About Dana White
Dana White, CEO of the UFC and an independent director on Meta’s board, has been preparing for UFC Freedom 250, a mixed martial arts event scheduled for June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House. White described the event as a celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary and said it is not a political statement, but an event for all Americans. He noted that the idea originated with President Donald Trump, a longtime friend, and said he agreed to it without hesitation. White stated that the event’s budget has exceeded that of the UFC’s previous event at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and that his team has faced logistical challenges including weather and a security lockdown after a shooting near the construction site. He said the event will include a live concert at the Ellipse and a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial.
White has also discussed his role on Meta’s board, calling it “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made” and describing CEO Mark Zuckerberg as “the biggest killer I’ve ever met.” He said he does not judge people by their politics and considers himself “right down the middle.” White has promoted Power Slap, a slap-fighting league, saying it “does a billion views a month” and has generated more sponsorship revenue in its first two years than the UFC did in ten. He also discussed his plans to rebuild boxing through Zuffa Boxing, stating that the sport is “fundamentally broken” and that he aims to build “the biggest combat sports company to ever exist.” White commented on masculinity, saying he believes men should be providers and protectors, and criticized what he called “men’s mental health” discussions as a sign of weakness.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Dana White's recent appearances.
Browse all interviews →
✨ AI-enhanced transcript with speaker attribution
I
Interviewer0:00
We're having a fight at the White House. So, how did that come about? Take me into the think tank here. We're having dinner with the president at the White House. We overlook a yard. I assume there's a name for the yard. I should know it. I don't know it. A garden of something. You look out there. There's enough space out there. We could do an event out here. This sounds like some of the most insane sports stuff in history. That backdrop of the White House, with Kid Rock's looking house, have that right there. Then bang, the octagon right there, and then a select crowd of people. That seems like a movie, not real life. How did we get here? And where are we in the development of that?
D
Dana White0:40
I agree. So the president has this whole thing where he wants to bring Americans back to the White House. He's like, "This is America's house. Everybody should be able to come and enjoy it. Easter egg hunts on the lawn and all this stuff." He says, "I think we should do a fight here at the White House." And I was like, "Uh, okay. I'm in. I'm in." So, he told Ivanka to handle it and start the talks with me. So, my team went out there and did all the recon on it. We're putting together a whole pitch and we're going to fly out there in a couple weeks and walk the president through it and see what he likes and doesn't like and start fine-tuning this thing, and we're going to put on an incredible event at the White House on the South Lawn.
I
Interviewer1:22
Yeah. Sounds like a lot of your fighters are excited to be like, "Hey, if we're going to do something historic and legendary, we're okay being a part of that." Even somebody that maybe was retired. Go ahead.
I
Interviewer 21:29
Yeah. I got to ask you about the GOAT, Jon Bones Jones. I've seen he retired. He's unretired, back in the testing pool. What's the latest on Jones? Is that for the White House fight for sure?
D
Dana White1:41
Well, it was after we announced the White House that yeah, he called and said he wanted to get back in the pool. Obviously, everybody wants to fight on that card, and that's a good thing because we're going to put on the best card we've ever done for that White House event.
I
Interviewer1:56
Okay, so on that note, let's go to Ireland. We saw a lot of a guy, but obviously he is massive in the fight world. Go ahead.
I
Interviewer 32:03
Yeah, Dana, then the other question would be McGregor. You know, Jon Jones and Conor McGregor on the same card would be historic, the biggest of all time, it feels like. Is that another thing that might be in the works as well? Because I saw a lot of him talking about it too.
D
Dana White2:16
Yeah. And a lot of him in general. Saw a lot of him.
I
Interviewer 32:22
Keep living, Conor. Just keep...
D
Dana White2:26
Anything is possible. Listen, it's still a year away. I mean, it's literally a year away from now. So, the landscape will change a lot over the next year as far as title holders and stars and people that pop up. But yeah, I mean, we're looking. If we do a Jones and Connor on the same card, plus a lot of other great fights, anything is possible and everything is possible for that card.
I
Interviewer 32:48
If we're going to have Conor McGregor and Jon Jones on the same card, I mean, I guess we'll do that. That thing will be electrifying. You said it's about a year from now. Do you have a date already picked out?
D
Dana White2:56
It's the 4th of July. It's the 250th anniversary of America.
I
Interviewer 33:01
Yeah. Holy [__].
I
Interviewer3:04
Is that the greatest thing of all time? I mean...
D
Dana White3:06
Yeah, it is.
I
Interviewer3:07
Yes, it is. By the way. Yeah, the flyover might work.
I
Interviewer 33:10
Oh my, the flyover is about to be...
I
Interviewer 23:14
Holy [__], Daniel.
D
Dana White3:15
Imagine just think about what I'm going to do for this fight and then think about what Trump is going to do for this fight. You know what I mean? It's going to be one of a kind experience like when we did the sphere. It's the sphere on steroids. I mean, it's going to be a one-of-a-kind event. There'll be nothing like it ever again.
I
Interviewer3:35
Yeah. Let alone Kid Rock starts getting his mind around this entire thing.
D
Dana White3:38
We already talked. Believe me, when we were out the other night, we talked a lot about this.
I
Interviewer 23:44
D. I got...
I
Interviewer3:45
Well, that's the other thing where the president just put on the parade for the military. That's all right there, too. You can put 25,000 people in that area, right? The possibilities for this thing are insane.
I
Interviewer 24:01
Yeah. You're going to take advantage of it all and give us a hell of a show, and we're very grateful for it.
D
Dana White4:05
I promise you that.
