Dana White

Dana White
White in February 2008
Born Dana Frederick White Jr.
(1969-07-28) July 28, 1969
Manchester, Connecticut, U.S.
Residence Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Occupation Businessman
Spouse(s) Anne White
Children 4

Dana Frederick White Jr.[1] (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman and the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world. Under White's leadership, the UFC has grown into a globally popular multibillion-dollar enterprise.[2]

Early life and education

White was born in Manchester, Connecticut on July 28, 1969, the son of June and Dana White.[3] He and his sister Kelly were raised by their mother and her family for the majority of their childhoods.[4]

He began boxing at age 17 and graduated from Hermon High School in Maine in 1987.[5]

Career

Ultimate Fighting Championship (2001–present)

While working as a manager for Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, White met Bob Meyerwitz, the owner of Semaphore Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. White learned that Meyerwitz was looking to sell the UFC. White contacted childhood friend Lorenzo Fertitta, an executive at Station Casinos and a former commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and asked if he would be interested in acquiring the company. In January 2001, Lorenzo and his older brother Frank acquired the UFC, which subsequently became a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC. White was installed as the company's president.[6][7]

In July 2016, Zuffa, LLC was sold to a consortium of investors led by WME-IMG for US$4.025 billion. White owned 9% of the company at the time of the sale.[8] White announced he would continue in his role as president.[9]

In May 2017, the UFC announced White would host Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. Available exclusively through UFC Fight Pass, the promotion’s digital streaming service, and licensed separately from the UFC brand, the show allows up and coming fighters the chance to showcase their talents in hopes that one day they may compete in the UFC.[10]

Boxing

White first entered the boxing scene by having a part in helping promote the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor mega-fight due to McGregor being a fighter for UFC. In October 2017, White told people at Freddie Roach's Wild Card West boxing club that he was "getting into boxing, 100 percent." [11] White says that he wants to incorporate boxing into the company portfolio of the UFC.[12]

Filmography

Philanthropy

He donated $100,000 to his high school in 2011 towards renovations to their athletic facilities.[3]

Personal life

In 2011, White's mother, June, wrote Dana White, King of MMA: Dana White an Unauthorized Biography.[13] In an interview promoting the book, she called her son "egotistical, self-centered, arrogant, and cruel".[14]

White spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, where he endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump.[15]

Health issues

In May 2012, White revealed that he had been diagnosed with Ménière's disease, a neurological disorder.[16] White claims that the reason he had the disease, was brought on because of a large fight he was involved in during his youth.[17] The UFC on Fuel TV 3: "Korean Zombie vs. Poirier" event was to be the first he had missed in 11 years with White staying home, adhering to medical advice. White is undergoing Orthokine treatment for Ménière's disease, which he says has greatly reduced his symptoms.[18]

Accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ Tabuena, Anton (July 14, 2014). "Video: Learn Dana White's full name, and the first street fight he ever organized". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ Boice, Danny. "Boxer To Entrepreneur: How Dana White Became The Champ Of Mixed Martial Arts". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  3. 1 2 Knapp, Brian (October 15, 2017). "5 Things You Might Not Know About Dana White". Sherdog. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Fight Night London: Dana White Post-Fight Presser Scrum". YouTube. 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2016-06-11.
  5. ↑ "UFC President Dana White gives $100,000 to fix up Hermon athletic complex". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2016-06-11.
  6. ↑ Wickert, Marc (2004). "Dana White and the future of UFC". Knucklepit.com.
  7. ↑ Mirror
  8. ↑ McCarthy, Michael (2005-04-10). "Battles yield winning 'Fighter'". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  9. ↑ "The hugely popular mixed martial arts league UFC has been sold for $4 billion". Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Dana White receives promoter's license for new contender series separate from UFC". FOX Sports. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  11. ↑ Dan Rafael (2017-11-08). "UFC president Dana White interested in promoting boxing matches". ESPN. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  12. ↑ "Dana White planning to bring boxing to the UFC | SportsJOE.ie". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  13. ↑ "Dana White, King of MMA". Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Dana White's mom calls him a "prick" and "tyrant", who turned his back on his family". Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  15. ↑ "UFC president Dana White stumps for Trump at Republican convention". The Guardian. July 19, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  16. ↑ Kevin Iole. "Dana White diagnosed with Ménière's disease, misses first live UFC card in more than 11 years". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  17. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9e6cyv7lnw
  18. ↑ "White '100% Cured' Of Meniere's Thanks To A-Rod". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  19. ↑ "Dana White honored as "Sportsman of the Year" while $2K awarded to The Caring Place. Dana White has been quoted as saying "June 26, 2010 is the happiest day of my life". MMAjunkie. 2009-07-27. Archived from the original on 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  20. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (March 6, 2017). "March 6, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2016 Awards issue, talent departing TNA, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 26. ISSN 1083-9593.
  21. ↑ Mrosko, Geno. (2009-03-19) "UFCs Dana White accepts Patriot Award for humanitarian efforts to raise money for injured soldiers", MMAmania.com; retrieved April 23, 2012.
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