UFC head honcho Dana White has been under fire by the MMA community ever since a video released by TMZ showed that on New Year’s Eve, the bossman slapped his wife twice during an altercation at a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas.
White quickly responded by delivering a lengthy apology, but fans and fighters are still waiting for some kind of repercussions for his actions. However, it appears that the UFC, their broadcast partner ESPN, and the promotion’s parent company Endeavor are content to keep quiet and hope the whole thing simply blows over.
Andy Nesbitt of USA Today Sports revealed that after multiple attempts to get a comment from Endeavor, he was able to speak with Maura McGreevy, a senior vice president of corporate communications for Endeavor. McGreevy reportedly “declined to comment” and refused to discuss the subject further.
SHOCKING FOOTAGE!!! UFC President and Power Slap Fighting League owner Dana White slapping his wife up in a night club. pic.twitter.com/PBXagE3Fi4
— Matt, Brunch Boxing CEO & Host #MrOneTake (@izdatyofaceee) January 3, 2023
Dana White Condemned Domestic Violence in 2014
Earlier this week, it appeared that White may finally face the consequences of his action with the reported cancellation of the Power Slap League which was scheduled to debut on TBS on Wednesday, January 11. Multiple outlets assumed the network had pulled the plug following backlash. In the end, TBS simply opted to move the debut of the program to the following week.
With ESPN employees instructed not to comment, TBS still backing Dana White’s latest passion project, and Endeavor conducting business as usual, it’s looking less and less likely that the UFC president will face any real consequences for an action that he himself condemned in 2014.
In 2014, Dana White was asked to comment on former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice who had been arrested for assaulting his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer.
“There’s one thing that you never bounce back from, and that’s putting your hands on a woman. Been that way in the UFC since we started here. You don’t bounce back from putting your hands on a woman” (h/t MMA Fighting)