Oops! Watch a former ESPN anchor confuse Dana White for Joe Rogan in an all-time interview gaffe

Dana White and Joe Rogan are both rambunctious, bald white men with an affinity for the UFC, but that doesn’t make them the same person!

[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] are both rambunctious, bald white men with an affinity for the UFC, but that doesn’t make them the same person, Sage Steele!

Steele, a former ESPN anchor, welcomed White to “The Sage Steele Show” and spent more than an hour talking with the UFC CEO – touching on most of the same ol’ you’d expect from a Dana White podcast appearance – before arriving at her big final question and giving us an all-time interview gaffe.

As if to set up a dramatic moment, Steele adjusted how she was sitting on a sofa, leaned in to look White in his eyes, and asked him this in a soft-spoken voice:

“Last question: What’s Joe Rogan’s dream?”

Wanting to make sure he heard correctly, White repeated the question:

“What’s JOE ROGAN’S dream?”

At this moment, you could see the embarrassment forming on Steele’s face as she tried to play it off by sheepishly uttering both names:

“Joe Rogan … Dana White.”

The best part was the look White gave her once he realized what just happened:

“Did you just think I was Joe Rogan?

[Looks off camera] “She just called me f*ckin’ Joe Rogan.”

“You thought I was f*ckin’ Joe Rogan? I was bald before Joe was ever bald!”

What a blunder.

If you enjoyed that play-by-play, you’re going to love watching the embarrassing moment play out in real time.

You can watch here (marked at 1:19:12):

What makes this even funnier is that Steele began the interview by calling White “Joe” up front (via X). She was doomed from the start, lol.

Hey, I guess it could be worse.

Did Dana White seriously consider resigning from UFC during Joe Rogan-Spotify controversy in 2022?

“Joe Rogan has been very loyal to me, and I am very loyal to Joe Rogan,” Dana White said of the longtime UFC commentator.

For [autotag]Dana White[/autotag], there’s no UFC without [autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag].

Rogan, the popular podcast host and longtime UFC commentator, was under fire in early 2022 when he was accused of spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which was exclusive to Spotify at the time. An outraged Neil Young demanded that his music be removed from Spotify in protest of Rogan remaining on the streaming platform.

Around the same time, Rogan also had a montage video of him using the N-word resurface online and, as a result, Rogan was absent from his commentary duties for UFC 271. Appearing on Lex Fridman’s podcast, White was asked about Rogan amid the controversy and how he apparently threatened to resign if Rogan could no longer commentate UFC fights.

Now, White never said those words himself but thanked Fridman for calling him a good man.

“Anybody who is with me, has been with me, knows, when you’re with me, you’re with me,” White said. “It’s a two-way street. It’s not a one-way street. I’m not one of these guys that is going to roll over. It’s like going through COVID. I wasn’t laying any of these people off. Some of these people have been with me for 20 years. We’re going to lay them off?

“This motherf*cker will burn – burn before I would do that to my people. It’s just never – none of that type of stuff is ever going to happen while I’m here. I can’t say what’s going to happen when I leave. But when I’m here, the people who are with me and have been with me, they know exactly what’s up. Joe knows what’s up, and again it’s a two-way street. Joe Rogan has been very loyal to me, and I am very loyal to Joe Rogan.”

Joe Rogan and Dana White in 2006. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Spike TV)

If White was serious about resigning to protect Rogan, it shows just how close their relationship is. One of the reasons White feels the way he does is because he will never forget Rogan standing by the UFC before it became a profitable business.

“It’s a fact he doesn’t care about money, and he did the first 13 shows free for us,” White said. “That was at a time when we were hurting and he was like, ‘Wait a minute, you want me to do the commentary? You’re saying I get to sit in the best seat in the house and watch these fights for free? Yeah, I’m in.’ Then obviously when we turned things around, we made it up to Joe, but Joe is one of the things I loved early about (the UFC).”

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Dana White recalls the time he got so drunk and forgot about losing $3 million playing blackjack

This is a pretty wild Dana White story from the man himself.

Many of us have been there before where we had a little too much to drink one night and the next morning couldn’t remember everything that happened. Who hasn’t been there at least once?

UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] has been there before, except his version of the story includes an insane plot twist none of us can relate to thanks to the fact that he’s filthy rich and his love for playing blackjack.

He explained what happened during an episode of Lex Fridman’s podcast on Monday:

“So one night I’m over at the Rio (Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas). They’ve got big suites over there, so I go over there with some buddies, and we got one of the suites, and we have some dinner, and we start drinking. So, we’re having some drinks at dinner and blah blah blah. It starts to ramp up, we’re having a good time, and I make my way down to the high-limit room. We start gambling. And I continue to drink, having a blast. I end up leaving and going home that night, and I lost like ($80,000). So I wake up the next morning. I’m like, ‘F*ck, those motherf*ckers got me for $80,000 last night.’ So, I’m at work the next day, and the host (from the Rio) calls me and he says, ‘Hey, Dana, are you coming back? Do you still need the room that you guys had?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t need the room, but don’t get too comfortable with my f*cking 80 grand. I’m coming back for it.’ (There was) dead f*cking silence on the other end of the phone. And he’s like, ‘Dana, you lost $3 million last night.’

‘What the f*ck are you talking about? I only have a million-and-a-half-dollar credit line.’ He goes, ‘Yeah, you made us call the GM of the hotel, and you started calling him a f*cking p*ssy’ and yada yada yada. And I went, ‘Yeah, that sounds like something I would do.'”

White didn’t specify when this wild night of drinking and gambling took place, but it feels like something that would’ve happened a while ago, although perhaps after the UFC sold to Endeavor in July 2016 since that’s when White’s wealth increased dramatically.

White said he learned a lesson and changed his ways after that night:

“There’s been a lot of cases where people are in Vegas and they’re like, ‘Oh, I lost all this money, and they were giving me free drinks, and I drank too much, and I was taken advantage of.’ No, you stupid motherf*cker. Man up. You got f*cking drunk. The alcohol is free, but you don’t have to f*cking drink it. And, you know, this was a huge learning lesson for me. I never drank again when I was playing cards after that night.”

First world problems. Am I right?

Video: What does UFC antitrust lawsuits settlement mean for future of MMA?

Was the $335 million settlement in the UFC antitrust lawsuits in any meaningful way a win for the fighters? Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses.

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel reacted to the news of the settlement the UFC reached in two antitrust lawsuits.

It was reported last Wednesday that the UFC and a group representing approximately 1,200 former fighters reached a settlement on a pair of antitrust lawsuits, which will no longer go to trial. The general terms of the settlement include a $335 million payment by the UFC, with exact terms expected in a longer-form document in the coming weeks.

It was massive news for the UFC and the MMA industry as a whole. MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, Mike Bohn, along with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia, reacted to the news and what it now means for the sport moving forward.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.

https://youtube.com/live/p0F9kzKcT00

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Dana White on Mike Tyson’s boxing return: ‘Jake Paul has to fight people who can actually sell pay-per-views’

Dana White thinks Jake Paul needs Mike Tyson to garner interest for their fight.

[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] needs [autotag]Mike Tyson[/autotag] to garner interest for their fight.

YouTuber-turned-pro boxer Paul (9-1) takes on Tyson (50-6) on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

White is not a fan of the matchup, in which his good friend Tyson will be 58 when he steps into the ring. He mocked Paul for facing yet another older fighter.

“I love Mike, and I hate talking about this because he always gets mad at me when I talk about this stuff,” White said the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast. “I’m not thrilled to see him do this stuff. When the fight happens, he’ll be 58 years old. It’ll be a 31-year age difference between these two.

“Jake Paul did fight a kid his age and he lost. I just saw this thing on the internet yesterday, I reposted where it say if he beats Mike Tyson, he’s going to fight Clint Eastwood next. Clint Eastwood is 93 years old. I don’t know, man.”

After fighting multiple notables names in MMA, as well as Tommy Fury, Paul’s past two boxing matches came against far lesser known competition in Andre August and Ryan Bourland. This time he takes on a boxing legend, but the fight will air live on Netflix for subscribers.

White thinks Paul needs the right dance partner to amp up his views.

