Dana White, the CEO of UFC, is widely recognized for his professional role in the fighting world. However, he occasionally steps into different roles on TV and podcasts. In a notable moment leading up to UFC 298 in February, White stirred up headlines by abruptly leaving a podcast hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, citing fatigue from doing too many podcasts.
It later came to light that the entire departure was a setup at Mandel’s request, who White had only just met earlier that day.
Appearing on the Flagrant podcast, White disclosed that he had agreed to stage the walkout on Mandel’s podcast as a friendly gesture, especially since they had hit it off earlier in the day. Nonetheless, White decided to shed light on the true nature of the incident when some fans at a different event began making negative remarks about Mandel, assuming they were supporting White.
White made it clear that Mandel had done nothing wrong and should not bear any repercussions from fans. He expressed his admiration for Mandel and emphasized that the walkout was simply part of a planned scenario. Ultimately, White felt compelled to step in and defend Mandel against any unwarranted criticism that arose from the staged exit.
