Dana White - trash talks and Quotes

“#NowYouKnow”

– via X, expressing his impressed reaction to Kevin Vallejos' incredible spinning backfist knockout win over Giga Chikadze at UFC Vegas 112.

“Let me be clear on something, when i say the physicality, it’s not like francis ngannou came in here and threatened us or anything like that... we’re in there and he’s telling me that he deserves the $50k. I said 'you’re not getting it.'... and i’m like 'i’m done, i have another meeting'... so i started to walk out, and he put his hand on my chest, and he said, 'we’re not done talking,' and i said, 'oh, we’re f***ing done talking.'... it’s not like francis came in here and was like, physical. But that’s what went down.”

– via TheMacLife, clarifying his previous comments by stating that Francis Ngannou's "physicality" involved putting a hand on his chest and saying, "We’re not done talking," rather than a physical threat.

“There was nothing that made me happier than throwing that guy over to the f***ing pfl.”

– via The Mad Life, strongly stating his lack of interest in bringing Francis Ngannou back to the UFC and expressing satisfaction that Ngannou is now fighting for the PFL

“It is what it is. It’s not like i have confronted Arman… Arman’s a man. He knows how it played out. He knows how it went down behind the scenes. He knows. We all f****ing know. I don’t ever talk about this sh*t publicly because you guys are like a bunch of f***ing old ladies… a lot of man sh*t happens in this f***ing business and we keep it between us men and it is how it is.”

– via via The Mac Life, providing a candid response to the situation regarding Arman Tsarukyan not receiving the next lightweight title shot (which went to Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim title)

“My whole thing with Francis is, i have this philosophy where, if someone shows you who they really are, believe them... there was nothing that made me happier than throwing that guy over to the f***ing pfl. Let me tell you what, if we let guys go, feel bad for the company that gets them.We let them go for a f***ing reason. I don't want to let anybody go. I don't want to be in business with guys that i don't like and that i don't think are good guys. And when you talk about good guys and guys, i am in the fight business. Sh*t happens, you know what i mean? I'm pretty lenient when it comes to tough guy sh*t. I'm not lenient with bad guy sh*t”

– via an interview with Oscar Willis, expressing his satisfaction that Francis Ngannou left the UFC and stating his philosophy is to avoid being in business with people he deems "bad guys

“You know what i didn't do? We haven't cut him, we're not sideways with him, we don't dislike him.”

– via The Mac Life, stating that everything is good between him and Arman Tsarukyan, confirming that the UFC has not cut him, is not "sideways" with him, and does not dislike him.

“Is the white house ready for derrick lewis? President trump loves derrick lewis and he hasn't told me to do anything… but he will not stop talking about derrick lewis so it's a big fight for derrick coming up”

– speaking to reporters after UFC 323, strongly hinting that Derrick Lewis, who he calls President Trump's "favorite fighter," is a likely addition to the UFC White House card.

“One of the toughest fighters that i've ever come across. Merab and i didn't get off on the right foot early on. I have nothing but respect for him showing respect to Merab Dvalishvili after his loss at UFC 323, acknowledging their difficult past relationship while praising Dvalishvili's toughness.”

– via UFC 323 Post fight press conference showing respect to Merab Dvalishvili after his loss at UFC 323, acknowledging their difficult past relationship while praising Dvalishvili's toughness

“Too much goes into this for those type of things to happen...you can't do that. You can't get the opportunity and then you can't end that way, so he has got to work his way back.”

– via the UFC 323 Post Fight Press Conference, stating that he does not care about Arman Tsarukyan's No. 1 ranking and insisting that Tsarukyan must "work his way back" to a title shot after a previous opportunity fell through.

“No matter what happens, I don't see him coming back anytime soon. I think there would be a [title] defense before he comes back.”

– via the UFC 323 Post Fight Press Conference, giving an update on Alexandre Pantoja's future following his injury, suggesting the injury is severe enough that a title defense might occur before Pantoja is ready to return.

“I wouldn't say he is the odd man out. He had an opportunity, and you guys know how that played out. He's gonna have to work his way back. I don't give a s**t what the number says.”

