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Dana White
President and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Entries
- 13
- On the record
- 1
- Stories
- 2
- Latest entry
- Nov 8, 2026
The record
Dana White has led the Ultimate Fighting Championship since 2001, when he helped buy the struggling promotion for $2 million; the first event under his leadership came that February. The UFC sold for $4 billion in 2016 on the condition that he stay on as chief executive. Since September 2023 it has sat alongside WWE under TKO Group Holdings, in which Endeavor held 51% at closing.
The company's main court exposure has been antitrust. Former UFC athletes filed suits from December 2014 alleging violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, consolidated in Nevada federal court in June 2015. After the court denied an earlier proposed deal, TKO agreed in September 2024 to settle that case for $375 million, payable in installments and subject to court approval. The company's filing contained no admission of liability.
Outside the UFC, Meta appointed him to its board of directors in January 2025, and Paramount agreed in August 2025 to pay $7.7 billion over seven years for UFC rights from 2026. His ties to Donald Trump run through the White House: the UFC staged a card on the South Lawn on June 14, 2026, and on November 7, 2026 Trump posted that White had been offered the press secretary job, then said the next day he was kidding.
Roles and honours on the record
Every entry, newest first
- Reported
Trump posted that he offered White the White House press secretary job, per The Guardian. Judge approves $375M Zuffa UFC fighter antitrust settlement
- Reported
White told a London news conference he has a meeting with Trump on Monday and "a lot of jobs already," per AP. Dana White to meet Trump Monday on press secretary job offer
- Reported
White testified in federal court that he does not negotiate fighter contracts, per BBC Sport. Judge approves $375M Zuffa UFC fighter antitrust settlement
- Reported
White testified in Nevada federal court that he no longer negotiates fighter contracts, per Front Office Sports. Dana White to meet Trump Monday on press secretary job offer
Stories in this file
Business ยท โ๏ธ Judge approves $375M Zuffa UFC fighter antitrust settlement
The 2014 suit claimed Zuffa suppressed fighter pay. The UFC called it meritless; a second suit covering 2017 onward is still open. โณ
PENDINGPhoto: Stanislav Kondratiev ยท Pexels License๐ฅ Dana White to meet Trump Monday on press secretary job offer
A source tells CNN he declined; White says only he has "a lot of jobs already." The White House has not answered. โณ
The record, entry by entry
- 2001-02 Reported The first UFC event under White's leadership took place after he helped buy the struggling promotion for $2 million, CBS News' 60 Minutes reported. CBS News, 60 Minutes transcript
- 2015-06 Filed Five suits by former UFC athletes, filed between December 2014 and March 2015 and alleging violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, were consolidated as Le et al. v. Zuffa, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. TKO Group Holdings, Form 8-K, SEC filing
- 2016 Reported The UFC was sold for $4 billion, on the condition that White stay on as chief executive, CBS News' 60 Minutes reported. CBS News, 60 Minutes transcript
- 2023-09-12 Official TKO Group Holdings became the parent of WWE and the UFC. Endeavor and its subsidiaries held 51% of TKO's voting power and former WWE stockholders 49%. TKO Group Holdings, Form 8-K, SEC filing
- 2024-09-26 Official TKO agreed to settle all claims in the Le case for $375 million, payable in installments, after the court denied an earlier proposed settlement. The agreement was to be submitted to the court for approval, and the filing contained no admission of liability. TKO Group Holdings, Form 8-K, SEC filing
- 2025-01-06 Official Meta Platforms announced the appointment of White, described as President and CEO of UFC, to its board of directors, alongside John Elkann and Charlie Songhurst. Meta Platforms press release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1, SEC filing
- 2025-08-11 Reported Paramount agreed with TKO to pay $7.7 billion over seven years for UFC media rights in the U.S., starting in 2026, CBS News reported. CBS News report
- 2026-06-14 Reported The White House hosted UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn, the first UFC bouts held there, marking the nation's 250th anniversary and Trump's 80th birthday, CBS News reported. CBS News report
- 2026-11-08 Reported A day after posting that White had been offered the job of White House press secretary, Trump told reporters he was kidding, CBS News reported. White had posted a photo of himself at the briefing room podium captioned "On to the next chapter." CBS News report
Documents
- TKO Group Holdings Form 8-K on the $375 million Le v. Zuffa settlement (Sept. 26, 2024)
- TKO Group Holdings Form 8-K on the closing of the UFC and WWE combination (Sept. 12, 2023)
- Meta Platforms release on new board members, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 (Jan. 6, 2025)
- CBS News 60 Minutes transcript on White and the UFC (Sept. 28, 2025)
Sources behind this file
- Las Vegas Review-Journal page carrying Trump's quote
- AP report via abc7ny on White's planned meeting
- Fox News video on Trump saying he was kidding
- The Guardian report on the press secretary offer
- New York Post report
- CNN report via Yahoo
- Yahoo Sports report
- Fox News OutKick report
- CNBC report
- TKO Group Holdings earnings release
- BBC Sport report on the antitrust hearings
- Front Office Sports report on White's testimony