Dana White appeared on the Triggered podcast with Donald Trump Jr. this week and revealed that Vince McMahon once nixed a TV deal that would have seen the UFC partner up with NBCUniversal and USA Network.
When asked about his relationship with McMahon, White reiterated how McMahon’s WWE fought in the past with UFC due to McMahon looking at everyone as competition. White noted that McMahon was one of the people “who would f**king stick it to me for whatever reason.”
White then told a story he’s never publicly discussed before, revealing that UFC was close to signing with NBCUniversal, to air their events on NBC and the USA Network. UFC was so close to finalizing the deal, that White said they were “on the 1 yard line,” but due to WWE’s longterm partnership with NBCU, McMahon had the final say on whether or not another combat sports brand could air on the USA Network.
Former UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta flew to WWE HQ in Stamford, CT for a meeting with McMahon to get him to sign-off on the deal, and after some small talk, the TV deal was discussed. However, White noted that McMahon sat back in his chair and told Fertitta, “Yeah, I’m not going to do that.”
White was then asked why McMahon refused the deal. He claimed that McMahon said, “Eh, I’m not that interested in it. I don’t like the idea of you guys on USA Network.”
The deal falling apart led to UFC signing a 7-year deal with Fox in August 2011.
McMahon and White are now co-workers after Endeavor recently merged WWE and UFC to form the TKO Group. White added, “[McMahon] couldn’t be a better partner. He keeps me in the loop with everything going on, making sure I’m cool with decisions that could affect the UFC.”
Below is footage from the interview:
Dana White talks Vince McMahon.
Tells a story of how years ago McMahon was able to prevent the UFC from getting a deal with NBC.
Full podcast here:https://t.co/WQJoYlFH28 pic.twitter.com/OzH5BJQoOv— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 3, 2023