Dana White revealed his favorite UFC moment in 2022.
The outspoken American has been a crucial figure in transforming MMA into a multi-billion-dollar industry since he took the reins of the UFC in 2001.
Almost 25 years later, he has witnessed countless brutal knockouts, slick submissions, and wild moments that have propelled MMA to become the fastest-growing sport on the planet. Remarkably, he has managed to choose just one knockout as his all-time favorite.
Dana White loved watching Tito Ortiz lose.
Before assuming the role of UFC president, Dana White managed both Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell after Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta purchased the premier MMA promotion.
However, managing fighters while also promoting events posed a conflict of interest, leading White to relinquish his top clients upon becoming the UFC’s leader. The relationship soured significantly afterward, particularly following an infamous scuffle on a private jet between Ortiz and White, which escalated after Ortiz defeated Ken Shamrock at UFC 40 in November 2002.
Negotiations for a match between Ortiz and White for a Liddell fight quickly fell apart. Eventually, they entered the Octagon, where Liddell achieved a victory by knockout in just two rounds during UFC 47. A rematch two years later resulted in another stoppage win for Liddell.
Despite Liddell’s success, White’s feud with Ortiz continued, nearly culminating in a boxing match between the two in 2007, which ultimately fell through when Ortiz failed to show for the weigh-in.
Eighteen years after Liddell’s initial knockout victory over Ortiz, White expressed immense joy as he declared it his ‘favorite moment’ in UFC history. During an interview with GQ Sports in 2022, White stated, “When Chuck Liddell knocked Tito Ortiz out, that was my favorite, favorite moment that has ever happened in UFC history.”
Dana White reveals stacked card will kick off 2025.
White is set to wrap up a successful 2024 with UFC 310 on Saturday night. The 55-year-old has already shared his intentions to keep the momentum going into next year.
UFC 311 is scheduled for January 18 at the Intuit Dome in California. On Wednesday evening, White confirmed that the main event of his first pay-per-view of 2025 will feature a rematch between lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.
Additionally, the bantamweight world title will be on the line in the co-main event, with the Georgian powerhouse Merab Dvalishvili facing off against the undefeated Russian, Umar Nurmagomedov.
Other exciting matchups already announced for UFC 311 include Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill, Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac, and Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder.
It’s a lineup so impressive that even Ortiz might have a hard time criticizing it, although it’s likely he would attempt to, considering his long-standing rivalry with White still persists after all these years.
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