- Dana White discussed the connection between the UFC and Joe Rogan’s podcast’s success
- The UFC boss reflected on Donald Trump’s support for the UFC and vice versa
UFC president Dana White shared his thoughts on the UFC’s success, the rise of Joe Rogan’s podcast and Donald Trump’s long-standing relationship with the company.
UFC’s success is Joe’s success
Speaking to Forbes, the UFC boss acknowledged the undeniable success of Rogan and his podcast. White then linked it all to the loyalty that the UFC and Rogan have shared in recent years. Moreover, White attributed the podcast and the company’s constant success to their unwavering loyalty.
“Joe’s podcast was always big but then I think everything that’s happened over the past five or six years and the way certain people have dealt with it, that’s led us to where we are today,” White reflected.
“It’s fascinating. It wasn’t by design, it all just sort of happened,” he continued. “I think that all of us, what we all have accomplished, we’ve all stayed… Everything in life right now is about authenticity; who’s authentic? Who’s real? Who’s whatever. We’ve always stayed true to who we are and what we believe and no matter what type of pressure was out there we never folded to any of that. It just stays there, our core beliefs and values and who we are not only as people but as a business and as a sport and as a podcaster, Lorenzo [Fertitta] as a business owner… We are all viciously loyal to each other… If you don’t have loyalty what do you have?”
Trump has been a part of the UFC
In the same interview, White also reflected on Trump’s deep bond with the UFC which dates back to the early years of the promotion.
“He got it, he liked it, and he said, ‘Come to Taj Mahal,’” White said of the POTUS. “We did two events, he showed up to the first one and stayed to the last [fight].”
White also understood why Trump launched his own MMA promotion. However, it didn’t turn out to be a success. White said he never thought about badmouthing Trump even though his promotion was technically a competitor of the UFC at the time.
“I’ll never say anything bad about Donald Trump. Donald Trump was good to us but it’s a testament to how much he likes fighting and what he saw in the UFC back in those days,” the UFC executive said.
View this post on Instagram
Dana reads Trump’s text
White delighted the interviewer by taking him cageside at a UFC event. In the middle of their discussion, the UFC boss read a private text message from Trump aloud, demonstrating how supportive the POTUS has been of the UFC and Rogan.
“There are many bigger problems in the world right now that need to be fixed. I’ll catch the next fight “Tell Joe Rogan I said hi – Donald J. Trump,” White read to the interviewer while cageside at a UFC event.
Due to their love and passion for MMA, White and Trump have developed a great friendship over the years. In fact, the UFC boss even blasted Trump critics who are constantly bashing the president. Like White, Rogan has also been cool with Trump and all of them support each other’s endeavors.
Watch White’s full interview below:
