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Dana White: "We think Conor McGregor has Torn ACL"
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About Dana White
Dana White, CEO of the UFC, has been focused on the promotion's "Freedom 250" event, which took place on the South Lawn of the White House in June 2026. White described the event as a career capstone and noted that it was more difficult to produce than the UFC's previous event at the Sphere, citing logistical challenges such as weather and security. He stated that the event was intended to create unity and celebrate America's 250th birthday, and he reported that it exceeded budget expectations by 40% and doubled the all-time merchandise sales record. White also addressed the UFC's competitive standing, asserting that the organization is now competing with major sports leagues like the NFL and NBA. White has also commented on several fighters. Following UFC 329, he stated that Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury, which he described as a "blown ACL," and said that McGregor would need surgery and physical therapy before any discussion of his return. White attributed the injury to McGregor's five-year layoff, noting that "father time is undefeated." Regarding Kamaru Usman, White said the fighter has "still got it" and has "done enough in his career," leaving future decisions up to him. White also criticized the UFC's production team for misidentifying boxer Shakur Stevenson as an NBA player during a broadcast, calling the organization "the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing."
Transcript (151 segments)
D
Dana White0:00
All right, guys. The attendance tonight was 20,076. Obviously sold out. Gate was 26.4 million. Highest gate in history. Fight of the night, not a shocker. Roy Val Kavanaaugh and performance went to Bobby Green and Paddy Pimblett.
R
Reporter0:29
Dana, can you, I think we're all trying to process everything. I guess can we get your immediate thoughts? It felt like honestly one of the best fight cards of all time and then we get to this weird main event ending. So, I guess your immediate thoughts as you sit there right now.
D
Dana White0:46
Yeah, I listen. Everybody who knows anything about the fight business and it's been a big topic of discussion leading up to this fight. Five years off in this sport is rough. And like you said, great card. Unbelievable. I mean, the Paddy Pimblett thing right before you just feel it all in the air. Here we go. I mean, I was expecting at least a one round war or, you know, who knew what Conor McGregor was capable of as far as cardio or whatever else after a five-year layoff. And well, there you go. I mean, we're assuming blown ACL. I'm no doctor, but that's what I figured when I saw it. And doctors think the same thing, too.
R
Reporter1:28
I was gonna ask you, have you had a chance to talk to Conor? It sounds like you talked to the medical team. Have you talked to Conor? Do we know exactly the extent of what happened?
D
Dana White1:34
I haven't. Uh, is he coming out here?
R
Reporter1:38
We'll say I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I think he left the arena like right like then the answer is no.
D
Dana White1:44
Uh, we'll find out when he gets an MRI.
R
Reporter1:47
Max said right away like, 'Hey, man. Well, now we got to set this thing up for a trilogy, right?' I mean, is there any like desire from that from your point? I mean, you know promoting better than anyone. Like, does that even make sense to do a trilogy right now or the way that ended? Do you have to go a different direction?
D
Dana White2:01
Yeah. I don't even know. I don't know. You know, you got to take some time and I don't know if you know this or not, but I don't like talking about Megan fights the night of the fight, but uh...
R
Reporter2:11
Definitely not in this scenario.
Uh, you touched on the co-main event on a much different note. Like, Paddy's been building to this for a long time, but I don't know. The entrance felt special, the performance felt special. I just, can you talk about kind of feel like he ascended even to a different level tonight?
D
Dana White2:27
Yeah, I think. I don't know the way you guys, but he gained so much respect in that last fight. Like my social team is telling me after that last loss, he gained like two million followers on social media from that night to the next morning. And the way he came in tonight felt like he was the world champion. And if you break this fight down, I felt like Saint Denise's chance to win this fight was to keep it on his feet and strike. And then he shoots right in for a takedown. Very crazy. And what a nasty choke he put on him. And it was incredible. Incredible performance for as short as it was.
R
Reporter3:05
And obviously we're not going to match fake, but do you think about his next step? 'Cause he just lost to the champ, right? But he also feels like one of the biggest stars on the roster right now. So, is it a number one contender fight? Do you look outside the division? Like, what kind of ideas do you have for what to do with it?
