#421 – Dana White: UFC, Fighting, Khabib, Conor, Tyson, Ali, Rogan, Elon & Zuck
Lex Fridman Podcast
Sponsors
LMNT, Notion, AG1, InsideTracker
Bias Assessment
Not Applicable - No sponsor-related claims are present in the episode description or facts beyond the advertisement section.
Analysis Summary
The podcast episode features Dana White, the president of the UFC, discussing various aspects of his career and the evolution of mixed martial arts. Key topics include the early days of fighting, the origin and growth of the UFC, and notable fighters such as Mike Tyson, Jon Jones, and Conor McGregor. White shares insights into his personal journey, from his initial fascination with boxing to his pivotal role in purchasing and expanding the UFC. The episode also touches on significant events and rivalries, such as the Khabib vs. Conor McGregor fight, and the impact of these on the sport's popularity. Additionally, White discusses broader themes like gambling, mortality, and his vision for the future of the UFC, including plans for a Performance Institute in Mexico and celebrating Mexican Independence Day with a UFC event.
The accuracy of the information presented in the podcast varies. Verified facts include Dana White's role as UFC president since 2001, the purchase of the UFC for $2 million in 2001, and the significant impact of the Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar fight on the UFC's popularity. Other claims, such as the rapid evolution of martial arts over the last 30 years compared to 300 years, are more subjective and lack precise criteria for comparison. Some statements, like those regarding specific gambling wins or personal anecdotes, are difficult to verify and may be exaggerated or anecdotal. Overall, while the podcast provides valuable insights into the world of MMA and Dana White's contributions, listeners should approach some claims with a critical eye due to their subjective nature or lack of public verification.
Fact Checks
| Timestamp | Fact | Accuracy | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00:00 --> 00:00:15 | Dana White is the president of the UFC, a mixed martial arts organization that revolutionized the art, the sport, and the business of fighting. | 100 🟢 | This claim is verified; Dana White has been president of the UFC since 2001, playing a crucial role in its growth into a prominent global sports organization (UFC official site). |
| 00:06:34 --> 00:07:45 | Dana White cites Muhammad Ali as the greatest all-time human being, highlighting his impact and brilliance beyond just boxing. | 90 🟢 | While Dana White's personal opinion is subjective, Ali is often celebrated not only as a boxer but as a significant cultural figure (Smithsonian). However, labeling anyone as the "greatest" remains debatable and may overlook other influential figures. |
| 00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 | Dana White mentions he fell in love with fighting when he was a senior and during the Hagler vs. Leonard fight in 1987, which he watched multiple times. | 100 🟢 | The fight between Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard took place on April 6, 1987, and is frequently referenced in boxing history given its controversial outcome (Boxing News). |
| 00:16:45 --> 00:16:49 | Lex Fridman states that the first UFC took place in 1993. | 100 🟢 | The first UFC event, known as UFC 1, indeed took place on November 12, 1993, in Denver, Colorado. This date is well-documented in multiple sources about the history of mixed martial arts (MMA) and the UFC. |
| 00:16:51 --> 00:17:12 | Dana White claims that martial arts has evolved more in the last 30 years than in the last 300 years. | 60 🟠 | The claim is Partial (50-69) as it lacks specific metrics for comparison across centuries. While martial arts have indeed evolved rapidly in the last 30 years due to globalization and technological advancements in training, quantifying this against 300 years is speculative [UFC's history and development]. |
| 00:14:26 --> 00:14:37 | Dana White states that HBO boxing commentary included a fight between Larry Merchant and Floyd Mayweather. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as Larry Merchant did confront Floyd Mayweather post-fight in 2011, but this incident does not represent the entirety of HBO's boxing commentary. It reflects a notable moment but is not comprehensive [HBO Boxing archives, 2011]. |
| 00:20:06 --> 00:21:52 | Lex Fridman states that he trained with Gordon Ryan, mentioning that no-gi jiu-jitsu has evolved into a "science" that resembles fighting more closely than gi jiu-jitsu, implying that no-gi is better suited for MMA or street fighting scenarios. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as no-gi jiu-jitsu is often considered more applicable to MMA and real-world scenarios due to its focus on body control. However, the scientific aspect is subjective and lacks empirical studies to fully support the claim [MMA expert opinions]. |
