Dana White is proud of the UFC’s equality in athlete pay, particularly for women, highlighting Ronda Rousey’s impact and stating that the organization prioritizes skill over personality while allowing fighters to express themselves freely.
Dana White has plenty of reasons to be proud of the UFC, especially when it comes to equality among athletes. Unlike other sports grappling with pay disparities, the UFC has long addressed these issues. Remember when White famously said women would never fight in the UFC? Well, times have changed. Now, there are three female-led divisions with champions from around the world.
The women’s revolution in the UFC owes much to Ronda Rousey. White still praises her as a prime example of how women can draw as much money, if not more, than their male counterparts. "The women make just as much money as the men do," White shared on the Straight Talk podcast. He highlighted how Rousey was once the highest-paid athlete in the company until Conor McGregor came along.
Rousey’s influence remains, but the women’s divisions continue to thrive even after her retirement. Case in point: Saturday’s UFC 312 event in Australia features a co-main event with Zhang Weili defending her strawweight title against Tatiana Suarez.
White also emphasizes allowing fighters to express themselves freely, regardless of public opinion. This freedom recently led to controversy when Bryce Mitchell made offensive remarks on a podcast. Despite disagreeing with Mitchell’s views, White stands by his commitment to letting athletes speak their minds.
"We don’t tell anybody what to say," White stated. "Whoever you are, that’s what I’m selling." It’s clear that personalities play a big role in making UFC stars household names. Just look at McGregor and Rousey—they’ve captivated fans beyond their performances in the octagon.
Yet, White insists that talent is paramount. "Skills," he says, are what truly matter. A fighter could be a "deaf mute," but if they’re skilled, that’s what catches his interest. Of course, having a dynamic personality like Conor or Ronda doesn’t hurt either; it’s just icing on the cake.