Dana White immediately addressed and defined the controversial apply of selling sure fighters over others based mostly on their potential market worth. In discussing prices of favoritism, White didn’t deny this apply, however as an alternative framed it as a basic a part of selling wrestle.
Dana White admits ‘Dana White privilege’ exists
Dana White defined:
“Herein lies the folly of Dana White privilege. You usher in guys who assume they might be world champions, and everybody needs to be world champions. Effectively, there are guys who assume they’ve a greater probability than others. So that you prop these guys up and put them in positions the place you possibly can see what they’re able to. Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey. Anybody who brings in Dana White privilege, it is only a struggle towards promotion.”
Mr. White’s account reveals that he considers fundamental enterprise technique what critics name favoritism. The UFC President identifies fighters with potential market worth and gives them high-profile alternatives to check their skills towards elite rivals. In his view, fighters like McGregor and Rousey weren’t given an unfair benefit, however relatively an opportunity to show they might be world champions.
Dana White What’s privilege?
The idea of Dana White privilege has existed as a casual critique inside the martial arts group for years. The apply allegedly concerned the UFC president giving preferential therapy to sure fighters, together with favorable matchups, preferential reserving, prolonged title alternatives, and higher promotional assist in comparison with fighters with out his personal backing.
Sean O’Malley is without doubt one of the most mentioned examples of privilege in motion at the moment. Regardless of not having back-to-back title defenses, O’Malley earned an opportunity to win the bantamweight title towards Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in 2023. Previous to that struggle, O’Malley confronted Petr Yan at UFC 280 in a No. 1 contender’s matchup, regardless of having just one win within the UFC. Sterling publicly denounced favoritism earlier than the match, stating that he needed O’Malley to pay for “all of the privileges of Dana White.”
Jorge Masvidal skilled privilege another way. Sources say Masvidal by no means turned UFC welterweight champion, however obtained back-to-back title pictures from Kamaru Usman at each UFC 251 and UFC 261. After a formidable five-second knockout win over Ben Askren, the timing of those title alternatives coincided with Masvidal’s rise to energy as a rising star relatively than a conventional stand up the rankings.
British fighter Paddy Pimblett has additionally come beneath intense scrutiny concerning Dana White’s privilege. Pimblett earned a co-main occasion spot towards Jared Gordon within the light-weight division of UFC 282, with each Liverpool natives receiving a strategic record-building matchup earlier than taking over a extra critical bout.
Different fighters who’ve been talked about at numerous instances as beneficiaries of this privilege embrace CM Punk, Chel Sonnen, Michael Chandler, Colby Covington, and Bo Nickal. Whereas every fighter’s case presents a singular state of affairs, the sample is constant: the UFC constructs conditions designed to maximise a fighter’s possibilities of visibility.
The mechanism behind privilege works on a easy precept. The UFC manages matchmaking, title shot allocation, promotional assets, and occasion placement. As president, Mr. White will make ultimate selections on these points. If he believes {that a} fighter has industrial enchantment along with athletic skill, the group can systematically present the fighter with optimum circumstances for fulfillment.
Critics argue that this technique undermines meritocracy inside the sport by prioritizing marketability over reliable achievement. A fighter with out Dana White’s backing must amass a extra spectacular resume, amass an extended successful streak, and wait longer for his probability, even when his precise ability is the same as or higher than that of a privileged competitor.
