Dana White: UFC, Success and Why You Should NEVER Listen To Your Critics

Dana White discusses the evolution of the UFC, highlighting its transformation from a struggling enterprise to a global phenomenon, dominating Madison Square Garden events. He attributes the sport's universal appeal to the inherent human fascination with fighting, asserting that it transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. White reflects on his journey, emphasizing resilience, belief in the UFC's potential, and the importance of hard work. He also touches on the challenges and rewards of managing fighters, the unique mindset required to succeed in combat sports, and the broader cultural impact of the UFC amid societal changes.

• UFC has achieved significant milestones, such as selling out large arenas like Madison Square Garden (MSG), despite previous challenges in entering markets like New York.
• The UFC has become a prominent global sport, with a focus on innovation and new technologies to expand its reach and audience.

"This weekend is sold out and do a $13 million gate. After this weekend, we will be eight of the top 10 all-time Madison Square Garden gates."

• The UFC's success at MSG highlights its growth and popularity as a major sporting event.

"We weren't allowed in New York a few years ago. You know, there was a corrupt politician here that was keeping us out of New York."

• Political challenges initially hindered UFC's entry into New York, showcasing the obstacles the organization overcame.

• Technology has played a crucial role in the UFC's growth, with advancements like streaming transforming how content is consumed.
• The rapid evolution of technology has opened new opportunities for businesses and individuals to disrupt traditional industries.

"For me and my businesses, technology has been incredible for us, you know, and and I'm always jumping on the newest technology."

• Embracing new technologies has been vital for UFC's success and expansion.

"A guy came into my office and he's like, I want to show you this uh this thing called streaming... how fast technology has come in such a short amount of time."

• The early skepticism about streaming highlights how quickly technology has advanced and its impact on media consumption.

• Dana White emphasizes the importance of perseverance, belief in one's vision, and hard work as key factors in achieving success.
• The UFC faced significant financial challenges, but a strong belief in its potential kept the organization moving forward.

"I believed to my core that the UFC could be massive, not just in the United States, but all over the world."

• Dana White's unwavering belief in the UFC's potential was a driving force behind its eventual success.

"We were going to keep grinding until we ran out of money and it was over."

• The determination to continue despite financial difficulties underscores the importance of perseverance.

• Fighting is deeply ingrained in human nature and has universal appeal across cultures and societies.
• The UFC's success is partly due to the intrinsic excitement and relatability of fighting as a sport.

"Fighting is the first sport ever on planet Earth... as human beings, even though you watched it like this, we we are fighting is just in our DNA."

• The primal nature of fighting contributes to its widespread appeal and the UFC's global success.

"If Mike Tyson walked in this room right now... we'd all go, 'Holy [ __ ] that's Mike Tyson.'"

• The iconic status of fighters like Mike Tyson exemplifies the unique impact and appeal of combat sports.

• The UFC's growth may be linked to a cultural shift towards seeking raw, authentic experiences in an increasingly sanitized world.
• Teaching martial arts to children is seen as beneficial for building confidence and resilience.

"I tell people all the time, I'll tell you, you have a three-year-old son, right? The greatest thing you can do as his father is teach him how to fight."

• Training in martial arts provides valuable life skills and confidence, contributing to personal development.

"I don't know if uh I I think that I tell people all the time... it gives uh these kids a level of confidence."

• The benefits of martial arts training extend beyond physical abilities to mental and emotional growth.

• The speaker's introduction to fighting was influenced by family gatherings where big fights were watched, creating a unique energy and excitement.
• The passion for boxing developed through exposure to televised fights, becoming a dedicated fan over time.

"I fell in love with boxing through, you know, them watching the big fights and then I became a fight fan."

• This quote highlights the speaker's personal journey into the world of fighting, emphasizing the role of family and televised events in sparking a lifelong interest.

• Fighting sports create "holy moments" that are unmatched by other sports, generating intense collective excitement.
• The communal experience of watching a fight, whether live or on TV, creates a shared, electrifying atmosphere.

"13,000 people at Madison Square Garden will jump out of their seats at the same time and go, 'Holy.'"

• This quote illustrates the unique and powerful communal experience that fighting sports provide, highlighting their unmatched ability to captivate and unite audiences.

• Great fighters possess unique attributes, including talent, athleticism, and a distinct mental wiring.
• Fighters are often compared to elite athletes in other sports but are distinguished by their mental toughness and resilience.

"You have to be talented, you have to be a great athlete... But mentally they're completely different."

