Dana White

About Dana White

Dana White was born in Manchester, Connecticut, and spent most of life in Las Vegas, Nevada. White liked boxing and competed as an amateur boxer. He opened some gyms where he created workout programs which combined boxing and aerobics. White attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas where met and became friends with fellow boxing fan Lorenzo Fertitta. Along with older brother Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo became a boxing fan from attending events with their father, Frank Fertitta Jr., a successful former casino executive.At a wedding in 1995, White, who at the time managed boxers and a few Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters, reunited with Lorenzo Fertitta. It was how Fertitta first heard about the sport named MMA. By then, Lorenzo and older brother Frank had taken over casino operations from their father, and created additional casinos throughout Nevada under the brand Station Casinos. White took replaced Sal Garcia as manager of MMA fighters Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, friends and trainers partners whom would compete in one of the first major MMA promotions: Ultimate Fighting Championship (2000).White made an agreement with International Fighting Championships (IFC) to sell sponsorship on their behalf. He also got a fight for Liddell against Steve Heath at an IFC event on June 11, 2000. During the following November, UFC owner Robert B. Meyrowitz, suffering financially, had conversations with Lorenzo Fertitta about buying his company. Exactly how the idea came about is in question. White said he had brought up the idea with Fertitta, believing UFC was for sale. Meyrowitz-who later told author Clyde Gentry that he had not actively put the company up for sale-agreed to sell. According to Gentry, Fertitta stated that White had heard of Meyrowtiz's intentions from his brother, David Meyrowitz. Zuffa LLC was formed by Lorenzo and older brother Frank Fertitta III in January 2001, with them being equal majority owners. Lorenzo became Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, while White was given ten percent equity and the title of President. Zuffa bought UFC for $2 million on January 9, 2001. White stopped managing Ortiz and Liddell as a result of his new executive role in UFC. UFC's new owners were pivotal in lobbying different athletic jurisdictions to legalize the sport.Three years after Zuffa acquired UFC, the promotion had a deficit in the $30 million plus range. Majority owners Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta III decided that an increased television presence would turn the company profitable. The Ultimate Fighter was created, and Zuffa paid Spike TV $10 million for airtime. The show was produced between September and October 2004, and aired in 2005. It became a ratings success for Spike TV. During the first live finale of The Ultimate Fighter, a light-heavyweight fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar drew many viewers. Griffin won the judge's decision to become the competition's first winner and earned a UFC contract. Bonnar received a UFC contract although for his performance.The bout is credited for influencing Spike TV President 'Kevin Kay' (I) to not only renew the series, but pay Zuffa millions of dollars for the rights to air it over subsequent years.Dana White became the public managerial face of UFC from interviews, leading press conferences, and supervising fighters facing off. The success of The Ultimate Fighter helped grow UFC, and increased White's profile. He became known as an aggressive, outspoken competitor ...

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ROBBERY?!! Who Really Won? (Jan Blachowicz vs Magomed Ankalaev)

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