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Despite another hugely successful year for MMA and the UFC, Dana White hasn't been afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way.
On this list, we'll be taking a look at some of the controversial moments involving the UFC president from across the year, which could leave some fans or fighters calling him the 'Grinch' of the UFC.
#3. Dana White's controversial GQ interview
Earlier this year, Dana White sat down with GQ to be interviewed for their YouTube channel.
Whilst filming, White took part in GQ's 'Actually Me' segment where he answered fans' questions. Unsurprisingly, many of the questions directed towards the 53-year-old were about the UFC's fighter pay.
The American responded to a fan who asked if he felt that UFC fighters were paid a fair price. White responded with a yes and compared the organization's pay scale with boxing:
"Fighters always wanna make more money. Boxing has been absolutely destroyed because of money and all the things that go on. It's never gonna happen while I'm here. Believe me, these guys get paid what they're supposed to get paid. They eat what they kill. They get a percentage of the pay-per-view buys, and money is spread out amongst fighters."
Catch the interview here:
The controversy didn't stop there, however, after White's comments about fighter pay from the interview went viral. The UFC president was unhappy with the reporting in regards to his interview and had some stern words for those that reported on it:
"...scumbag, POS, f***ing journalist if you f***ing write a story off some f***ing goofy, fun GQ f***ing INTV & you write a f***ing serious fighter pay story about it?"
#2. Dana White vs. Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou kicked off 2022 with a successful title defense vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. The KO artist proved he wasn't all just KO power as he managed to wrestle and grapple with Gane for all five rounds, clinching the decision victory.
Following his victory, fans noticed that Dana White wasn't in the octagon to strap the belt around 'The Predators' waist, which started their year-long rivalry that still has no end in sight.
Ngannou required surgery after his bout which would put him out of the octagon for over a year. While recovering, the 36-year-old's contract is expected to expire, but Ngannou has been very vocal about wanting to sign a better deal, which White has reportedly refused.
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Francis Ngannou discussed his beef with the UFC president. According to the heavyweight champ, the 53-year-old has tried to control the narrative whilst he's been recovering by stating that he's refused to fight, which isn't the case:
"This situation with the UFC, it started, kind of like, a long time ago. Way long time before people even realized... I was silent and they were trying to control the narrative and then manipulate people's perspectives, people's opinions about it."
Ngannou added:
Then, I was just like a bad guy, a guy that didn't want to fight. Then you go out there, control everything and make me be the bad guy, which I'm not... I just want what's best for me, as everyone should, and you should understand that because you guys want what's best for you. Same here."
Catch the video here:
#1. Fans react to the ESPN pay-per-view price hike
Whilst this one isn't strictly the fault of Dana White, the recent announcement by ESPN to increase their prices for UFC events has shone another negative light on the UFC president by fans.
In a statement by ESPN earlier this month, they announced that prices for pay-per-views, starting with UFC 283, would be increased from $74.99 to $79.99. The price hike means that since the UFC's exclusive deal with the broadcasters in 2019, the prices have been raised four times in four years, originally starting out at $59.99.
The latest price increase hasn't gone over well with fans. Many are concerned that fighters aren't going to see more money in their pockets despite the increased cost of the PPV.
One fan stated that they had purchased all of the events across the year, but wouldn't be buying another going forward:
"@UFC is a joke. I bought every ppv this year. Now my new years resolution is to not buy a single PPV. Back to streaming I go."
Another fan was convinced the latest price change would still mean fighters are entering the octagon and making the minimum show-and-win fee:
"And they'll still have fighters on the card making $10k."
Twitter user @HarvardHovden is convinced the move is going to force more people to opt to find illegal streaming sites for the PPV events, which Dana White often publicly condemns.
"Dumb change. More people will just use free streams now."
Although the decision to increase prices wasn't made by Dana White himself, the change has once again given fans a reason to find fault with the organization. Much of the public outrage has been that the increase in price doesn't guarantee an increase in fighter pay, which has arguably been the UFC and Dana White's biggest criticism this year.