D
Dana White3:18
I have none right now. I have none. Yeah. I don't know. You know, think about it over the weekend and again, Tuesday, we get in a room and we'll talk about it. We'll see what's next.
R
Reporter3:29
Fair enough. Last question I have for you. Fans have been asking about this. We're about six months into this Paramount Plus partnership we've completed. I think everybody's loving the partnership. The one thing I keep hearing about is fans can't watch full replays on Paramount Plus. I wonder if you've been made aware of this and if this is a strategic choice on their part or why they can't watch full events.
D
Dana White3:47
Made aware of it. My kids were torturing me that they couldn't watch the White House fight over again. You know, it's not wrong. But the problem is the music. You know, the music and you got to take the walkouts out.
R
Reporter3:59
So, is there any I mean, do you...
D
Dana White4:00
We're working on it. Yeah, we're working on it.
R
Reporter4:02
You're not wrong. And I've been getting tortured over this in my own house. So, yes.
D
Dana White4:11
Who's next? Yeah.
R
Reporter4:13
Uh, Dana, fancy flying high kick, not to say the least. Yesterday, we saw Conor putting sneakers on. He looked like he had a hard time putting on his sneakers. Could he have been injured before the fight?
D
Dana White4:28
I have no idea. I mean, that I don't know. I mean, the day of the press conference, he came running out of the back and ran right up to him and stopped abruptly and, you know, squared off of him. They were pushing foreheads and...
R
Reporter4:41
I'm just wondering if something happened within the last 24 hours. I don't see it on the landing, the actual landing of that flying.
D
Dana White4:48
Yeah, I wouldn't know that, but I didn't see. You know, the doctors checked him out before the fight and he looked damn good at the press conference and he looked fine at the weigh-ins. It's just a question of getting paid if you step in the cage. As...
R
Reporter5:00
What's that? The question of getting paid as you step in the cage. Was he...
D
Dana White5:03
Well, I don't listen. If anybody saw anything that could have possibly made him look weak or injured leading up to this fight, I mean, what did the face-off do? 44 million in 24 hours. More than 44 million views. Somebody would have seen something.
R
Reporter5:22
Anybody see something? No. If they did, they didn't say it, which is impossible. Nobody would do that.
Dana, there were a lot of big storylines heading into this fight, including Gable Stevenson making his UFC debut. He's been a highly touted prospect, Olympic gold medalist, and he went out there and just had a rumble with Elijah Ellison. Want to get your thoughts on his performance and just that fight in general.
D
Dana White5:42
It was incredible. So you normally what happens is, and especially for as long as I've been in this business, you sign a big badass high-level wrestler like that. They come in and stink the place up and lay on the ground. That dude did the exact opposite. He looked like a mixed martial artist. He didn't look like a wrestler to me. And he's fun, you know, throwing kicks, punches, willing to stand in the pocket and bang. A lot of wrestlers don't like to get punched in the face either. So, yeah, he's fun. It's going to be interesting.
R
Reporter6:15
A lot of similarities, especially with the striking to Jon Jones, who is obviously in his corner, and obviously they have a great relationship. Did you have a chance to talk to Jon? Like, I know you guys spoke for like 10 seconds at the ceremonial weigh-ins, but did you and Jon have a chance to talk?
D
Dana White6:29
No, we haven't. He said, 'Hey, your best friend's here at the weigh-ins when I saw him.' That was the extent of our conversation.
R
Reporter6:36
And then last question for me, because people have been asking me about this and I figured I'd get the chance to ask you. You probably saw what happened with Dustin Poirier. I don't you don't really have to react to that, but a lot of people have been asking. WWE has a wellness program where if there are ex-wrestlers or current that are running into issues even post-retirement, they can get the help that they need. Have you talked to Dustin and is...
D
Dana White7:00
We do the same.
R
Reporter7:01
You guys do the same thing. Can you explain how that works especially?
D
Dana White7:04
We don't talk about that stuff.
R
Reporter7:05
Okay, fair enough.
