Just last year, the UFC promotion was sold to WME-IMG for a hefty sum of $4 billion. While UFC President Dana White scored $360 million from the deal, the president had no interest in leaving the company. Instead, he signed a five year contract.
On The Exchange, as transcribed by MMA Mania, Dana White explained that he would have signed a 55 year deal, if he could.
“I couldn’t do that (walk away). I’m in, man. I love this. I’m not going anywhere. Everybody keeps asking me, ‘You signed a five-year deal?’ I signed a five-year deal because you have to sign a deal. I would have signed a 55-year deal.” He said.
While the president admitted that he would have signed a longer deal, he also mentioned that nothing is forcing him to work that length of time. “At the end of the day, it’s not like, oh, you have a five-year deal, you have to work for five years. Nobody can make you work. If I said (expletive) it; I’m done. I’m not going to do it anymore. I could get up and walk out of here right now. Nobody can make me work. So no matter what you sign, you’re either here because you want to be here or you’re not,” He stated.
The president finished his thoughts by explaining that he was never in it for the money. “I want to continue to put on badass fights and break records. I said it a long time ago, this has the potential to be the biggest sport in the world. We have more potential now to reach more people, so that the world can see the fights. I don’t even think about the money,” he said. “It’s not what I’m in it for. I was never in this for the money, ever.” White said.