• This quote underscores the distinct mental attributes that set fighters apart from athletes in other sports, emphasizing their unique psychological resilience.

• The mindset of fighters is characterized by relentless determination and the pursuit of greatness, regardless of setbacks.
• Success in fighting, as in business, requires a champion's mindset focused on achieving the highest goals.

"I'm here to become a world champion. I want to win a world title."

• This quote exemplifies the unwavering determination and high aspirations that are fundamental to the mindset of successful fighters.

• Personal and professional success often involves overcoming initial challenges and societal expectations.
• Many successful individuals have humble beginnings and must overcome self-doubt and societal stigmas.

"You all started somewhere, right? These were just jobs that you survived to pay your bills to get you to wherever it is that you want to go."

• This quote emphasizes the universal journey of starting from humble beginnings and overcoming obstacles to achieve success.

• Managing fighters is complex due to their independent and determined nature.
• The fight business is challenging and requires navigating the unique personalities and ambitions of fighters.

"The fight business is a, you know, thing about the fight business, it's like a sexy business... it is one of the hardest businesses in the world to run."

• This quote highlights the complexities and challenges of managing fighters and the fight business as a whole.

• Fighters often live extraordinary lives, balancing intense training and competition with personal lives.
• Despite the physical and financial challenges, fighters often feel fulfilled by their lifestyle compared to traditional careers.

"These fighters, they'll even the lower level guys that make less money, they'll fight and they'll go do incredible things for the next 3 months."

• This quote reflects the unique and fulfilling lifestyle that fighters lead, contrasting it with conventional career paths.

• Retiring from fighting is challenging due to the adrenaline and fame associated with the sport.
• Fighters must plan for life beyond their careers, leveraging their fame and achievements for future success.

"This isn't a job. This isn't a career... there's a second part of your life that they have to go out and figure out who they are and what they want to do."

• This quote highlights the importance of planning for life after fighting, emphasizing the need for fighters to transition to new roles and opportunities.

• Transitioning from a professional sports career to retirement involves a significant mindset shift, as exemplified by Tyson's reflections on his career.
• Even successful athletes like Floyd Patterson and Ricky Hatton experience challenges in coping with losses and career transitions.

"I've seen, you know, interviews where Tyson talks about it, too. And uh he says that when he watches himself on TV, he's like, 'I idolize that guy. Now I'm nobody.'"

• Tyson's reflection highlights the struggle athletes face in reconciling their past successes with their current identity post-retirement.

"Floyd Patterson... every time he used to walk and defend his title, he carried a suitcase with him which had a disguise because he knew at one point he was going to lose and then he would wear that disguise and be able to slip out of the arena unseen."

• Patterson's practice of carrying a disguise reveals the vulnerability and fear of loss even among top athletes.

"I think he pretty much said himself he never got over losing to Floyd. He never got over losing to Floyd Mayweather."

• Ricky Hatton's inability to move past a significant loss underscores the emotional impact of defeat on athletes.

• The mindset of a fighter is characterized by the desire to be the best and defeat everyone, which is crucial for success in combat sports.
• Continuing to fight beyond one's prime can pose significant health risks, particularly in combat sports.

"Mindset of a real fighter is you you you you want to be the best and you want to beat everybody. If that is not the way you think, you shouldn't even be fighting."

• A fighter's mindset is driven by an unwavering desire to be the best, which is essential for success in the sport.

"There's also a danger element in combat sports if you go on for too long you're really risking your health and your ability to function later on in life and possibly your life."

• Prolonging a career in combat sports can lead to severe health risks, emphasizing the importance of knowing when to retire.

• The evolution of women's participation in the UFC has led to highly anticipated matchups, such as the fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Zhang Weili.
• The contrasting fighting styles of Shevchenko and Zhang make their upcoming fight particularly exciting.

"This has got to be probably the most exciting female matchup between Valentina Chevchenko Jang."

• The fight between Shevchenko and Zhang is highlighted as one of the most thrilling female matchups in UFC history.

"Valentina is so technical, graceful. The way she moves is just perfection. Something like something out of Kung Fu movie."

• Shevchenko's technical and graceful fighting style is likened to a Kung Fu movie, highlighting her skill and precision.

• The speaker has maintained a long-standing friendship with Donald Trump, despite potential controversies or criticisms.
• Trump's personality is described as humorous and resilient, with anecdotes illustrating his character.

"He's hilarious. He's the best guy. I don't know if you just saw the the thing with the Osbor."

• Trump's humor and character are emphasized through anecdotes, showcasing his personal side.

