Dana White expressed satisfaction at seeing a former UFC fighter knocked out because of the annoyance the fighter caused him. As the president of the UFC since 2001, White has played a crucial role in the organization’s rise to global prominence.
Before his tenure as president, he worked as a manager, representing fighters like Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, both of whom became light heavyweight champions and had a storied rivalry inside the Octagon.
Despite working closely with both Ortiz and Liddell, White also had a feud with Ortiz, which once led to a physical altercation on a plane. When Liddell knocked out Ortiz in Las Vegas, White took pleasure in the victory and even collected Liddell’s gear as a souvenir, hanging it up in his house.
White recalled the moment, stating, “When Chuck Liddell knocked Tito Ortiz out, that was my favorite thing that has ever happened in UFC history.”
The tension between White and Ortiz was palpable, leading to a proposed boxing match in 2007 that never materialized after Ortiz failed to show up for the weigh-ins. Despite their past animosity, Ortiz has expressed openness to making amends with White, acknowledging that life is too short for grudges.
While Ortiz expressed regret over his previous stance of never fighting in the UFC again, he remains hopeful that reconciliation with White is possible.
