Dana White

Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman and the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world. Under White's leadership, the UFC has grown into a globally popular multibillion-dollar enterprise.

Early life and education
White was born in Manchester, Connecticut on July 28, 1969, the son of June and Dana White. He and his sister Kelly were raised by their mother and her family for the majority of their childhoods.

He spent many of his early years residing in Ware, Massachusetts.

He began boxing at age 17 and graduated from Hermon High School in Maine in 1987.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
While working as a manager for Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, White met Bob Meyerwitz, the owner of Semaphore Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. White learned that Meyerwitz was looking to sell the UFC. White contacted childhood friend Lorenzo Fertitta, an executive at Station Casinos and a former commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and asked if he would be interested in acquiring the company. In January 2001, Lorenzo and his older brother Frank acquired the UFC, which subsequently became a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC. White was installed as the company's president.

In July 2016, Zuffa, LLC was sold to a consortium of investors led by WME-IMG for US$4.025 billion. White owned 9% of the company at the time of the sale. White announced he would continue in his role as president.

In May 2017, the UFC announced White would host Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. Available exclusively through UFC Fight Pass, the promotion’s digital streaming service, and licensed separately from the UFC brand, the show allows up and coming fighters the chance to showcase their talents in hopes that one day they may compete in the UFC.

Boxing
White first entered the boxing scene by having a part in helping promote the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor mega-fight due to McGregor being a fighter for UFC. In October 2017, White told people at Freddie Roach's Wild Card West boxing club that he was "getting into boxing, 100 percent." White says that he wants to incorporate boxing into the company portfolio of the UFC.

Filmography

 * The League, as The Goon, in episode: "Rafi and Dirty Randy" (2013)
 * It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as Dana White, in episode "Wolf Cola: A Public Relations Nightmare" (2017)

Philanthropy
In 2011, White donated $100,000 to his former high school to fund renovations to their athletic facilities.

Personal life
White claims he left Boston for Las Vegas after being threatened by James 'Whitey' Bulger and his associate Kevin Weeks. "He basically said, ‘You owe us money’. It was like $2,500, which was like $25,000 to me back then, and said, ‘You owe us money.’ It was actually a guy named Kevin Weeks, who if you saw the trial he’s Whitey’s right-hand man. I’m sure he’s very prominent in the movie, but yeah basically said I owed him some money, and I didn’t pay him. This went on for a while and one day I was at my place and I got a call and they said, ‘You owe us the money tomorrow by 1 o’clock’. I literally hung up the phone, picked up the phone and called Delta and bought a ticket to Vegas."

In 2011, White's mother, June, wrote Dana White, King of MMA: Dana White an Unauthorized Biography. In an interview promoting the book, she called her son "egotistical, self-centered, arrogant, and cruel".

White spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, where he endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Health issues
In May 2012, White revealed that he had been diagnosed with Ménière's disease, a neurological disorder. White claims that the reason he had the disease, was brought on because of a large fight he was involved in during his youth. The UFC on Fuel TV 3: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier event was to be the first he had missed in 11 years with White staying home, adhering to medical advice. White is undergoing Orthokine treatment for Ménière's disease, which he says has greatly reduced his symptoms.

Accomplishments

 * Nevada Sportsman of the Year (2009)
 * Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards
 * Promoter of the Year (2005–13; 2015–16)
 * World MMA Awards
 * Leading Man of the Year 2017
 * Leading Man of the Year 2016
 * Leading Man of the Year 2015
 * Leading Man of the Year 2014
 * Leading Man of the Year 2013
 * Leading Man of the Year 2012
 * Leading Man of the Year 2011
 * Leading Man of the Year 2010
 * Armed Forces Foundation
 * Patriot Award