Jun 13, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; UFC president Dana White gestures during the first half in game five of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Finals-Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
UFC President Dana White spoke to the media for the first time since his physical altercation with his wife on New Years Eve.
“There’s never an excuse. There’s no defense for this, and people should not be defending me no matter what.”
White, who’s managed the UFC since 2001, told reporters he won’t be stepping down as President and there are no formal punishments.
“What should the repercussions be?” White said. “I take 30 days off? How does that hurt me? I told you guys as we were going through [the COVID-19 pandemic], COVID could last 10 years, and I could sit it out. It’s much like COVID, actually. Me leaving hurts the company. Hurts my employees. Hurts the fighters. Doesn’t hurt me. I could’ve left in 2016 [when the company was acquired by Endeavor]. Do I need to reflect? I’ve been against this. I’ve owned this. I’m telling you that I’m wrong.”
White and his wife, Anne, both confirmed it was an isolated event. He said it was the first time he’d ever touched a woman in anger.
“Here’s my punishment: I have to walk around for however long I live — and this is how I’m labeled now.”
Video of the incident showed Dana White slapping his wife, after she slapped him during a verbal altercation at a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The two have been married for 27 years and have three children together.