D
Dana White7:06
But yeah, we do the same. Any guys that need help, have problems, believe me, a lot do, and we take care of them.
R
Reporter7:16
Just right here.
Can we get any information about Sean Strickland's next opponent? If it will be Khamzat Chimaev or Nassourdine Imavov?
D
Dana White7:25
I'm so glad the plane flew over during that, 'cause you know I don't want to answer this question.
R
Reporter7:29
Next opponent for Nassourdine Imavov, is it going to be Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev? Would you like to reply to my friend back there for me?
D
Dana White7:38
I understand. Go ahead and let him know. Oh, thank you, sir. All right. Do you have any other questions that I could possibly answer this evening?
R
Reporter7:47
How much time should Nasodin wait for his shots?
How much time should I wait for his chance?
D
Dana White7:56
Sir, I have no idea. That's the last thing on earth that I am thinking about right now, though. But thank you. I apologize. I can't answer your question. I understand.
R
Reporter8:05
Hi Dana, over here to your left. Connor spoke during the week about wanting to bring the UFC back to Ireland. I was speaking to Ian Gary just a couple of weeks ago at the press conference he did with Match Room in Dublin and he said the same thing. Both guys showing an appetite to bring a show back to Ireland. We haven't had one there in a decade now. Obviously Connor's not going to be fighting there anytime soon judging by what happened tonight, but is there any potential in the near future for the UFC to return to Dublin?
D
Dana White8:30
Absolutely. Well, I'll be there for Zuffa Boxing, you know, this summer. But the answer is yes. Love Ireland and I'm actually looking forward to the fight there.
R
Reporter8:39
The issue that Dave Shaw had mentioned before was that you guys, he had told my compatriot Ian O'Neal that you guys maybe thought that the three arena you had outgrown it as the UFC. I know it's a fit for Zuffa, but is it too small a venue for the UFC? Is that a factor?
D
Dana White8:54
Well, it's too small of a venue to do something like tonight. But we could definitely bring a fight night there.
R
Reporter9:00
I've just one more to squeeze in for you. I listened to your good buddy Eddie Hearn speak on an interview yesterday and he said after speaking with Nick Khan at the Turki Alalshikh quote unquote peace talks, his line was since that meeting there's more of an open line of communication. Are you guys going to be a little smoother with each other going forward? Is the entertainment going to end?
D
Dana White9:20
Well, I've said many times I don't hate Eddie Hearn. You know, Eddie came out and started saying crazy stuff as soon as we got involved in the sport, which I didn't see that coming. But I mean, listen, all these guys have been covering MMA all this time. They know what I do. You know how I am. And I'm going to keep running my business. I don't care what they do. I will say it again, I've said it before. We are not the same.
R
Reporter9:46
Yeah.
Dana, just one while you're on that topic. Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn were on stage at the weigh-ins and it seemed like we were going to get an announcement or something of that sort. So basically what happened and how close are we to something coming to fruition?
D
Dana White9:58
What happened? They started talking stuff to each other and I had fights going on behind me and I was worried more about the fights in front of me. But yeah, it happens. I mean, that happens when you put three guys up on stage and two guys are going to fight. It can happen.
R
Reporter10:11
And can we expect something soon to be, is it trending in the right direction?
D
Dana White10:15
Absolutely.
R
Reporter10:19
Oh, Dana. I mean, they were here, right? They're on stage.
D
Dana White10:24
Read in between the line, boys.
R
Reporter10:28
Over here to your right. Now historically, you've always said you've never encouraged a fighter to retire unless they're really taking a lot of punishment. But when you see Conor who has suffered injury after injury, obviously the leg break and then the broken toe and now what looks to be a potential ACL one, at what point do you think that maybe you should listen to your body and call it a day?
D
Dana White10:52
Yeah, I mean, that's exact. I do feel that way, but it's the guys that start saying, 'I've been thinking about retiring.' And you know, the minute you start talking or thinking about retiring, you absolutely positively should. I haven't heard that from him yet, but you know, he hasn't spoken publicly yet. We'll see what he has to say.
