CNN
Dana White, president of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), said that he doesn’t expect to be punished after a video was released earlier in the month showing him and his wife having a physical altercation. White made these comments Wednesday during a media conference for UFC Fight Night 217.
White answered the question “What should the repercussions of the company be?” Please tell me. You take off 30 days? Is that really a problem?
“Me quitting hurts the company, my employees, and the fighters. It doesn’t affect me.
What is my punishment? Here’s what I will do: I will walk for as long as I live. This is how I am labeled right now.
“The punishment is that it was done, and I must deal with it.”
The video was obtained by TMZ. It shows White and Anne arguing, before they exchange slaps in a Cabo San Lucas nightclub on New Year’s Eve. White and his wife have not been charged with any criminal offenses in connection to the incident.
White claimed that conversations were held between him, Endeavor chief executive officer and UFC owner Ari Emanuel and broadcaster ESPN about what action was appropriate.
The 53-year old said that there have been many internal discussions – with Ari and with ESPN – but nobody is happy. “Nobody is happy about this. It’s not me. It happened.
White said that he wasn’t looking for excuses and reiterated his stand on domestic violence.
“There is no excuse… There’s no defense and people shouldn’t be defending me over it, no matter how.”
The California Legislative Women’s Caucus sent an open letter Monday to Emanuel, Endeavor, and urged White to be removed as president of the UFC.
“Given Mr White’s past remarks against domestic violence, we believe that Endeavor, the UFC, and this commitment to safety respect and accountability,” reads the letter.
“And yet, we saw the UFC president Dana White’s video, in which he hits his wife during a New Years Eve celebration… We were shocked. It was shocking to say the very least. You have remained silent in the days that passed since the video was made public.
“We demand the immediate resignation of Mr White, president of UFC.”
CNN reached out Endeavor for comment, but did not receive a response immediately.
ESPN did not respond to a request for comment. They stated that they had been covering the story since its inception on their platforms and would continue to do so.
TBS delayed the premiere by one week of Power Slap: Road to the Title, a reality series created by Dana White. TBS and CNN are both part of Warner Bros. Discovery network.