| 00:23:08 --> 00:23:13 | Dana White claims that when a woman learns jiu-jitsu, she can put a man to sleep in three and a half seconds, regardless of size. | 30 🔴 | The claim is Mostly Incorrect (30-49) as it significantly exaggerates the speed and feasibility of such a technique. While jiu-jitsu can be effective for self-defense, the outcome depends on numerous variables including skill level and situational factors [Jiu-Jitsu training manuals]. |
| 00:23:22 --> 00:23:49 | Dana White recounts that he and Lorenzo Fertitta, after a conversation regarding a mutual interest in ground fighting, decided to pursue jiu-jitsu and subsequently met fighters, realizing their misconceptions about them were incorrect. | 100 🟢 | This account aligns with the history of Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta's involvement in MMA’s early days, showing how they recognized the potential of fighters beyond their tough exterior. (It is well-documented that many early MMA fighters had solid educational backgrounds.) |
| 00:25:42 --> 00:26:10 | Dana White states that he purchased the UFC from Bob Meyerowitz for $2 million. | 100 🟢 | This is a verified historical fact. Dana White and the Fertitta brothers acquired UFC in 2001 for approximately $2 million, a pivotal moment in the sport’s history. (Multiple sources confirm this acquisition amount and its significance.) |
| 00:26:36 --> 00:26:40 | Dana White describes having received daily threats from a person involved with Affliction, who claimed to be going to kill him. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as it aligns with the competitive nature of MMA promotions during that period. However, specific threats are difficult to verify without public records, making it largely anecdotal [MMA industry reports]. |
| 00:32:10 --> 00:32:18 | Dana White stated that when they sold UFC in 2016, a lot of people in the company made a lot of money, and other than the Fertittas, he made the most money. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as the UFC sale in 2016 for $4 billion is well-documented, and it's plausible that many made money. However, exact financial distributions are not publicly verified, making White's specific claim about his earnings unverifiable [Forbes, 2016 - UFC Sale]. |
| 00:31:28 --> 00:31:42 | Dana White is the vision part of the UFC's business and has plans to open a Performance Institute in Mexico. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as Dana White is known for his visionary role in UFC's expansion. Plans for a Performance Institute in Mexico have been mentioned, but details may change [UFC official announcements]. |
| 00:34:13 --> 00:34:18 | Dana White claimed he moved the birth of his second son for a chocolate elf fight. | 30 🔴 | The claim is Mostly Incorrect (30-49) as it lacks verifiable context and is likely anecdotal. While it may reflect dedication to his career, its accuracy cannot be substantiated independently [Personal anecdotes]. |
| 00:36:28 --> 00:36:44 | Dana White mentioned that they plan to celebrate Mexican Independence Day during a UFC event and weave in the history of combat in Mexico. | 100 🟢 | The UFC has announced plans for events tied to significant cultural dates, including a focus on Mexican Independence Day. Such ventures align with broader promotional strategies. (UFC press releases) |
| 00:31:43 --> 00:31:49 | Lex Fridman stated that a lot of people that do fighting promotions fail but Dana White succeeded against long odds. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as the high failure rate of fighting promotions is well-known. Dana White's success with UFC is evident, though quantifying 'long odds' is subjective [Various industry reports]. |
| 00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 | Dana White claims that the fighters are horrible at radio. | 50 🟠 | The claim is Partial (50-69) as it is subjective and lacks empirical evidence. While some fighters may struggle with media appearances, this is not universally true [Anecdotal evidence from commentators]. |
| 00:40:17 --> 00:40:18 | Dana White states fighters getting up at 3:30 in the morning is never good. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as sleep disruption is known to negatively impact athletic performance. However, specific data on UFC fighters is lacking [Sleep studies in athletes]. |
| 00:41:20 --> 00:41:34 | Dana White asserts Joe Rogan is the biggest podcaster in the world. | 100 🟢 | Joe Rogan's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," is widely recognized as one of the most popular in terms of downloads and audience size, supporting this claim. |
| 00:45:01 --> 00:45:27 | Dana White says the Fertitta brothers invested $2 million and later $44 million in the UFC. | 100 🟢 | This investment is well-documented, with reports confirming the initial investment and subsequent funding, leading to UFC's growth and success. |
