Dana White knows what it takes to run a business.
The current UFC president bought the company back in 2001 when it was on the verge of folding, and transformed it into one of the most successful businesses in sports.
Over the past 20 plus years, White has been able to integrate new innovations and stars to keep UFC thriving, and it’s gotten so popular that even people who have no clue about MMA will get excited about a fight.
Of course, one of the biggest driving factors for White that has helped turn UFC into one of the most successful businesses in sports, is his love and pure passion for it. Not to mention his no bullsh*t approach to managing the league.
And that includes not being bullied by his sponsors.
White is an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, appearing with Trump just this past weekend alongside Kid Rock and Tucker Carlson at UFC 295.
And is political opinions have apparently ruffled some feathers with UFC’s sponsors – but he’s not backing down.
During an appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, White recalled getting a call from one of his sponsors over a post he made on his personal social media:
“I posted a video for Trump on my personal social media, and one of our big sponsors called and said ‘Take that down.’
You know what I said? ‘Go f*ck yourself.’
You vote for whoever you wanna vote for, and I’ll vote for whoever I wanna vote for. That’s how this works. I don’t even care who you’re voting for. It’s none of my f*cking business.
But f*ck you. Don’t ever call me and tell me who to vote for.”
Theo revealed that the same thing happened to him when he had Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on his podcast and a sponsor told him to take down the episode.
But White said he’ll never let sponsors dictate what he can and can’t say:
“I will never, ever answer to a f*cking advertiser…
You can’t ever let these f*cking people hold you hostage or try to change who you are or what you stand for, or try to determine how you’re going to run your business.”
