UFC boss Dana White has admitted that a lifetime of combat sports training has left him with ‘black spots’ on his brain.
The renowned promotional boss used to fight in his youth, and became a kickboxing coach before taking over the UFC in 2002. He is now CEO of the company, which is valued at $12.3billion under the TKO banner.
But while promoting his new endeavor Power Slap, he has come under criticism for promoting unnecessary damage being done to competitors. He has hit back, noting the dangers of other combat sports.
Dana White vehemently defends Power Slap safetyFans of UFC have been relentlessly targeted with promotional materials for Power Slap in the past year since the promotion was introduced by Dana White. He has helped to have the sport legalised in Nevada, with a major event planned next month in Abu Dhabi.
But as the sport rapidly grows in viewership, criticism has followed across the board. Many are concerned that the nature of the game, where contestants must slap one another to the point of knocking the other out, is wildly unsafe even by standards set in MMA where he made his fortune.
But White disagrees, telling TIME Magazine: “Getting punched in the head, or slapped in the head, or heading a ball, or hitting with helmets in football, it’s bad for you,. So as a grown adult living in America, you have the right to choose what you want to do.
“If you want to play soccer and head a ball, you want to play football from peewee to college and take the head blows that you do, or if you want to go out and professionally fight, there are inherent risks.
“What I try to do is, I make sure that I spend all the money that I possibly can to take as much risk out of it as possible for the health and safety and the life of the people who complete.”
Dana White claims to have ‘black spots’ on his brain after fighting in his youthPrior to becoming one of the most renowned promoters in combat sports, Dana White competed and trained in boxing. He coached before moving into MMA as a manager and eventually the CEO of the UFC, and now claims to be feeling the effects at age of 55.
In the same TIME Magazine feature, he noted that brain scans have indicated he appears to have some degree of damage from his years fighting. “I used to box when I was younger,” White explained in response to the critiques.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC“I went in and I did one of those brain studies. I have black spots all over my brain from what I did. I wouldn’t take back one punch. Not one. The position that I’m in right here, right now, today, I wouldn’t take one punch back because I loved it that much.
“And the doctors all talk about, ‘Somebody could die’… I got news for all the doctors. We’re all goingto die. How do you want to live your life? What do you love and what are you passionate about?
“People always ask me, what if your daughter wanted to fight? If she really loved it, am I going to tell her no? It’s what she wants to do.”
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