– via the UFC 323 Post Fight Press Conference, stating that he does not care about Arman Tsarukyan's No. 1 ranking and insisting that Tsarukyan must "work his way back" to a title shot after a previous opportunity fell through.

“My guy Hunter [Campbell], they were talking about something, it might have even been that same thing. And when Hunter started to walk away, Francis grabbed him by the f**king back of his collar and f**king pulled him back and said, 'We're not done talking yet.' This guy's not a good f**king guy. He's a bad guy”

– On Ngannou's Confrontation with Hunter Campbell

“He was pissed off he didn't get a $50,000 in his last fight, that he didn't get the bonus of the night. I said Francis, you didn't get it for this, that [reason] and he's in my office and he's arguing with me... The conversation's over, and I'm starting to leave, and he grabs me by my shirt and pushes me back in my office, and I said, 'Dude, get your f**king hands off me.' I could see in this guy's face and in his eyes and the way he's acting who this guy really f**king is”

– On Francis Ngannou Getting Physical Over a Bonus

“I haven’t said yes or no to anybody yet, but I can’t put Jon Jones in a position where he can… I had a deal with him to fight Tom Aspinall, we had a deal and he said, ‘I am not going to do it.I can’t be in that position. People talk sh** about McGregor. McGregor, when you walk into that room, three days out from the fight, your opponent fell out... [McGregor will be like] 'Just let me know who I’ll fight.' You say whatever you want about Conor. Conor’s been that guy.”

– explained difference between Jon Jones and Conor McGregor ahead of UFC White House event

“I haven’t said yes or no to anybody yet, but I can’t put Jon Jones in a position where he can… I had a deal with him to fight Tom Aspinall, we had a deal and he said, ‘I am not going to do it.I can’t be in that position. People talk sh** about McGregor. McGregor, when you walk into that room, three days out from the fight, your opponent fell out... [McGregor will be like] 'Just let me know who I’ll fight.' You say whatever you want about Conor. Conor’s been that guy.”

– explained difference between Jon Jones and Conor McGregor ahead of UFC White House event

“You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again”

– stating that Dillon Danis is permanently banned from attending UFC events following the massive brawl that broke out at UFC 322.

“This will knock Ilia [Topuria] off the number one spot if he beats Jack”

– stating that Islam Makhachev's win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 will make him the new #1 Pound for Pound fighter, supplanting Ilia Topuria

“He[Jon Jones] doesn't need to apologize to me for anything. Even through all of the bad stuff that Jon and I have been through, I still say that Jon Jones is the greatest of all time. Everybody starts laughing when I say it”

– via DNA FOR SPORTS, reacting to Jon Jones's desire to apologize to him for the Tom Aspinall fight situation.

“Obviously there's a huge Muslim community out here in New York, and also you have to look at the fact that Islam [Makhachev] is looked at as one of the best ever. Islam has done so much. It's basically like a Muslim country right now. I'm sure Jack is feeling it”

– via DNA FOR SPORTS, discussing the atmosphere and support for Islam Makhachev in New York ahead of the fight (UFC 322)

“Obviously there's a huge Muslim community out here in New York, and also you have to look at the fact that Islam [Makhachev] is looked at as one of the best ever. Islam has done so much. It's basically like a Muslim country right now. I'm sure Jack is feeling it”

– via DNA FOR SPORTS, discussing the atmosphere and support for Islam Makhachev in New York ahead of the fight (UFC 322)

“Jack's whole life will change on Sunday if he beats Islam Makhachev”

– via FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA, on the significance of the UFC 322 main event for Jack Della Maddalena.

“Once you get too much money involved in the fight business, Conor made so much money, and that was it. Then Khabib made a sh*tload of money, and that was it”

– via the Prince St Pizza YouTube Channel, explaining why making too much money can sometimes lead to fighters retiring or losing motivation.

“Once you get too much money involved in the fight business, Conor made so much money, and that was it. Then Khabib made a sh*tload of money, and that was it”

– via the Prince St Pizza YouTube Channel, explaining why making too much money can sometimes lead to fighters retiring or losing motivation.