R
Reporter11:10
And if he comes out and says, 'Look, I want to run it back.' Will you guys be open to that?
D
Dana White11:16
Um, yeah. I don't know. We'll see how this whole thing plays out. There's a lot of unanswered questions right now that will play out over the next several days. And that's why I don't come into these things and start talking about the future. I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen tonight, tomorrow, and you know, Monday, and then we'll get back in the office on Tuesday. And it's just not even worth talking about right now. I don't know enough.
R
Reporter11:43
Thank you.
D
Dana White11:43
Thank you.
R
Reporter11:44
Dana. When did you hire Sophie Cunningham as a ring card girl?
D
Dana White11:47
Did Why did I do it? When did you hire her? Um, about eight minutes before she did it. I love Sophie Cunningham. We've created a relationship and she was here tonight and when she walked in she goes, 'Oh, I want to walk around that.' I said, 'Then you're going to walk around it.'
R
Reporter12:05
Yeah.
Dana all the way.
D
Dana White12:08
Sorry. Way in the back buried.
R
Reporter12:11
Yep.
Hi.
Hi there. With, when people think about Conor McGregor's legacy, a lot of it's going to be around wins and losses, but with three of the top four grossing gates belonging to him, how much do you attribute the growth of UFC and maybe the growth of MMA globally to Conor McGregor?
D
Dana White12:34
I give credit for the growth of the sport and the UFC to all the guys that have come up during every era. You know, we had the Chuck Liddell era, we had the Matt Hughes, we had Anderson Silva, you know, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, George St. Pierre, the list goes on and on. I'm always trying to figure out how to beat last year and we always do, and everybody has played a huge role in that. But you know, Conor is obviously the biggest superstar not just in this sport but in any sport.
R
Reporter13:15
One question related to Zuffa boxing. So this year you had the event at Allegiant and then with UFC you had the White House and then the Sphere. How much are you looking to have these great big events for either Zuffa Boxing or UFC annually?
D
Dana White13:35
What's the question? I don't understand.
R
Reporter13:37
Yeah. Each year, whether it's Zuffa Boxing or UFC, you have these great events. So whether it's going to be the White House or Allegiant Stadium or the Sphere, they're always kind of these marquee events. How much going forward will you be having these marquee events for either Zuffa or UFC?
D
Dana White13:56
I still don't understand the question. Do you understand the question?
R
Reporter13:59
Are you looking to keep topping yourself with, you had the Sphere?
D
Dana White14:02
Yeah, I mean that's my job. My job is to keep topping. I mean, I did Canelo Crawford. That was, you know, that didn't suck. It was pretty good. So, we're going to continue to put on the biggest events that we possibly can. You know, I tell you all the time, I can't believe nobody's hit me with this one yet. I'm going to beat you to it. So, I tell you all the time, my production team, we just did the White House. We built a arena on the south lawn of the White House, and it was the greatest thing in the world to be there live and to watch it on TV. I just paid Shakur Stevenson a shitload of money. And for some reason, we can't figure this celebrity thing out. They put him up as an OKC NBA player. Are you kidding me? I mean, it's absolutely crazy. But we are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing. When we put celebrities up, we are the worst. I just had this debate in the back with my guys while I was screaming at everybody back there and they said, 'No, soccer's worse. Soccer shows the people and they don't put up any graphics.' Oh, no. We put up graphics and put the wrong guy's name on it. We win. We're the worst ever to do it.
R
Reporter15:25
Dana, way back here. Uh Dana here. Uh just a couple way...
D
Dana White15:31
Oh, what's the question?
R
Reporter15:32
Sorry. No, I'm just showing you I'm back here.
D
Dana White15:35
Yeah. Yeah.
R
Reporter15:35
Uh yeah. So, a couple of things just regarding the boxing. So, first off, what is the like in terms of Ryan Garcia? Obviously, he's a Golden Boy fighter, but he seemed you seemed pretty pally with him yesterday at the weigh-in and at power slap. Like, what is the status there? Are you going to be co-promoting with Golden Boy for this fight?
