Dana White has made it clear, he’s no longer interested in handling fighter contracts, and he has zero regrets about stepping away from that side of the business.
For years, Dana White sat at the center of UFC negotiations, building direct relationships with fighters and playing a hands-on role in getting deals across the line. But as the promotion evolved into a global powerhouse, so did his responsibilities and priorities.
Reflecting on the early days of the UFC, White spoke about the close-knit nature of the promotion and the personal bonds he shared with fighters.
“We were a small business, and as we started to grow, the relationships that I had with the Chuck Liddells and the Matt Hugheses and guys like that from the early days right up to Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, ‘Cowboy’ Donald Cerrone, and the list goes on and on,” White said.
“We were talking about ‘Cowboy’ a little bit off-camera. He was always doing something crazy. As soon as he got his check, he was blowing it—buying boats, jet skis, all kinds of toys. But whenever anything would go wrong in their personal lives, we were the first phone call they would make.”
As the UFC expanded, especially following its acquisition by Endeavor Group Holdings, now operating under TKO Group Holdings,the structure of the organization changed. The promotion’s massive growth, including multibillion-dollar deals, meant a shift away from the personal, hands-on approach that once defined it.
Now, Dana White has fully removed himself from contract negotiations, leaving that responsibility to other executives within the company.
“Obviously, it’s grown,” White said. “I have completely removed myself from the negotiating part of fighter contracts. I got to a point where, ‘This isn’t fun anymore, man.’ I’m lucky that I’m at a point in my life and in my career where I can just deal with the fun stuff that I like to do.”
While White steps back from negotiations, he remains the face of the UFC and continues to drive its biggest events. The promotion now gears up for another major card, as UFC 327 heads to Miami with a light heavyweight title fight between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg set to headline.
Even without direct involvement in contracts, Dana White’s influence on the sport remains undeniable but these days, he’s choosing to focus on what he enjoys most: building the spectacle rather than negotiating the deals.
