Dana White Quotes & Statements

“He said he was considering sicide a couple weeks ago? Holy sht. That's unfortunate to hear”

– via the UFC Seattle post fight press conference, reacting in shock to Joe Pyfer’s emotional octagon revelation following his massive upset victory.

“Jon Jones was never fighting on the White House card. How many f**king times do I gotta to say this? Never, ever, ever—which I told you guys 100,000 times—was Jon Jones ever remotely in my mind to fight at the White House.”

– via the UFC 326 post fight press conference, shutting down the narrative that Jon Jones was ever a serious option for the South Lawn event.

“Yeah, he came and met with me a couple of weeks ago. We had a good time, and I think Nate just got an offer he couldn't refuse. I haven't talked to him since then, but no, I'm happy for him. I don't know. Let him do his thing. Let's see how the fight plays out, and we'll see what happens.”

– via a UFC post fight interview, confirming that Nate Diaz was in deep negotiations for a UFC return before signing with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).

“I used to always have a guarantee that there were certain fights you saw that you're like 'it's impossible for this not to be good'... and then the BMF title happened last week”

– via UFO (UFC Fans Online), revealing his frustration with the Charles Oliveira vs. Max Holloway main event at UFC 326

“How many times have I sat up here and said he is not fighting at the White House? And have you all not seen the video of the dude with the Meta glasses on when he didn’t know he was being filmed and telling him his hips are f*** shot, hip replacement? Did you not see the videos of him running in the flag football game? What did I say that wasn’t true? And you guys all bust my balls about how much I love Jon Jones. Jon’s the greatest of all time, no way in hell Jon Jones was going to be booked for the White House card. It wasn’t going to happen but the matchmakers were talking to everybody, seeing what was possible, and they brought me every possible fight that could be made”

– via the Zuffa Boxing post fight press conference, reacting to Jon Jones' social media outburst regarding his omission from the Freedom 250 White House card.

“That’s not true, I said. It was never Islam versus Topuria. Don’t worry about what fights are being made. We announced which ones are made and which ones will be happening.”

– via the Zuffa Boxing post fight press conference, firmly dismissing rumors of a super fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria for the Freedom 250 White House card.

“Moving up and taking on a guy like Ciryl Gane, the way these two guys strike, it's going to be very, very interesting. Should [Pereira] win the fight, then we figure out what's going on with Tom Aspinall, and it could be [Pereira] vs. Aspinall.”

– via Joe Rogan Experience, outlining the path for the newly announced Heavyweight interim title fight at the White House event.

“No, it’s not. Never, ever, ever, which I told you guys 100,000 times was Jon Jones even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House”

– via UFC 326 post fight press conference, shut down rumors of a Jon Jones appearance at the upcoming June 14 event

“The company has talked to him. I haven't talked to him. Tom and I obviously need to talk. He came out recently saying that they felt like I had sort of shit on him in the way that I had spoke about his eye injury, which was absolutely positively not the case. Tom Aspinall is a guy that I respect. He has been great to work with. Never once did I question his injury or speak negatively about it.”

– via Piers Morgan Uncensored, clarifying his stance on Tom Aspinall’s recovery and their professional relationship

“He or his dad too came out recently, saying that I sh*t on him. It's absolutely positively not the case. They think I knocked him in some way which I absolutely positively didn't and wouldn't. I like him very much, I never had a problem with Tom Aspinall”

– via Piers Morgan Uncensored, attempting to squash the brewing feud with Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall

“Khabib Nurmagomedov literally has a factory of bada** dudes where they just keep pumping these guys out, and there are so many of them you couldn't possibly get all these guys in fights”

– via Fox Sports Australia, commenting on the unprecedented depth of the Dagestani talent pipeline managed by Khabib Nurmagomedov

“He's one of those guys that always steps up, does whatever we need him to do. Whatever that guy wants to do, we'll work with him”

– via the UFC Houston post fight press conference, finally giving his blessing for Alex Pereira to pursue a third divisional title

“I'd like to see him defend his title at a weight first. I'd rather see him defend his title before he talks about jumping around from division to division without defending.”

– via the UFC Houston post fight press conference, addressing the rumors of Khamzat Chimaev moving to 205 lbs

“Ask dumb sh*t, you're gonna get dumb sht... You guys like to push the buttons”

– via the UFC Houston post fight press conference, slamming reporters for their line of questioning toward Sean Strickland during fight week

“I'm happy for him, obviously, to get home to his family. What they went through, if that wasn't bad enough, the guy's been in jail this whole time. But yeah, I'm happy for him”

– via Zuffa Boxing 03 postfight press conference, reacting to the release of Cain Velasquez

“Oh, Jesus, don't let me talk about Tom Aspinall's eye. Apparently, he is going in for a second surgery, or just had it. By surgery, I mean injections. I've no idea. We have a quote from him. God f**king forbid I say something about it”

– via the UFC 324 post fight press conference, reacting with visible frustration when asked for a medical update on the heavyweight champion.

“We completely have it dialed in. We’ve got really smart kids, and they can get down within single digits on how close it would be to pay them like it was a pay—per—view... Gaethje, without getting into all that stuff, Gaethje was offered more money, and Gaethje never responded”

– via The Pat McAfee Show, disputing Justin Gaethje's claims that his pay hasn't increased under the new UFC x Paramount+ deal.

“I don’t listen to any of the goofy sht. It’s goofy sht. The MMA world, I don’t listen to any of that sh*t. So literally none of that is on my algorithm. Almost everything you see on the internet about our sport is wrong. It’s all wrong”

– via TMZ Sports, dismissing the viral rumors of a Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal headliner for the UFC White House card.

“He reminds me of the Conor McGregor story. He came in with this great personality, and they were always overlooked. Every time he fought, everybody believed he was going to lose, and Paddy has been that guy more so than Conor McGregor. This is a huge test for him... Every time [Pimblett] fights, he’s the underdog, and people think he’s gonna lose.”

– via TMZ sports explaining the parallels between Paddy Pimblett’s rise and the early career of Conor McGregor ahead of their UFC 324 interim title clash.

“Yeah, at 205? Would be a fight, but can I count on Jon Jones? Can't have Jon Jones doing something bad or pulling out of the f**king White House fight”

– via Complex News (January 15, 2026), expressing his deep seated anxiety about booking Jon Jones for the historic UFC White House card on June 14.

“Not realistic. That was a couple years ago.”

– via Complex News (January 15, 2026), officially ending the three year saga of a potential Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler matchup.

“Tsarukyan's got to work his way back up there, man. Tsarukyan has had the opportunity, he didn't take it... I've got to be able to count on [them] if somebody is going to fight for a world championship”

– via Complex News (January 15, 2026), explaining why #1 ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan was passed over for the UFC 324 interim title fight.

“I could call him right now and tell him I want him to fight in the second Paramount card, and he'd do it”

– via Complex News (January 15, 2026), highlighting the contrast between the "always ready" Merab Dvalishvili and other contenders he currently finds difficult to work with.

“We’ve been watching him before Rogan... Interesting. You don’t know until we find out. There is only one way to find out. You can speculate all you want, you don't know until you get them in there.”

– via an interview with Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports (January 2026), responding to Joe Rogan’s recent claims that Gable Steveson is already a top—five heavyweight in the world.

“100 percent, a 100 percent. A lot of things have factored in”

– via Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports on January 8, 2026, confirming that Arman Tsarukyan’s headbutt on Dan Hooker was the final straw that led to his interim title snub at UFC 324.

“#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

“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)

“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.

“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.