The UFC sits at the pinnacle of the combat sports industry today, along with the sports that have been around for a substantially longer period. However, much of the credit for this remarkable achievement goes to one man: Dana White. From the inception of the UFC, when it struggled to find a footing in the promotion’s early days, to its current status of delivering back-to-back blockbuster pay-per-view events and holding a $2.4 billion in valuation, White’s accomplishments with the UFC are truly commendable.

Back in the day, when the UFC began its journey, it faced numerous challenges and skeptics. However, White’s vision enabled the UFC to overcome these hurdles and evolve into a global phenomenon. Not only does the UFC hold the distinction of being one of the first major mixed martial arts promotions, but it also consistently produces more events than any other sport in comparison.

Owing to this incredible feat, it’s no wonder that a former UFC referee has heaped high praise on the UFC president for working tirelessly.

Recognizing the hard work put in by Dana White

The UFC supremo was the topic of discussion on the recent episode of WEIGHING IN, hosted by the veteran MMA referee John McCarthy and the former UFC fighter, Josh Thomson. During the conversation, McCarthy, who was associated with the UFC earlier, revealed one trait about Dana White that he absolutely admires—his work ethic.

The 60-year-old said, “One thing that I was always impressed with Dana- he was a worker. I don’t know how he is now, because I’m not around him.”

McCarthy further recalled the old days of the UFC and stated, “But back in the early day[s], when Zuffa had an office, it was a building that the Fertittas owned and it had just one floor and there was like, four people working for Zuffa… He was out, you know, always running around, jumping on Southwest flights to go somewhere to meet with someone… He was a worker.”

Read more: Dana White Narrates the Story of How the Fertitta Brothers Wanted to Sell the UFC at $40 Million in Debt

Continuing to that, he said, “He was busting his a** trying to, you know, do anything he could. Try to get people to get more engaged. And, you know, put more videos out front, things like that, you know. He was a worker, I’ll give him that.”

Having said that, things have now changed drastically for Dana White as well as the UFC.

Going above and beyond

Fast-forward to today, the UFC has soared in value, now worth billions, solidifying its status as a powerhouse in the sports industry. Not content with just its own success, the UFC has also made a noteworthy move by merging with the WWE, expanding its reach even further.

Furthermore, Dana White has extended his horizons beyond the octagon and embarked on a new venture with the Power Slap League. This controversial endeavor has raised eyebrows but is still a venture of over $100 million.

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