D
Dana White15:52
Judge me at the end of this year by all the things. I'm not going to get into all this stuff with all these guys. I know it's great. You want to hear it. You want me to say some stuff about them. Um, listen, we talked about this in Bournemouth. I have said anything that didn't come true. Just sit back and watch and that'll all play out in the next couple weeks.
R
Reporter16:22
Well, I guess...
D
Dana White16:24
Play out this week actually.
R
Reporter16:25
The whole thing about like you know judges at the end of the year. It's like this is just like is it, is Oscar going to be involved? Because I and are the zone going to be involved because I know you've said some disparity stuff about the zone and then you know that it was talking about maybe being on Netflix where like is, do we have a broadcaster set? Is what those kinds of things and I mean I'm just asking basically are you and Oscar going to be on the day together at this fight?
D
Dana White16:46
You're going to have to wait and see, my friend.
R
Reporter16:48
Also just regarding the boxing as well, this Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight. Is there any update? And of course the mayor of London has been speaking about it and of course Turki Alalshikh as well about maybe doing it in Wembley in the middle of the night. What's your thoughts and what's the latest from you?
D
Dana White17:02
What's the question?
R
Reporter17:02
Tyson Fury, his fight, Anthony Joshua, is there any update on what's happening? Is it happening in the middle of the night in London or when is it happening? Do you have any update about that fight?
D
Dana White17:12
Yeah, as soon as I listen, if I was ready to go with it, I'd tell you. Again in Bournemouth, I said I know where the fight is.
R
Reporter17:21
Where is it?
D
Dana White17:23
I know. Also just on that as well, what is your message to the mayor of London, I guess, because Turki Alalshikh has been speaking out. What's your message to Mayor Khan?
R
Reporter17:31
What's my message to the mayor of London about giving you this or about giving the Fury and AJ fight this kind of exemption to go so late?
D
Dana White17:39
I don't know anything about that. I listen, I have my own plans. I know what I'm doing. I have nothing to say to the mayor of London, negatively or positively. I've every event I've ever done in London has been incredible. And yeah, I'm not in the middle of that. I'm in my own little world over here and I do my thing. So...
R
Reporter18:02
You're not in the middle of Fury and AJ.
D
Dana White18:04
What did he say?
R
Reporter18:04
You are in the middle of a...
D
Dana White18:06
What?
R
Reporter18:07
Are you in the middle of Fury AJ?
D
Dana White18:10
I know where the fight is.
R
Reporter18:12
Thank you.
Right over here.
D
Dana White18:14
Oh, Jesus.
R
Reporter18:15
Dana, question about the production. Positive one. The tunnel walkouts for the main event, I noticed you really revamped them. I was just wondering, did you feel like they came out the way that you had planned in terms of the execution and how they showed up on the broadcast? Because I think a lot of fans really enjoyed it. It made it feel even more special and I think they really want to see even more of those things.
D
Dana White18:37
Well, thank you, sir. Yeah, I think the entire show was flawless. It looked incredible on television. Apparently, we just need to stop showing celebrities on because we can't figure that out after 25 years. We just can't do it. It's unbelievable. We can't do it.
R
Reporter18:54
Do you feel like the special tunnel walkouts will be a thing going forward or was it just because Conor and Max such a big fight?
D
Dana White19:02
I don't know, man. I don't know. I'm glad everybody liked it.
R
Reporter19:07
Dana.
D
Dana White19:07
Yeah.
R
Reporter19:08
Dana. Just down here. Sorry to go back on the Tyson Fury and AJ line again, but you're saying you know where the fight is. Turki Alalshikh recently posted that he hasn't decided where the fight is and he is in the midst of speaking to the London mayor. You're saying you're not involved with that. So it doesn't seem like there's quite an alignment between you two.
D
Dana White19:27
Turki said that he has not announced where the fight is going to be. You're saying you know where the fight is going to be. Turki said he is talking to the mayor. You said you have nothing to say to the mayor. So things are not aligning to what you're saying. Yes, sir.
R
Reporter19:40
Dana, just here. There's 25 million Australians currently eagerly awaiting Alex Volkanovski fight news. Is there any chance you can give us some, is it going to be a booking anytime soon?
