dana is more eloquent and has more leadership presence than all Harvard MBA's combined.

[@billpesavento845]

ufc just sold

[@vitrtorbelfotrt677]

Not true. All just rumors. But probably yeah.

[@GrayFell]

+ViTRTor Belfort Actually true, if you didn't know at the time of your comment Dana released a statement of his presidency since Lorenzo won't be staying.

[@mrquestionyourmother3789]

shut up vitor.

[@jimmyjux3641]

he got 300 mill when they sold it

[@francistheeagleofdagestann618]

Ok who’s got the first question

[@brodyharris7631]

44 million when the Fertitas even at that time were worth well over 10 billion. So that's nothing to them.

[@crazypato3752]

The fertittas are worth 2B currently no hay they were worth 10B back then

[@knightfall209]

209!

[@ljv2094]

?

[@ryanbingley2408]

Am I the first to say...Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and they split wages with Dana White?..and the other 80 percent goes to the Fertitta's? I wont get into fighter pay..but I will get into the fact..complete baller status...wow

[@crazyjoedavola5430]

I like Dana, he's a great success story...but I really don't believe that anyone that drives a Ferrari doesn't care about money...really? Could I get a million dollar loan then...

[@mikehelms29]

doesn't sound like guy who's gonna sell

[@largenj]

"I could care less about money!"...is easy to say if you have as much as him.

[@iggyspirit]

Is it me or Dana White sounds a little bit Brooklyn?

[@richardbursey5965]

Boy the comment about not owning it without the fertitas aged poorly

[@SGTWinchester85]

He don’t care about money bc he has it, if he had to scrounge he woulf

[@Diesel257]

"I don't think I could so this without [the Fretitas]" "How about $400m and a fat salary" "... aight"

[@mcleb84]

Dana White: "We saved the UFC by paying our fighters equivilent to minimum wage when it comes to pro sports. It didn't come easy though, we had to whip up contracts that would keep them under our thumbs and further supress them from making money outside of the organization. Along with some other shady shit. I am the promoter, boss, and I control the ranking system. It is unheard of....but I am honest and assure you they are getting paid well. Ignore that $50k painting on my wall. That is nothing compared to what these guys are making."

[@zamiel3]

Fuck that guy. Goes from managing fighters to shitting all over them.

[@thesaucewhisperer6073]

It took the blood and sweat of all those fighters that basically fought for free. Dana did nothing but jip the men that really made him

[@guitar911rock]

Ufc sells for over 4 billion, Dana white takes 500 million. WOOF

[@bonnie3447]

This interviewer looks nervous in every interview.

[@chillwill842003]

2 million into 4 billion....dana white is a GOD !!!!!!

[@robertyerex2113]

Modern day economic slavery for the lower fighters.

[@jakejimenez7973]

Dana White is the UFC I don’t care what anyone says

[@mariomartinez4193]

Diego Sanchez TUF champion saved the UFC 😂

[@ikigai47]

What saved it was the Bonnor / Griffin fight

[@hugopoyoyo9886]

Everything Dana says is the opposite of what happens a week later. Great promoter, fantastic liar.

[@pauluusitalo6299]

Mafia boys

[@garymcaleer6112]

Dana and "the Donald" have a good relationship too.

[@world-renownedgangster9591]

What it took to save the UFC? Steal all your employees money, lose all your hair, and sacrifice your soul for money

[@world-renownedgangster9591]

@MrIrishMC SSS There would be, it would just be another guy that would have done it. Dude didn't invent anything new, he's just the first one that monetized it on a mainstream level. Bellator or any other competitor would have eventually risen and taken over UFC in their own way.

[@world-renownedgangster9591]

@MrIrishMC SSS So what? Who's to say Bellator wouldn't have grown exponentially if UFC wasn't in its way competing for the market? You're making decisions based on hindsight of events that already occurred which anyone can do, but you can't tell what would have happened if circumstances were entirely changed.

[@world-renownedgangster9591]

@MrIrishMC SSS I never said Dana White is useless, I said if Dana White wasn't there, someone else would be in his position. He didn't invent something that was new, he just capitalized off something that was already a thing. MMA wasn't invented by Dana White, he just ran with the market when he saw the opportunity. If he didn't see it, some dude down the street would have seen it and ran with it. It didn't take a genius to come up with the idea, the idea was free. Apple is different, no one would come around and be another Steve Jobs and create what Apple has created, still no one has done it after his death. He invented something out of the blue that never existed, he didn't capitalize off something that was already existent.

[@Daniel78104]

@@world-renownedgangster9591 although ufc is successful they should be a promotion and the fighters shouldn’t work for them it should be the other way

[@codenameuniccorn2412]

Great job.. now fix how you treat your men.

[@Marshallsimo]

Dana - A month later we owned the company. False. A month later Lorenzo owned the company you dead beat ;)

[@Unkn0wnGuy]

Sorry to break it to you but even 10% is, in fact, ownership. That translates to 400 million if they sell for 4 Billion.

[@JMS-by7jn]

He owned 10%. He made $360 million and still owns 9% under new ownership.