On the evening of the 14th, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made history by setting up its octagon on the South Lawn of the White House for the first time in modern US history. The man behind this unprecedented move is Dana White, the UFC president. Some US media outlets have criticized the event, pointing out that White’s rise is closely tied to President Trump, and that bringing a fight night into the White House is ultimately a costly spectacle to entertain the elite.
Dana White and Trump (visual China)
According to reports from AP and others, the 56-year-old White was born in Connecticut. To make ends meet, his mother moved him and his sister Kelly to Las Vegas when he was in third grade. As a teenager, White had a rebellious streak and was expelled from high school twice. At 17, he took up boxing, aiming to become a pro fighter, but later shifted to running a gym and managing several professional boxers.
In the early 2000s, White met Lorenzo Fertitta, a co-owner of the UFC and owner of Station Casinos. When Fertitta considered selling the UFC, White urged his partner to buy it for $2 million and appointed himself as president. At the time, the UFC was banned in 36 states and mocked by politicians as “human cockfighting.” The outlook was bleak. Just when things seemed hopeless, Trump extended a helping hand, turning the tide for the UFC.
As reported by the Guardian, Trump was also facing his own scandals and career lows. His Atlantic City casinos needed to draw crowds, while White’s UFC needed a legal venue for fights. It was a perfect match. Later, even during Trump’s presidential campaign, White remembered this support. At the 2016 Republican National Convention, he said, “No venue would let us hold fights. He was the only one who helped us.” In 2005, White helped launch the UFC reality show “The Ultimate Fighter,” which opened doors for the sport. By 2006, the UFC’s pay-per-view for event 66 hit a million for the first time, and within two years, the company was valued at $1.1 billion. By 2024, UFC’s influence rivals that of the four major US sports leagues: MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL.
White has been a staunch supporter of Trump since 2016, often appearing at his campaign events. In 2020, he donated $1 million to Trump’s political action committee, “America First Action.” Trump is also a big UFC fan, having attended four live events since becoming president. In April, White was invited to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Political analysts see the bond between Trump and White as more than friendship. Al Jazeera reports that a UFC event draws between 300,000 and 2 million viewers, hitting a demographic that’s notoriously hard to reach: young men who are often the least politically engaged. Shows like Joe Rogan’s podcast, which promotes MMA culture, pull in up to 11 million listeners per episode. So, Trump’s love for UFC taps into a huge voter base. Fox News notes that UFC fans are concentrated in “red states,” making it one of the few sports that cater to conservatives, almost like a “sure bet” for votes.
The White House fight night has faced harsh criticism. Media reports say the event cost $60 million to set up the grandstands, involving resources from seven federal agencies. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 16% of Americans support the event, while 46% oppose it. Time magazine called it a “brawl in the White House,” arguing it’s not a tribute to the “warrior spirit” but a modern-day Roman gladiator show meant to “pander to the powerful.”
