Dana White has spoken about his future in the UFC and his relationship with WME-IMG head honcho Ari Emanuel in a new sit-down interview with Megan Olivi on Fight Pass.
During the interview, White revealed that the UFC could actually have sold for more than the $4.2 billion that WME-IMG eventually forked out for it.
“Let me be honest with you, when we were doing this deal there were two groups that came in for more money than Ari [Emanuel],” White stated. “There was one for $5 billion.”
So, why didn’t they go with that? White claims that it was White and the Fertitta Brothers belief that Emanuel was the right man to take the UFC to the next level that convinced them to take his offer.
“There’s people who I believe add value. One of the million things I respect about the Fertitta’s, they weren’t just going to let this thing go for the money. They were going to make sure it went to somebody who could actually take it and bring it to the next level.
“Ari is one of these guys, he’s got huge balls, he’s very smart, and he has laid out a really great plan for the sport. The vision that Ari has for it right now, I am on board and I love it.”
With the Fertitta brothers having now left the company and there being so much upheaval in the UFC’s backroom staff since WME-IMG took over, there has been suggestions that perhaps White’s desire to stick around long-term may have diminished, but judging on his lastest comments that doesn’t appear to be the case.
“Me and Ari could not be in a better place. I could not be a bigger believer in what we’re going to do over the next five years and what these guys bring to the table. I’m in. I love this. I’m not going anywhere.”