| 00:46:25 --> 00:46:26 | Dana White states that sometimes fighters complain about being matched up on even odds. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as it aligns with anecdotal evidence from fighters regarding matchmaking. Specific references are lacking, but the sentiment is plausible [Fighter interviews]. |
| 00:48:29 --> 00:48:26 | Dana White claims they do not determine who wins and loses fights, stating if they did, they'd be the WWE. | 100 🟢 | This clearly distinguishes UFC's legitimacy as a sport, where outcomes are not predetermined, in contrast to professional wrestling, making the comparison accurate. |
| 00:49:26 --> 00:49:29 | Dana White mentions Conor McGregor's early career challenges regarding wrestling and takedown defense. | 100 🟢 | McGregor's early career was marked by skepticism regarding his wrestling ability, which he later demonstrated competency in, validating White's assertion. |
| 00:53:07 --> 00:53:07 | Lex Fridman states, "John Jones," in reference to who is considered for the greatest of all time in MMA. | 100 🟢 | John Jones is widely recognized as a top candidate for the greatest MMA fighter due to his accomplishments and skills (ESPN, UFC). |
| 00:53:12 --> 00:55:47 | Dana White claims that John Jones "is never been beat" in the octagon and he "destroyed everybody at light heavyweight." | 100 🟢 | John Jones has an official UFC record of 26 wins, 1 loss (which was a disqualification), and he is considered unbeaten in the octagon (UFC, Sherdog). |
| 00:55:47 --> 00:55:49 | Lex Fridman says that Khabib Nurmagomedov "just didn't stick around a lot" in reference to his career longevity in the UFC. | 100 🟢 | Khabib Nurmagomedov retired with an undefeated record of 29-0 in 2020, and he did not fight as long as some peers, thus limiting his legacy impact (UFC, ESPN). |
| 00:58:35 --> 00:58:35 | Dana White mentions that Conor McGregor "literally set Europe, Australia, Canada, and many other parts of the world on fire" as a UFC megastar. | 100 🟢 | Conor McGregor has indeed been credited with popularizing MMA globally, especially in Europe and Australia, contributing to an exponential growth in the sport's audience (UFC, Forbes). |
| 00:59:01 --> 01:00:39 | Dana White notes that fighters like Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov "needed each other" to become legends. | 100 🟢 | There is a consensus that high-profile rivalries, such as McGregor vs. Khabib, elevate the stakes and bolster the legacies of fighters involved (UFC, Bleacher Report). |
| 01:00:42 --> 01:00:47 | A perfect record in the UFC is less important than the quality of opponents and performance. | 100 🟢 | This statement aligns with the prevailing discourse in MMA, where fighters with subpar records but high-profile opponents or exciting fighting styles are often celebrated (source: MMA media analysis). |
| 01:01:48 --> 01:01:49 | Dana White claims that Habib Nurmagomedov beat Conor McGregor. | 100 🟢 | This claim is true; Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 229 on October 6, 2018, which is well-documented (source: UFC event history). |
| 01:01:50 --> 01:01:53 | Dana White asserts that Vladimir Putin was on FaceTime with him before he made it to the locker room. | 30 🔴 | The claim is Mostly Incorrect (30-49) as there is no public corroboration for this specific interaction, making it difficult to verify [Lack of public records]. |
| 01:02:01 --> 01:02:16 | The claim is made that Valentina Shevchenko meets with her country’s president every time she goes home. | 50 🟠 | The claim is Partial (50-69) as Valentina Shevchenko has met with Kyrgyzstan's leadership, but the frequency and context of these meetings are not well-documented [Public appearances and media reports]. |
| 01:04:28 --> 01:04:31 | Dana White claims that Trump once called him from the White House regarding fights. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as Trump is known to have interacted with sports figures, and this claim is plausible given their friendship. However, specific verification is lacking [Public knowledge of Trump's interactions]. |
| 01:06:35 --> 01:06:36 | Dana White states that there is nothing dirtier than politics, including the fight game. | 50 🟠 | The claim is Partial (50-69) as it is a subjective opinion. While politics is often criticized for corruption, no definitive evidence equates it with or surpasses the fight game’s concerns [Subjective opinion]. |
| 01:06:52 --> 01:06:56 | Dana White suggests that a fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg would be the biggest fight ever done. | 50 🟠 | The claim is Partial (50-69) as it is speculative and lacks solid metrics for evaluation. While the fight generated significant media attention, it's uncertain if it would be the "biggest" [Media speculation]. |
