Why Mayweather apologized to Dana White

It began on May 6, 2016, when Floyd Mayweather’s team let Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun believe that then UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and the boxer were about to announce they’d be boxing in Vegas. The duo bickered for a year and when negotiations began in earnest, UFC president Dana White got involved.

Mayweather named his price – $100,000,000. White offered a counter – $25,000,000. Next Mayweather said, “You’re a f***ing comedian,” and repeated it.

Then White said to TMZ Sports. “For him to think that he’s a much bigger star than Conor isn’t true,” said the UFC boss.

A worked up Mayweather again responded.

I don’t want to talk to Dana White,” he said. “Remember, Dana White, he was a player he was a boss but he was a small boss. The big bosses were the Fertittas. But then the Fertitta’s chose to sell the UFC so Dana is just an employee. Dana White – I like Dana White, I don’t have anything against him – but I can remember Dana White used to hang around me and Jeff Mayweather and carry my bags.

Dana White, I remember when you used to carry my bags. And remember Dana White, I showed you love. You had the little Bullenbeisser patch I wore on my trunks for you, Dana.* I’ve always been good to you. But then all of the sudden he cut his head bald and he’s such a tough guy. He’s such a tough guy.

Now Mayweather stands to make some mulitple of $100 million at MayMac on August 26, and he’s feeling better. He even apologized during the Toronto stop of the MayMac world media tour.

Dana, I could never disrespect you, said Mayweather, as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. I’ve known you for 21 years. You’ve done a hell of a job with this company. And I want to continue to watch you grow. I want to watch you continue to build the UFC, because it’s all about combat sports. You’ve done a hell of a job. No matter what I’ve said about you in the past, as a man I look in your face and apologize and tell you I’m sorry. But you’ve done a hell of a job with this company.

After the public apology onstage, Mayweather spoke with reporters backstage and explained why.

Dana White used to come over my house every day, said Mayweather. I’ve been knowing Dana White 21 years. I’m big enough to apologize to Dana White. I’m a real man, that’s what real men do. I’m man enough to apologize. I’ve said some stuff about Dana. I’m only human. He takes shots at me; I take shots back. I’m only human. I’m not upset with Dana White, I’m not upset with anybody.

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*In a 2009 interview with AskMen, Mayweather referenced the patch, which was the logo for a line of boxing apparel. “I knew him in the past because he was trying to get something called a Bullenbeisser, which is a boxer dog — he was trying to get me to sponsor it for him,” said Mayweather. “I wore it on my trunks at the beginning, before MMA was even thought about.”