Dana White is one of the main faces in global sport and the kingpin behind the UFC.
The trash-talking company president is the key man behind creating the biggest MMA events and fights and has been instrumental in keeping the UFC action coming despite all the issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
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He worked tirelessly behind the scenes in 2020 to keep fights coming for the fans despite the ongoing problems that have come with the COVID-19 lockdown.
He is set to mastermind another blockbuster with Conor McGregor v Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 this weekend.
But who exactly is White and how did he become one of the main figures in world sport?
Who is Dana White?
Dana Frederick White Jr was born in Manchester, Connecticut, in 1969.
He was raised by his mother and her family for the majority of his childhood and took up boxing when he was 17.
He graduated fromHermon High SchoolinMainein 1987 before going on to begin his career in top-level sport.
How did Dan White get into the UFC?
White worked as manager for fighters Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell before hearing the UFC was looking for a new buyer.
He got in touch with childhood friend Lorenzo Fertitta, who was an executive at Station Casinos, and in January 2001, Lorenzo and his older brother Frank bought the UFC for $2million, installing White as president.
It was a struggle at first, but a last throw of the dice saw them introduce reality show The Ultimate Fighter in 2005 where Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar's thrilling fight in the finale won a new audience.
In 2016, The UFC was sold to a group of private investors for over $4billion, with reports White will get 9 per cent of all future profit.
What is Dan White's net worth?
White's net worth stands at an estimated $500million.
With him getting 9 per cent of the UFC's profits, he makes around £18million a year just from that too.
While the COVID-19 crisis would have had an impact on his earnings, White's successes in keeping UFC action will have majorly helped.
What is Meniere's Disease?
White has suffered from Meniere's disease in the past - a disorder of the inner ear that causes ringing and vertigo.
In 2013 he underwent a stem cell procedure in Germany, and now says his Meniere's Disease is '100 per cent cured'.
White said: "I am 100 per cent a new guy, man. I’m working out again. I’m doing all the things that I used to do. I’m travelling. My life is back.
"All they do is they go in there, they take your blood, they incubate it, they spin it and add stuff to it. I don’t know what the hell they do, I’m no scientist. I’m a million bucks now, man. I couldn’t feel better."
Dana White saved his daughter from English Bullmastiff attack during UFC 192 main event between Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson
What has Dana White said?
The love/hate relationship between Dana White and Conor McGregor is seemingly on the right side of the fence again despite their difficulties in recent years.
“We were in a really bad place then,” White toldESPN.
“I was really upset. It wasn’t because he put out private messages. It was (because) we were talking about another fighter. I like Diego Sanchez a lot and I have a lot of respect for Diego Sanchez. I care about Diego Sanchez.
“I was very upset about that. I talked to Diego face-to-face about it. Being the great human being that he is, we’re all good. Then I was really, really upset with Conor.
“Conor and I fixed that and we talked and we got through it. We’re in a good place now.
“There’s nothing more exciting or more fun than a motivated Conor McGregor when his head is in the right place.
“You can tell when he is, and you can tell when he isn’t. Right now, you can tell he’s in.
“If something happens to Dustin Poirier, he is the Conor McGregor right now that does not give a s*** who we put in that fight on that night. He’s that guy right now.”
Conor McGregor takes on Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on Fight Island this weekend. The action will get under way in the early hours of Sunday morning and talkSPORT.com is in AbuDhabi to bring you all the thrills and spills LIVE!