“Khabib's dad had this plan where Khabib would win, be dominant, and then he would step down and Islam would slide in, and it played out exactly like his dad said it would. Not only did his dad say that his son would be champion, he said Islam would be champion too, and he was completely right”

– via the Prince St Pizza YouTube Channel, discussing Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's prophetic plan for the lightweight division

“Whoever wants to debate it with me... Kamaru Usman is the greatest welterweight of all time”

– via Pound 4 Pound Show

“It is a great thing, actually. If you can get in and if you look at anybody in the history of boxing and the UFC, if you train with the best every day, those are usually the guys who become world champions”

– when quizzed about whether working with Jon Jones would benefit a younger fighter via Jim Rome

“He doesn't have a detached retina, there's no damage to the eye. He should heal up soon and we'll figure out when we can make the fight again”

– On Tom Aspinall's eye injury via Jim Rome

“You can't win a fight by just laying on top of somebody... I was actually very happy with the way the judges scored that fight”

– expressing approval for how the judges scored the Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida fight.

“Anything is possible. I mean, anything is possible. I, you know, I don't really like looking down that far and talk about the light heavyweight champion moving up, but I don't know. We'll see how things play out at the end of this Saturday, obviously, and then [at] the end of this year as far as Pereira goes”

– Dana White, on a potential Tom Aspinall vs. Alex Pereira super fight.

“You know what I think about it, I hate that. Many friends, relatives have all fought each other before. It doesn’t determine… whether or not you’re friends with somebody or hate them, you’re competing to see who the best is. But that’s his decision. To think about even vacating him because you don’t want to compete against somebody is insane. But he’s a grown man, and it’s up to him.”

– criticizing Tom Aspinall for his stance on a potential fight with a teammate via TNT Sports.

“Anything is possible. I mean, anything is possible. I, you know, I don't really like looking down that far and talk about the light heavyweight champion moving up, but I don't know. We'll see how things play out at the end of this Saturday, obviously, and then [at] the end of this year as far as Pereira goes”

– Dana White, on a potential Tom Aspinall vs. Alex Pereira super fight.

“Listen, it took me a minute to warm up to Merab. I’m very warm now. I love that mentality. He wants to be the first guy to defend his title that many times in a year. If you look at what he’s gone out there and done, and how he’s proven himself as a fighter, and as a world champion, it’s impressive.I love it.”

“We're sending both these kids to the hospital. It's one of the greatest fights I've ever seen in Contender Series history. I'm signing both of them, and we don't do this, but I'm giving them both $25,000 bonuses, too”

– after DWCS 85 fight between Martinetti and Vologdin

“We're sending both these kids to the hospital. It's one of the greatest fights I've ever seen in Contender Series history. I'm signing both of them, and we don't do this, but I'm giving them both $25,000 bonuses, too”

– after DWCS 85 fight between Martinetti and Vologdin

“We'll have to talk about it. Unless he wants to retire, I just don't see why throwing him in at heavyweight makes any sense, other than I just end up saying, he wants to do it so bad, I'll just say yes. I don't know.”

– Dana white on Alex Pereira's heavyweight plans.

“Probably that he was a middleweight. He was a middleweight, and he's going to jump up two weight classes in the UFC. It's not like jumping up two weight classes in boxing. It's a big jump. And it's not that I have any reservations about him, I mean, the guy is in a division where there are still interesting fights. I don't know. And I like the guy so much, we'll see”

– Dana white on Alex Pereira's heavyweight plans.

“Cory is a very tough guy. It wasn't the most exciting fight of the night, but Merab dominated”

– reacted to Cory's loss at UFC 320

“Fights are never turned down by this guy, ever. No sh*t is given by this guy." — Dana White replied for Alex Pereira against the rumor started by Magomed Ankalaev's team about him turning down the rematch.”

“I don't hate your brother [Jake Paul].your brother's out there doing his thing but it cracks me up that they want to start suing people that are talking sh*t when your brother talks more sh*t than anybody talks.”

“I'm never worried about Jon Jones not being clean for performance enhancing drugs. My thing about Jon Jones is, in the crunch time, bad things always happen leading up to fights, and all this stuff can I count on Jon Jones?”

“I'll start making this [white house] card in February. So if it all plays out that way, Conor can be on that card..... Conor Mcgregor has been that guy throughout his entire career.”