“What Jake wants is Jake wants to make money,” White said. “The people that follow Jake Paul don’t buy Jake Paul’s fights, so Jake Paul has to fight people who can actually sell pay-per-views.”

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For more on the fight, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Tyson.

‘Now you get cut’: Dana White removes Igor Severino from roster after UFC on ESPN 53 biting disqualification

According to a report, Dana White has cut Igor Severino after biting his opponent, resulting in a disqualification at UFC on ESPN 53.

UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] will reportedly not condone Igor Severino’s actions in his promotional debut.

Severino (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who faced fellow debuting undefeated flyweight Andre Lima, was disqualified in the second round for biting. Lima (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was defending in the clinch, and during the sequence against the fence, Severino bit his left arm.

Lima motioned to the referee that he was bit by his opponent, resulting in a pause in the fight and subsequent disqualification after the video review.

After the fight at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, White messaged Kevin Iole, stating that Severino’s UFC run began and ended Saturday.

“Those were two up-and-coming undefeated fighters,” White said in a text message. “If you get frustrated and want out of the fight, there are plenty of ways to do it, but the worst thing u can do is bite your opponent. Now, you get cut and lose the biggest opportunity of your life. Not to mention, he’s going to have real problems with the NSAC.”

Severino and Lima were both undefeated Dana White’s Contenders Series veterans entering Saturday’s bout, but only one will continue with their career in the UFC.

In addition to fighting on, Lima was rewarded with an “I Got F*cking Bit Bonus” by White, according to MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

Settlement reached in UFC antitrust lawsuits as promotion agrees to pay fighters $335 million

After a decade of litigation, the UFC closed out a pair of antitrust lawsuits with a $335 million settlement just as a trial was set.

The UFC and a group representing approximately 1,200 former fighters have reached a settlement on a pair of antitrust lawsuits, which will no longer go to trial.

Less than one month prior to its previously scheduled trial start date of April 15, UFC parent-company TKO Group Holdings Inc. and the group of former fighters officially reached a settlement March 13 that was revealed Wednesday in an SEC disclosure.

The general terms of the settlement include a $335 million payment by the UFC with exact terms expected in a longer-form document in the coming days, a TKO statement to the SEC stated. The payment is tax-deductible and will occur over time in periodic installments. It is unclear exactly how the payments will be divided.

“We are pleased with the settlement and will disclose more when we file with the Court in 45-60 days,” the plaintiffs wrote on X shortly after news of the settlement was first reported by John Nash. “We Love All of these guys!”

The UFC also released a statement (via Kevin Iole): “We are pleased to have reached an agreement to settle all claims asserted in both the Le and Johnson class-action lawsuits, bringing litigation to a close and benefitting all parties. The final terms of the settlement will be submitted to the court of approval.”

Following news of the settlement, TKO Group Holdings Inc. stock raised over five dollars in less than an hour.

Five separate class-action lawsuits between December 2014 and March 2015 were eventually consolidated into one (Le, et. al), with a second separate lawsuit filed in 2021 (Johnson, et. al).

The lawsuits sought $894 million to $1.6 billion in damages and centered around alleged violations of the Sherman Act. Class-action lawsuits allow for treble damages, meaning the court could’ve tripled the amount it required the UFC to pay.

The group of former fighters claimed the UFC contract structure and business practices suppressed fighters’ abilities to negotiate and explore other promotional options, creating a monopsony. The efforts were headed by former fighters Cung Le, Kyle Kingsbury, Kajan Johnson, Jon Fitch, Brandon Vera, and others.

The plaintiffs also sought injunctive relief. As of Wednesday, it is unclear if such changes are part of the final terms of agreement.

Dana White: Dustin Poirier’s knockout of Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299 ‘the sh*t that makes you a f*cking legend’

Dana White had high praise towards Dustin Poirier after UFC 299.

MIAMI – [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] had high praise towards [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] after UFC 299.

Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) knocked out surging lightweight contender Benoit Saint Denis (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at Kaseya Center.

Many were surprised to see former interim champion Poirier accepting a fight against lower-ranked Saint Denis, which is why White respects “The Diamond” that much more.

