Dana White, King of MMA

knew changed into someone who is egotistical, self-centered, arrogant, and cruel. I
liken Dana’s transformation to that of Precious in Lord of the Rings. Just as the ring
of power changed that fictional character, Dana’s power and wealth have changed
him into someone I do not recognize.
Dana’s family and friends were always there to help and support him no matter
what the circumstances. As Dana’s success grew and the circumstances of life
changed for him, he did not do the same for them. Dana went from being a true
friend, a good son, and a truly nice person to being a vindictive tyrant who lacks any
feelings for how he treats others. It is hard to say if what changed him so utterly was
the extreme amount of money he came into so quickly, the influence of those around
him, or how suddenly he could make or break so many people. Power can create ugly
beasts. In meetings that were not going Dana’s way, he has told me, he would stand
up at the conference table, (creating a psychological advantage), holler, and swear at
individuals he was dealing with. He would tell them, “I’ll bury you!” Dana has a very
short fuse and it does not take a whole lot to set him off on a totally out-of-control
tirade. These days he always gets what he wants, no matter what it takes to get it.
His employees will echo that same powerful statement: he will do whatever it takes
to get what he wants.
A good deal of Dana’s power obviously comes from the extraordinary amount of
money he has acquired in the last few years. When you have that much money,
everyone wants to be your friend, your pal, your buddy, a member of your entourage.
True friends are the ones that were there before the houses, cars, planes, fancy trips,
and extravagant parties. True friends are the ones who would share a peanut butter
sandwich with you when your refrigerator was empty and so were your pockets.
As early as when the UFC had just begun to turn around and the company was
making a profit, I could see changes in Dana that bothered me. I would always tell
him, “Keep your feet on the ground. Remember who you are and where you came
from. Don’t let your head get so big you can’t fit through a doorway.”
He always responded the same way: “You do not have to ever worry about that.”
These negative changes in Dana became more and more noticeable. I kept hoping
Dana would recognize that he was becoming a different person, that there seemed to