Dana White was born in Manchester, Connecticut, and spent most of his life in Las Vegas, Nevada. He developed a passion for boxing and competed as an amateur boxer. White later opened gyms and created workout programs that combined boxing and aerobics.
He attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he met and became friends with fellow boxing fan Lorenzo Fertitta. Along with his older brother Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo became a boxing fan from attending events with their father, Frank Fertitta Jr., a successful former casino executive.
At a wedding in 1995, White reunited with Lorenzo Fertitta, who had just taken over casino operations from their father. White, who was managing boxers and a few Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters, introduced Lorenzo to the sport of MMA. Lorenzo and his brother Frank were impressed and decided to invest in the sport.
White became the manager of MMA fighters Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, friends and training partners who would compete in one of the first major MMA promotions, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). White's success with Liddell and Ortiz led to an agreement with International Fighting Championships (IFC) to sell sponsorship on their behalf.
In 2001, Zuffa LLC was formed by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III, with White as the President. Zuffa bought the UFC for $2 million and White stopped managing Ortiz and Liddell as a result of his new executive role. Under White's leadership, the UFC grew in popularity and became a global phenomenon.
White became known for his aggressive and outspoken personality, often criticizing his own fighters and rivals. He was also known for his ability to promote fights and events, and his charismatic presence in the media.
Throughout his career, White has been involved in several controversies, including a public feud with former UFC fighter Tito Ortiz, and a ban on Affliction from sponsoring UFC events. He has also been criticized for his treatment of some fighters, including Jon Fitch, who was released from his contract after refusing to sign away the lifetime rights to his image for a UFC video game.
In 2014, White reached an agreement with Reebok for them to be the exclusive sponsor of UFC fighter attire during competition and select promotional appearances. The deal was criticized by some fighters, who felt they would lose money without their own sponsors.
In 2016, White's company, Zuffa, was sold to William Morris Endeavor-International Management Group (WME-IMG) for $4 billion. White retained his title as President and minority ownership of the company.
