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The press conference for UFC Fight Night 217 was highly anticipated, but not for the fighters. Instead, all eyes were on Dana White, the UFC president, due to an incident that occurred on New Year's Eve. White, under the influence of alcohol, had a physical altercation with his wife, Anne White, during which both parties slapped each other.
Despite the couple publicly admitting their wrongdoing and claiming it was an isolated incident, public condemnation led to calls for White's suspension or temporary removal from his position as president of the UFC. However, White confirmed that this will not happen.
“What should the repercussions be? You tell me,” White said at UFC Vegas 67 media day. “I take 30 days off? How does that hurt me? I told you guys when we were going through COVID, COVID could last 10 years, I could sit it out and — you know what I mean? What would be the problem? It’s much like COVID, actually.
Me leaving hurts the company, hurts my employees, hurts the fighters. It doesn’t hurt me. I could have left in 2016. I don’t know. Do I need to reflect? No, I don’t need to reflect. The next morning when I woke up — you know what I mean? I’ve been against this.
I’ve owned this. I’m telling you that I’m wrong.
White's statement on potential repercussions
“What should the repercussions be? You tell me,” White said at UFC Vegas 67 media day. “I take 30 days off? How does that hurt me? I told you guys when we were going through COVID, COVID could last 10 years, I could sit it out and — you know what I mean? What would be the problem? It’s much like COVID, actually.
Me leaving hurts the company, hurts my employees, hurts the fighters. It doesn’t hurt me. I could have left in 2016. I don’t know. Do I need to reflect? No, I don’t need to reflect. The next morning when I woke up — you know what I mean? I’ve been against this. I’ve owned this. I’m telling you that I’m wrong."