Dana White: I don’t want to be PC
Nick Halili: You sometimes have a very direct, non-politically correct way of doing business. Can you describe this style in…
Nick Halili: You sometimes have a very direct, non-politically correct way of doing business. Can you describe this style in your own words?
Dana White: It’s honest. We watch sports and politics and the guy is up there reading some canned statement that his attorney wrote, and you know he’s f—— lying. You know what he’s saying is bullshit, or he’s being PC. I don’t have to be that. This is the fight business. I don’t run Microsoft or GE. My style is aggressive toward my competitors, but isn’t that what it’s supposed to be like?
NH: How do you respond to fans that do not like your aggressive style, especially when it comes to rival organizations like Strikeforce?
DFW: I know one of the big criticisms about me is how I attack these other promoters. I don’t attack anybody. But if you come out and say you’re going to compete with us, then we’re going to f—— compete until somebody wins and somebody loses. That’s what competing means. I never said anything about Strikeforce, and then Showtime gets involved. They start going after talent I have and, basically, start trying to compete with us.
NH: Do you think the UFC will eventually expand to the point that you will have to compromise and be more PC?
DFW: It’s not that I don’t have to be; I don’t want to be. I don’t want to wear a suit to every f—— meeting. I don’t want to not swear. We’re all grown-ups here. Like you’ve never heard f— before? Let’s not be fake and phony—I won’t do it.
NH: What do you think is the most crucial element to your success and to being successful in general?
DFW: Growing up, your mom and your dad say, If you don’t go to college, you’re never going to amount to anything. I don’t believe in any of that. If you go to college, I have nothing but respect for that. You should be as smart as you can possibly be and learn everything. But, on the flipside, not everyone is a college person. The reality is, I think you have to find whatever it is you love to do. Sh*t that you would get out of bed every morning and do for free. Don’t think about the money; money is a tool to have fun. If you look at it any other way, you’re f*cked up. Don’t go chasing money—chase your f—— dream.
DH: You have often said that you think that MMA will be the biggest sport in the world. What do you say to those who doubt this?
DFW: Listen, fighting is the sport that all other sports aspire to. When a guy dunks a basketball, he gets down and he’s like, I just kicked your ass. No you didn’t; you just dunked a ball through a f—— circle. When a guy goes against a great pitcher and crushes a homerun, he’s like, I just kicked your ass. No you didn’t; you just hit a ball with a stick over a f—— wall. When you go in, you fight and you kick somebody’s ass, you just kicked his f—— ass.