Back in the early 2000s, Dana White and his childhood friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta took control of the UFC when it was on life support. The promotion bled money, sat buried in debt, and faced an uncertain future. White vowed not only to make the UFC profitable but to turn it into a global powerhouse. Three decades later, that vow became reality. Under White’s leadership, the UFC transformed from a fringe spectacle into a billion-dollar empire. Even after selling the company, he kept his grip tight.
The UFC didn’t just survive; it exploded across continents and became one of the most recognizable brands in sports. But empires don’t shine forever. Today, cracks are showing, and for the first time in years, fans are wondering if the UFC has lost the very spark that made it a phenomenon. The issues are mounting fast. With no Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, or Brock Lesnar to draw mainstream attention, the UFC lacks a true megastar. Ticket prices have soared by an eye-popping 4,300%, while Dana White has shifted focus toward boxing, the upcoming UFC White House event, and closer ties with Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
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Politics in MMA spark warning signs for Dana White
At the same time, oversaturation is sapping excitement, with cards running nearly every weekend but offering fewer compelling matchups. MMA analyst Luke Thomas has called these developments a ‘wake-up call’ for White and the entire industry. In his recent YouTube video, Why Fans Are Leaving MMA For Good, Thomas told internet personality Reese Waters, “I cannot tell you how many people have written me to say that they’re leaving the sport. They can’t take it anymore. They’re done. It is unbelievable to me to have lived long enough to see MMA—and this is where you came in, based on what you’re telling me—when there was a point in time where MMA was new and exciting.”
The shift has left hardcore fans restless. Pay-per-view numbers remain solid, but the buzz, the electricity that once made fight weeks feel like cultural events, has thinned. Even UFC Fight Nights, once breeding grounds for breakout stars, are being described as “content filler” rather than must-watch combat.
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The heavyweight division proves the point. Once the crown jewel of combat sports, it stalled for years because Jon Jones stayed sidelined. Too many fight nights now feel like filler, with cards built out of obligation instead of passion. Politics only deepened the divide. The UFC’s ties to Donald Trump and the MAGA movement pushed away a chunk of its fanbase and chipped at the sport’s once-inclusive image. That’s why Thomas’ reminder hits so hard. MMA once carried a clear mission.
“It had a particular mission,” Luke Thomas continued, “we know what we have is great, and we know what we have can be big, and we’re going to prove it to you. We’re going to prove skeptics wrong. We’re going to prove to you we can bring in women, and it’s going to be some of the biggest fights ever. We’re going to prove we can take this internationally. We’re going to prove we can do big ratings on TV. We’re going to prove we’re for young kids, men, women, gay, straight, tall, short, white, Black—you name it.”
But Thomas isn’t just reminiscing about the glory days. He’s pointing to a problem that’s growing louder every fight night: the messy mix of politics and the UFC. Dana White’s decades-long ties to Donald Trump have become impossible to ignore, and fans are noticing. The result? A fractured audience. Some fight fans feel frustrated because partisan debates are pulling their beloved sport in.
Dana White shares latest update on UFC White House event
July 2026 might feel far off, but Dana White, UFC matchmakers, and the White House team are already rolling out plans for the first-ever UFC White House event. In fact, the blueprint began taking shape back in July, when President Donald Trump confirmed he would host the inaugural card on the eve of the 250th anniversary of American independence. Meanwhile, the card is already turning heads. Conor McGregor and Jon Jones have both signaled interest, adding star power to what promises to be a premium UFC event.
Although White hasn’t announced any fights or official dates yet, he says preparations are moving full steam ahead, and the event is starting to take shape. Recently, during Canelo vs. Crawford fight week in Las Vegas, White offered a glimpse of what fight night will look like. “We’re building this arch… and the lighting grid will go above the octagon. So when we shoot this fight, this whole backdrop will be the White House. And when the cameras move over, it’s all the Washington Monument,” revealed the UFC CEO.
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The vision is grand, almost cinematic, but it underscores how White’s priorities have shifted. Rather than doubling down on building the next generation of UFC stars, he’s orchestrating political theatre on the sport’s biggest stage. For some, it’s innovation. For others, it’s dilution.
With the UFC now heavily focused on the White House event—and White increasingly investing his attention in boxing—questions are emerging about the promotion’s future. Will this shift in focus impact the UFC’s growth and momentum? Share your thoughts below.