D
Dana White19:50
Volkanovski. No, I'm not even thinking about that right now.
R
Reporter19:55
God damn. Thank you.
D
Dana White19:56
Yeah, I am absolutely useless to you people tonight.
Anything else that is relevant that I could talk about right now?
R
Reporter20:05
Hey, Dana. Yeah, Eric, New York Post. I don't know if you heard but Herb Dean every time that he got announced, he got booed a little bit from the fans. Do you have any thoughts on that and kind of exactly what he could do to maybe win back the fans?
D
Dana White20:22
I mean that's a commission issue. It's not mine. And yeah, no, we have nothing to do with that. Herb's a nice guy and I think in any sport, like I always say, a lot of mistakes are made. I don't know anything about soccer, but I heard that there were like 30-something mistakes that helped the team win. This stuff always happens in every sport. So, I don't know. Yeah, Herb's got to get it right and I'm sure people will turn around and cheer him again. I don't know.
R
Reporter21:00
Yeah, absolutely. Last one for me. At the ceremonial weigh-ins, I saw you talking to Jon Jones a little bit, maybe joking around or whatever. Just want to know if you guys have talked at all or maybe what was...
D
Dana White21:10
Who is it?
R
Reporter21:11
Jon Jones.
D
Dana White21:12
What about it?
R
Reporter21:13
At the ceremonial weigh-ins, it looked like you guys were chopping it up.
D
Dana White21:14
He said, 'Hey, your best friend's here.' That's what he said to me. I said, 'Good to see you. Have a good night.'
R
Reporter21:20
Uh, what do you mean by best friend?
D
Dana White21:23
He's joking that he thinks I hate him.
R
Reporter21:26
Oh, okay. Understood.
D
Dana White21:28
Yeah, I don't hate him.
You done with me?
R
Reporter21:33
Dana? Back here.
D
Dana White21:34
Okay.
R
Reporter21:35
Sorry about that.
Quick question. Cody Garbrandt, he had his gloves off in the cage, but he didn't put them down. Do you have any update and what do you think he should do with his career?
D
Dana White21:45
Yeah, I know that he had talked to Shawn Shelby after the fight backstage. And you know, I'm obviously not going to talk publicly about what he's, that's up to him. It's his career. He's a grown man. He can respond to that on his own. But yeah, I'm not going to get into that.
R
Reporter22:04
Gotcha. Thank you, Dana.
D
Dana White22:05
Thank you, sir.
R
Reporter22:06
Dana.
D
Dana White22:07
Any other questions I can't answer?
R
Reporter22:09
Right over here.
D
Dana White22:10
Yeah.
R
Reporter22:10
I just wanted your thoughts on Robert Whittaker moving up to light heavyweight, on his performance, and also there have been a few fighters that have decided to move up in weight and do you like that for them?
D
Dana White22:22
Yeah, I think that, you know, especially a guy like Whittaker who's been around, came off The Ultimate Fighter and has done incredible things and, you know, won titles, defended titles, done it all. And if he feels like he wants to move up, he knows his body better than I do. And he looked damn good tonight against a very tough, durable guy. And I think, you know, I think when the fight ended, we thought he broke his jaw. His jaw is not broken. He was transported and his jaw is not broken. I don't know if you guys thought that, but we didn't.
R
Reporter22:59
Yes, sir.
Dana, a question for you. 20 years ago, we talked about the Hawaiian fighters and guys like Kendall Grove, BJ Penn, and looking at Max Holloway, what is the impact that not only Max, but Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian living fighters have made on the UFC over the years?
D
Dana White23:14
Yeah, it's funny because I always talk about Australia, right? When we first went over to Australia, we think about how small it is and nobody over there could do mixed martial arts. Now it's a hotbed of top 10 world champions and Hall of Fame fighters. And same when you think about how small Hawaii is and how many incredibly talented people have come off Hawaii, literally legends. I mean, like two of the biggest legends in the history of the sport. It's very impressive.
R
Reporter23:49
Thank you.
D
Dana White23:50
Yep.
Good night.