Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way during his time as head cheese of the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion (like this guy), perhaps most famously ex-light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz.
But even "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" knows what would happen without him, according to comments he made to SiriusXM Rush Fight Club (via MMA Fighting):
"I think the promotion would completely fail. I think it would crash and burn, that's my opinion. I think Dana does a great job with the promotion. Sometimes we don't agree on the same things but that's just between me and him. Like I say, it's a girlfriend-boyfriend type of relationship, him being the girlfriend of course. Dana does a great job with what he does and that's why the company is worth four billion dollars. Lorenzo [Fertitta] has stepped in and is doing an amazing job - from stepping down from Station Casinos - for what he does now. And giving the opportunity to Cris, I'm very thankful for that. But at the end of the day this is a business to them and if they're able to sell it off for four billion, do what's needed. I gave my heart and soul, blood, sweat, and tears to the company. I've gone on with my business and that's the way it is. I think if the Chinese company didn't bring Dana in it would crash and burn. It would be a lost cause but I guess it's up to Dana to make those decisions."
If there is $4 billion on the table, Uncle Dana is ready to talk.
Rumors have been swirling in recent weeks about a potential sale of UFC, with interest being shown from several Chinese-run financial conglomerates. White and ZUFFA top cop Lorenzo Fertitta insist they're here to stay, but that remains to be seen.
In the interim, blame this.