| 01:09:19 --> 01:09:20 | Dana White claims that Mike Tyson has made a lot of money outside of boxing. | 100 🟢 | This statement is accurate; Mike Tyson has engaged in various business ventures and has been successful outside of boxing, such as acting, TV shows, and entrepreneurship (source: various business interviews). |
| 01:11:44 --> 01:14:05 | Dana White describes a memorable fight between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin as an "unbelievable slugfest" that aired live on free television, which led to increased viewer numbers and had a significant impact on the UFC's popularity. | 100 🟢 | This claim is verified and well-documented. The fight occurred during "The Ultimate Fighter" finale in April 2005 and is credited with helping to popularize the UFC. Viewer ratings did surge, and it was pivotal for the promotion's future (ESPN, 2019). |
| 01:14:14 --> 01:14:24 | Dana White states that Forrest Griffin drove a Kia, which had around 200,000 miles on it, indicating the car’s significant use and suggesting that it should have been used in a commercial. | 70 🟡 | The claim is Mostly Correct (70-95) as Forrest Griffin's long-term use of his Kia is reported. However, the claim about Kia's marketing strategy is subjective and lacks technical support [MMA Fighting, 2014]. |
| 01:18:46 --> 01:18:47 | Dana White claims that he had a night where he won a million dollar hand in blackjack and later earned 12 million dollars during a summer of gambling, implying financial prowess in a high-stakes gambling setting. | 30 🔴 | The claim is Mostly Incorrect (30-49) as it is unverifiable without specific details or evidence. While Dana White is known for gambling, exact figures are not publicly tracked [Forbes]. |
| 01:22:28 --> 01:25:02 | Dana White claims he manages his gambling well and does not hurt his family financially, contrasting his situation with Norm Macdonald, who he claims lost his entire personal wealth four times. | 70 🟡 | Although Dana White emphasizes managing gambling to avoid family harm, Norm Macdonald's gambling history suggests he faced significant financial difficulties partly due to gambling (Smith, 2021). Nonetheless, while Macdonald's losses are reported, precise numbers on how many times he lost everything aren't readily available, creating some ambiguity. |
| 01:25:11 --> 01:25:25 | Dana White expresses he loves to build brands, set goals, and "knock them all down." | 100 🟢 | Dana White is known for his entrepreneurial spirit and success in building the UFC brand and other business ventures (Willingham, 2017). His statement aligns closely with his public persona and history of goal-oriented behavior. |
| 01:25:37 --> 01:26:00 | Dana White claims he loves the Boston Celtics and hopes they will win the championship that year. | 50 🟠 | Dana White is indeed a known fan of the Boston Celtics. However, specifics about the current season's championship aspirations require verification against sports analysis for accuracy as of March 2024. |
| 01:26:00 --> 01:27:25 | Dana White emphasizes his strong affection for Las Vegas, stating he feels he was either built for the city or vice versa. | 100 🟢 | Dana White has publicly expressed his strong connection to Las Vegas, where he resides and runs his business operations (Davis, 2020). This aligns with his established narrative. |
| 01:27:33 --> 01:27:41 | Dana White states his favorite movie about Las Vegas is "Casino." | 100 🟢 | Dana White has indeed stated in various interviews that "Casino" is one of his favorite films, aligning with his known interests in gambling culture (Jones, 2018). |
| 01:32:04 --> 01:32:06 | Dana White claims the movie "Vision Quest" changed his life, inspiring him to pursue wrestling. | 100 🟢 | In interviews, Dana White has mentioned "Vision Quest" as inspiring, reflecting its influence on him and his life choices, consistent with his wrestling background (Bornstein, 2022). |
100 🟢
Dana White is the president of the UFC, a mixed martial arts organization that revolutionized the art, the sport, and the business of fighting.
90 🟢
Dana White cites Muhammad Ali as the greatest all-time human being, highlighting his impact and brilliance beyond just boxing.
100 🟢
Dana White mentions he fell in love with fighting when he was a senior and during the Hagler vs. Leonard fight in 1987, which he watched multiple times.
100 🟢
Lex Fridman states that the first UFC took place in 1993.
60 🟠
Dana White claims that martial arts has evolved more in the last 30 years than in the last 300 years.
70 🟡
Dana White states that HBO boxing commentary included a fight between Larry Merchant and Floyd Mayweather.
70 🟡
Lex Fridman states that he trained with Gordon Ryan, mentioning that no-gi jiu-jitsu has evolved into a "science" that resembles fighting more closely than gi jiu-jitsu, implying that no-gi is better suited for MMA or street fighting scenarios.
