Stop Hating! You hate Dana White and it’s your own fault

First up, it’s important that we cover a few very critical facts. Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, and Frank Fertitta bought the UFC 10 years ago for $2 million of their own money. In 2004, after being turned down by several networks, the men agreed to fund the first season of The Ultimate Fighter (with $10 million, of their own money) if Spike TV would shoot and air it. Later, when EA Sports refused to partner with the UFC for an MMA video game, these men once again found their own road (with their own money). In other words, Dana White has never needed anyone’s acceptance. He’ll make his own way. And then laugh at you from his Ferrari.
Dana White is polarizing, very polarizing. No matter what White says or does message boards and comment sections across the internet light up with criticism. This being the internet, the criticism is rarely thought out or constructive, and is often laced with comments about his (lack of) hair, his (larger) physique, and claims about his sexuality. Hooray internet!
On the rare occasion that a fan stops name calling, the most common critique of Dana White is the childish cry of “he isn’t fair!” The problem is, you don’t want fair. The #2 WW in the world is Jon Fitch. That’s an inarguable fact. Quick! Show of hands, how many people are clamoring for Fitch vs. GSP II? No one? Not one hand? So much for fair. Dana White gives the fans what they want. The fans want a guy that will get in GSP’s face and maybe… just maybe is good enough not to get wrestle-humped or jabbed for 25 minutes. White was smart enough to do the same thing with Vitor Belfort vs. Anderson Silva. Vitor had no business being in that fight after a catch weight bout with Franklin. Better guys were getting skipped. It was not fair. But White knew, if it was booked, it would sell. He knew there would be a great big audience when something spectacular happened. And it did.
So now you’re sitting there, feeling kind of silly about the whole “fair” thing. You’re thinking, “Okay, so White is capable of making some savvy decisions but he’s so unprofessional that he gives the sport a bad image.” Sure, White likes to drop F bombs during interviews and maybe he doesn’t dress like you think the President of a billion dollar company should; but if you think White has been bad for the sport, you’re an idiot. Back to the history lesson: when Dana and his buds bought the UFC in 2001, the sport was largely underground, the owners of the UFC could not secure PPV or video distribution, and 36 states had laws banning MMA. Let that sink in… 36 states… banned…okay, you’ve got it. Today, MMA is legal in 46 states and is regulated throughout the world. Networks like Spike and HDNet have MMA programming on every single day. ESPN shows live events worldwide and covers the sport regularly. MMA related websites, like this one, are successful because the rabid fan base craving information grows and grows. How can all this be bad?
The truth is; it isn’t. But the part you don’t want to hear is that it’s all due to the tireless work of Dana White and the team he has assembled at the UFC.  The UFC has made a habit of hiring influential people who have worked for politicians, Athletic Commissions, and legal teams. The UFC has a Regulatory Affairs team that works solely on expansion and cooperating with regulating commissions and governments. Shows like the WEC, Bellator, and Strikeforce could not have flourished without the UFC paving the way. But seriously, who cares about those other organizations? To today’s average fan “UFC” and “MMA” are the same thing. There is no discernable difference (just ask Yahoo! Sports).
So, do you still think you want a fair President, speaking double speak so he doesn’t offend anyone and dressing in a tie? Screw that! Dana White gives you what you want even when you don’t realize it’s what you want. When an event is over, the first thing I want to hear is Dana’s response. Dana is extremely honest and fair in his assessment of events. He doesn’t bull shit the fans! When Silva sucked against Maia, Dana was the first to voice his disappointment. When Nelson gassed… again, versus Mir, Dana didn’t pull any punches. His honesty comes from being such a great fan of the UFC. Accountability breeds performance. And White isn’t afraid to hold anyone accountable.
At the end of the day, whether it’s cutting a fighter, buying a competing organization, or playing hardball with an Athletic Commission, Dana White is protecting and growing his product. Yes, his product. A product that he owns roughly 10% of and that he has built from obscurity to acceptance. He gives the fans what they ask for and the fans blame him when it goes wrong.
Dana White wasn’t born rich, he’s earned it. Dana White has never been fake. Dana White is even more of a fan than you. It’s time to stop shouting about what Dana White isn’t and start appreciating what Dana White is.
By Josh Robertson