Dana White’s Defiant Stance on UFC Sponsorship and Political Expression

UFC CEO Dana White, known for his outspoken nature, recently revealed a clash with a major UFC sponsor over a social media post supporting former president Donald Trump. During his appearance on comedian Theo Von’s podcast, White shared that he had faced demands from the sponsor to remove his video post about Trump, to which he responded with a firm

“Go fuck yourself.”

White, a long-time friend of Trump who spoke on his behalf at the 2016 Republican National Convention, asserted his right to personal political expression.

“You vote for whoever you want to vote for and I’ll vote for whoever I want to vote for,”

White stated, emphasizing the importance of individual freedom in the voting process. He strongly rejected any attempts by sponsors to influence his political stance.

Amidst this backdrop, White discussed the UFC’s ongoing success and its strong relationships with sponsors, noting that the organization’s record revenues allow him to be selective with partnerships. He stressed the importance of aligning with companies that share similar core values, rather than just focusing on monetary gain.

In addition to this incident, White also addressed criticism over the UFC’s multi-year sponsorship deal with Bud Light starting in 2024. Bud Light had come under fire for a social media promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which led to calls for boycotts from conservative commentators and a subsequent drop in sales. White defended the partnership with Bud Light, highlighting the company’s positive contributions, including its support for American veterans, their families, and U.S. farmers.

White remains unapologetic about his stance on sponsorship and political expression, maintaining that the UFC will continue to build partnerships based on shared values and principles, and not just financial considerations.