“The fight that he took tonight with Benoit, I mean, when the talk first started, everybody was like, ‘Oh, this is a bad fight for Poirier,'” White said during the UFC 299 post-fight news conference. “Then Poirier came out and said, ‘You know what, I didn’t sign’ and all this – this is the sh*t that makes you a f*cking legend. These are legendary fights – when you go in and face a guy who’s a savage and looks like you can’t win this fight or people think you can’t win this fight, and then you go in and do it in spectacular fashion the way that he did tonight.

“A lot of these fighters, you’ve heard it many times in the past, ‘They want me to lose,’ or ‘They’re trying to make me lose.’ I heard some nutty sh*t the other day from somebody that I won’t even mention, but we don’t determine whether you lose or whether you win – you do. What we try to do is put on the best match-made fights that we can possibly do. That’s why big stars are built in the UFC and legendary fights happen every weekend. … His stock again goes through the roof.”

With the win, Poirier may have positioned himself for another title shot. UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told Poirier prior to the fight that he could be next with a win, and Makhachev and Poirier are both on board.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Dana White reacts to Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match: ‘He gets mad when I do this’

Dana White is not a fan of the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight.

MIAMI – [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] is not a fan of the [autotag]Mike Tyson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] fight.

Tyson (50-6) will be 58 when he steps in the ring to box 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-pro boxer Paul (9-1) July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The UFC CEO didn’t want to say too much not to upset his good friend Tyson, but doesn’t want to see the boxing legend competing period.

“He gets mad when I do this, but Mike’s 60, man,” White said during the UFC 299 post-fight news conference. “I don’t know, what do you guys think about it? Who gives a sh*t what I think? It’s not my fight.

“I love Mike Tyson personally as a friend, and he’s one of my favorite athletes of all time. I don’t know. Let’s see what he can go in there and put together a training camp and come in. I don’t like to see guys fighting at (that age). It’d be a 31-year age difference during that fight. You guys know what I think of that stuff.”

The fight will air live on Netflix for subscribers, something White appeared to be interested in. The streaming service, arguably the most well-known of its kind in the world, recently signed a deal with WWE to stream its long-running “Raw” weekly series, as well as other ancillary WWE programming, starting in 2025.

The WWE and UFC are paired together as TKO Group Holdings through primary owner Endeavor, which means building blocks already are in place if the UFC ever had a conversation with Netflix for after its current broadcast deal with ESPN expires.

“I think that Netflix should have gotten into live sports years ago,” White said. “I think they’re late to the game, but they are a force. When you look at the amount of homes that they’re in worldwide … the show ‘Reacher’ – I posted about it. I love that show. I f*cking hate TV. I don’t watch any TV show, hardly ever. I don’t watch movies anymore. But I love the show ‘Reacher.’ I can watch ‘Reacher’ whenever I want to. I can watch it when I get home. I can watch it next week. Live sports like (UFC 299) you had to watch tonight, as all these massive streaming companies start to get bigger and bigger, they have to be involved in live sports.”

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For more on the fight, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Tyson.

Dana White reacts to Francis Ngannou’s KO loss in cross-over boxing match: ‘That’s how they end’

UFC CEO Dana White shares his opinion on Francis Ngannou’s KO loss against Anthony Joshua.

MIAMI – UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] was not surprised to see [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] get stopped in his second professional boxing match.

White expected Ngannou to lose to former boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua during their colossal crossover bout on Friday in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou was dropped twice before getting knocked out in the second round in what was a seamless performance by Joshua. White believes the result was predictable.

“I saw it on social media,” White said regarding Ngannou’s KO loss at the UFC 299 post-fight press conference. “Yeah, going into the Fury fight, if Fury trained for the fight and didn’t show up and look like he ate Tyson Fury, that’s probably the way that fight would’ve ended too.

“I mean, listen. You know how I feel about crossovers into boxing, that’s how they end, just like that.”

The UFC is expected to make its debut in Saudi Arabia later this year. White is impressed by the type of promotion Saudi Arabia has been doing around their big boxing fights. Although he’s a fan, he assures the UFC production will remain the same.

“I think the difference is that – and I don’t know this for a fact, I’m just assuming –  but the boxing events that they’re holding, they’re their events, and they own all the production and everything else,” White said. “They put some money into those things. They really do. But when we go, we’ll be running the production.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.