Back in 2001, when boxing reigned supreme in the combat sports world, Dana White spotted immense potential in a struggling organization catering to MMA fans. At the time, White, a manager and close friend to fighters Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, reached out to his friend Lorenzo Fertitta, an executive and co-founder of Station Casinos, for support in acquiring the UFC. Trusting White’s vision, Lorenzo and his brother Frank purchased the bankrupt UFC from Semaphore Entertainment Group for a mere $2 million, creating Zuffa LLC to run the promotion. Fast forward to 2025: UFC has become a global powerhouse, dominating the combat sports scene in ways no one could have imagined. Dana White’s two decades at the helm have been nothing short of transformative. But now, whispers of change are swirling. Rumors suggest White might finally pass the torch to Hunter Campbell. Confused? You’re not alone.
“I will never retire, ever. I will keep dogging this out until the day I drop dead,” Dana White declared during a conversation with Tucker Carlson on his podcast back in February. While this statement made it clear that he had no plans to retire anytime soon, things appear to have changed drastically, and rumors of his retirement have resurfaced once again.
Amid the buzz, UFC insider Josh Thomson has stepped forward to share his insights on what this potential leadership shift could mean for the future of the promotion. While having a conversation on the ‘Weighing-In’ podcast, Thomson asserted that Dana White might be thinking about spending time with his family more and more, and this might be the reason why the UFC CEO is in a mood for a change, “Also, I think that he’s got—he’s got his kids getting older. I believe one of his sons plays football at Bishop Gorman, and there are commitments.”
He further added, “Like he said, and he’s talked about his staff as well. If you’ve got kids that have a performance or they’ve got a game that night, I better not get you at work. And that’s one thing I admire about Dana now. I don’t know—I would imagine it’s true.”
MMA: UFC Fight Night-Johnson vs Reis, Apr 15, 2017 Kansas City, MO, USA UFC President Dana White following the Demetrious Johnson not pictured and Wilson Reis not pictured fight during UFC Fight Night at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports, 15.04.2017 21:15:30, 10015017, UFC Fight Night, Wilson Reis, Demetrious Johnson, Sprint Center, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xRonxChenoyx 10015017
Why are there rumors about him considering retirement? The UFC has been going through a rough phase recently, due to its tumultuous relationship with ESPN and the growing criticism over substandard fight cards. On top of that, Dana White’s limited presence at UFC press conferences these days has further fueled the speculation.
In addition to that, the fact that Hunter Campbell is gradually stepping into Dana White’s shoes makes it increasingly obvious that the UFC CEO might be phoning it in. Further doubling down on his statement, Josh Thomson gave us more indicators that White might be thinking about it.
UFC insider believes Dana White is contemplating retiring from UFC
Apart from a few press conferences, Dana White has missed most of the media briefings this year, including some crucial events such as the UFC 315 post-fight presser. Additionally, Hunter Campbell’s steadfast approach—traveling to the UAE and Dagestan to advocate for Islam Makhachev amidst the chaos—has proven to be a game-changer, not only for Campbell but for Dana White as well.
Co-host Angelo Bordetti, in his conversation, added, “Hunter Campbell has stepped up. He’s able to do most of it. And now Dana can just be a normal human being. Because that dude, love him or hate him, and all the drama and all the negativity around different narratives.”
He further added, “That dude carried the sport on his back for years, just doing everything possible to build it up, and now it’s finally built, and maybe he’s just taking a deep breath.”
While the UFC CEO is yet to comment on these rumours, there’s no denying that he might not be contemplating retiring after decades of faithful service to the organization. Given that, what are your thoughts on the hubbub? State your opinion in the comments below.
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