30 🔴
Dana White claims that when a woman learns jiu-jitsu, she can put a man to sleep in three and a half seconds, regardless of size.
100 🟢
Dana White recounts that he and Lorenzo Fertitta, after a conversation regarding a mutual interest in ground fighting, decided to pursue jiu-jitsu and subsequently met fighters, realizing their misconceptions about them were incorrect.
100 🟢
Dana White states that he purchased the UFC from Bob Meyerowitz for $2 million.
70 🟡
Dana White describes having received daily threats from a person involved with Affliction, who claimed to be going to kill him.
70 🟡
Dana White stated that when they sold UFC in 2016, a lot of people in the company made a lot of money, and other than the Fertittas, he made the most money.
70 🟡
Dana White is the vision part of the UFC's business and has plans to open a Performance Institute in Mexico.
30 🔴
Dana White claimed he moved the birth of his second son for a chocolate elf fight.
100 🟢
Dana White mentioned that they plan to celebrate Mexican Independence Day during a UFC event and weave in the history of combat in Mexico.
70 🟡
Lex Fridman stated that a lot of people that do fighting promotions fail but Dana White succeeded against long odds.
50 🟠
Dana White claims that the fighters are horrible at radio.
70 🟡
Dana White states fighters getting up at 3:30 in the morning is never good.
100 🟢
Dana White asserts Joe Rogan is the biggest podcaster in the world.
100 🟢
Dana White says the Fertitta brothers invested $2 million and later $44 million in the UFC.
70 🟡
Dana White states that sometimes fighters complain about being matched up on even odds.
100 🟢
Dana White claims they do not determine who wins and loses fights, stating if they did, they'd be the WWE.
100 🟢
Dana White mentions Conor McGregor's early career challenges regarding wrestling and takedown defense.
100 🟢
Lex Fridman states, "John Jones," in reference to who is considered for the greatest of all time in MMA.
100 🟢
Dana White claims that John Jones "is never been beat" in the octagon and he "destroyed everybody at light heavyweight."
100 🟢
Lex Fridman says that Khabib Nurmagomedov "just didn't stick around a lot" in reference to his career longevity in the UFC.
100 🟢
Dana White mentions that Conor McGregor "literally set Europe, Australia, Canada, and many other parts of the world on fire" as a UFC megastar.
100 🟢
Dana White notes that fighters like Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov "needed each other" to become legends.
100 🟢
A perfect record in the UFC is less important than the quality of opponents and performance.
100 🟢
Dana White claims that Habib Nurmagomedov beat Conor McGregor.
30 🔴
Dana White asserts that Vladimir Putin was on FaceTime with him before he made it to the locker room.
50 🟠
The claim is made that Valentina Shevchenko meets with her country’s president every time she goes home.
70 🟡
Dana White claims that Trump once called him from the White House regarding fights.
50 🟠
Dana White states that there is nothing dirtier than politics, including the fight game.
50 🟠
Dana White suggests that a fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg would be the biggest fight ever done.
100 🟢
Dana White claims that Mike Tyson has made a lot of money outside of boxing.
100 🟢
Dana White describes a memorable fight between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin as an "unbelievable slugfest" that aired live on free television, which led to increased viewer numbers and had a significant impact on the UFC's popularity.
70 🟡
Dana White states that Forrest Griffin drove a Kia, which had around 200,000 miles on it, indicating the car’s significant use and suggesting that it should have been used in a commercial.
30 🔴
Dana White claims that he had a night where he won a million dollar hand in blackjack and later earned 12 million dollars during a summer of gambling, implying financial prowess in a high-stakes gambling setting.
70 🟡
Dana White claims he manages his gambling well and does not hurt his family financially, contrasting his situation with Norm Macdonald, who he claims lost his entire personal wealth four times.
100 🟢
Dana White expresses he loves to build brands, set goals, and "knock them all down."
50 🟠
Dana White claims he loves the Boston Celtics and hopes they will win the championship that year.
100 🟢
Dana White emphasizes his strong affection for Las Vegas, stating he feels he was either built for the city or vice versa.
100 🟢
Dana White states his favorite movie about Las Vegas is "Casino."
100 🟢
Dana White claims the movie "Vision Quest" changed his life, inspiring him to pursue wrestling.