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UFC CEO Dana White, the visionary who transformed mixed martial arts into a global phenomenon, has finally revealed the combat sports legend he holds in the highest regard—and it’s not Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov, or even Conor McGregor. For decades, White has championed MMA fighters, providing them a platform to showcase their skills to millions worldwide.
While his respect for UFC stars is well-documented, the mogul recently peeled back the curtain on a lifelong admiration for a trailblazer who predates the Octagon’s rise—a figure he calls the “greatest thing to ever happen” to combat sports.
Why Dana White calls this boxing legend his ultimate hero
Long before helming the UFC’s meteoric rise, Dana White was a die-hard boxing enthusiast. His passion for the sweet science began in his youth, eventually leading him to work as Mark Wahlberg’s personal boxing trainer in the 1990s.
Now, decades later, White is circling back to his roots by launching a boxing league, set to debut with the blockbuster Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford clash in September. But when pressed to name his all-time favorite fighter during a 2017 press scrum, Dana White’s answer transcended eras and disciplines.
The unrivaled titan
The icon in question? None other than boxing’s “Baddest Man on the Planet,” Mike Tyson. White, rarely one to mince words, left no ambiguity about Tyson’s impact.
“Obviously, Tyson is the greatest thing to ever happen, in my lifetime, as a fan of combat sports,” he declared. The UFC boss, who’s shared a friendship with Tyson for years, added: “I’m still in f—ing awe when he’s in the room.”
For White, Tyson’s raw power, cultural magnetism, and unfiltered persona redefined what it meant to be a combat athlete.
Tyson’s influence on White’s UFC blueprint
Though Tyson never fought in MMA, his aura shaped Dana White’s approach to promoting stars. The UFC chief has often mirrored Tyson’s ability to blend brutality with showmanship, turning fighters like McGregor into crossover superstars. Mike Tyson’s fearlessness—both in and out of the ring—also mirrors White’s own bold business tactics, from securing the UFC’s survival during near-bankruptcy to orchestrating the Mayweather-McGregor spectacle in 2017.
A mutual respect
The admiration isn’t one-sided. Tyson has frequently praised White’s revolution of MMA, calling the UFC a “beast” under his leadership. Their bond deepened when Mike Tyson presented White with the Boxing Promoter of the Year award in 2023, symbolizing the synergy between boxing’s past and MMA’s future.
Legacy beyond the ring
White’s reverence for Tyson underscores a broader truth: Combat sports’ legends aren’t confined by disciplines. Tyson’s influence bridged boxing’s golden age and MMA’s modern era, inspiring a generation of fighters to embrace their larger-than-life personas. For Dana White, whose UFC empire thrives on storytelling and star power, Tyson remains the ultimate blueprint.
In an era where MMA and boxing often clash for supremacy, White’s homage to Mike Tyson is a nod to shared roots. It’s a reminder that greatness in combat sports isn’t about belts or promotions—it’s about leaving an indelible mark on the world. And for White, no one left a deeper imprint than Iron Mike.
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