"Everybody used to love Trump. Um, you know, then the whole thing about him being a racist, they're like, 'Oh, he's a racist. He's this and that.'"

• The shift in public perception of Trump from a beloved figure to a controversial one is noted, highlighting the complexities of public opinion.

• Trump's resilience and work ethic are praised, with comparisons to the persistence seen in combat sports.
• Despite facing numerous challenges, Trump is described as a workhorse who inspires those around him.

"He's the most resilient human being I've ever met in my life by and I've been in the fight business forever."

• Trump's resilience is compared to that of fighters, underscoring his ability to withstand challenges.

"He's almost 80 years old. And that guy doesn't sleep. He is a workhorse. I mean, he's non-stop."

• Trump's relentless work ethic and energy, even at an advanced age, are highlighted as inspirational.

• The upcoming UFC fight card is filled with exciting matchups, including Leon Edwards' return.
• The concept of "Dana White privilege" is discussed in the context of promoting fighters with potential.

"Incredible fight. So the whole main card people keep asking me what's the best fight what's a sleeper fight I have no idea the whole card is so good."

• The excitement surrounding the entire fight card is emphasized, with no clear standout fight due to the overall quality.

"When you bring guys in, um, there's people that you think could possibly become world champions... So, you prop these people up and you put them in positions and see what what what they're capable of doing."

• The practice of promoting fighters with potential, sometimes dubbed "Dana White privilege," is explained as a strategic move to identify future champions.

• Some fighters attribute their lack of success to external factors rather than personal shortcomings, such as not having certain privileges.
• The upcoming fight between Islam and Jack Dela is viewed as a significant opportunity, with Islam being a heavy favorite in prediction markets.
• Jack Dela's potential victory is seen as life-changing, highlighting the importance of underdog stories in sports.

"If Jack wins this fight, there aren't words to explain how different his life will be on Sunday."

• This quote underscores the transformative potential of a victory for Jack Dela, emphasizing the stakes involved in the fight.

• Fighters face challenges when moving to a heavier weight class, where opponents are typically bigger and stronger.
• Conversely, not having to cut weight might make a fighter faster and stronger, adding complexity to predictions about fight outcomes.

"Because Islam doesn't have to cut all that weight anymore that he'll actually be stronger, faster."

• The quote highlights the dual nature of moving weight classes, where not cutting weight could be advantageous, adding an unpredictable element to the fight.

• The UK is recognized for producing a significant number of talented fighters, despite its small size and challenging environment.
• The UK's history of producing talent extends beyond fighting to music and other cultural areas.

"The UK is a very fascinating place and so many talented people have come out of there."

• This quote reflects the UK's consistent output of talent in various domains, suggesting a cultural or environmental factor that fosters such success.

• The origins of the sport in Brazil and the subsequent global spread, particularly to the UK and Australia, are noted.
• The development of combat sports in countries like Australia is surprising given its initial lack of representation.

"Now, multiple world champions, multiple top 10s and one of the greatest camps in the sport come out of Australia."

• This quote illustrates the rapid development and success of combat sports in Australia, highlighting its unexpected rise in the global scene.

• Eye pokes are a significant issue in fights, with discussions around rule changes or penalties to reduce occurrences.
• The frequency and impact of eye pokes vary, with some resulting in significant consequences for fighters.

"If there's harder penalties for doing it, guys would be a lot more conscious of it."

• The quote suggests that stricter penalties could lead to greater awareness and caution among fighters, potentially reducing eye poke incidents.

• Power Slap is an emerging sport with a growing following, characterized by its simplicity and immediate appeal.
• The sport's success is attributed to its accessibility and the universal understanding of a slap.

"Power Slap is an absolute beast. This thing is so incredibly successful."

• This quote emphasizes the rapid success and appeal of Power Slap, suggesting it could surpass traditional combat sports in popularity.

• The boxing industry is compared to career politicians, with criticisms of its lack of innovation and vision.
• Dana White expresses a desire for the UFC to compete with major sports like baseball and football, rather than other combat sports.

"My competition is baseball, basketball, football, and soccer."

• The quote reflects Dana White's ambition for the UFC to be recognized alongside major global sports, indicating a shift in competitive focus.

• The conversation concludes with a humorous exchange about potential future developments and rivalries in the sports industry.
• There is an ongoing interest in expanding weight divisions and exploring new opportunities within combat sports.

"We'll see in a couple years. We'll see how this plays out."

• This quote suggests an openness to future developments and changes in the sports landscape, with an eye on long-term growth and success.