Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has shared some less than positive opinions about the Australian media landscape during a press conference following a Sydney UFC bout on the weekend.
The comments came after a newspaper article criticising White for an appearance with New South Wales (NSW) Labor Premier Chris Minns on a podcast.
“For a place that is so tough—everything on land and the water can kill you—you have the biggest [cowards] I have ever seen in the media in my life,” he told reporters.
“I saw a story where a guy was like, ‘I saw Dana do a podcast with the premier, and it physically made me sick.’
“You guys have to have the biggest [cowards] of all time in the media here.”
White, who has been a vocal supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, responded to claims that some UFC fighters hold opinions which could be considered controversial.
“We’re gonna take guys—and girls—that say a lot of things and do a lot of things,” White said.
“I’m a big believer in free speech and it probably seems worse when you come here because your media are such weak human beings.
Editorial Criticises UFC
The comments came after an editorial run in The Sydney Morning Herald, with editor Bevan Shields writing that it made him feel “physically sick” that the UFC boss appeared on the Straight Talk with Mark Bouris podcast with the NSW premier.Shields casts doubt on White’s character, referring to a video that appears to show him slapping his wife during an argument. She can also be seen slapping White in the video.
In addition, the editor comments on White’s promotion of UFC fighters with “appalling views on women, gays, and violence” and the general violent nature of the sport.
The Sydney Morning Herald was founded in 1831 and is one of the country’s oldest newspaper outlets. In recent decades, it has cultivated a more affluent, university educated readership with a focus on progressive issues.
UFC Financial Boost
The NSW government secured a series of three UFC events for Sydney in 2023, in a partnership with the mixed martial arts organisation.According to the NSW government, the sporting events injected millions into the local economy by promoting Sydney and encouraging travellers.
“This government has a laser-sharp focus to ensure we continue securing a calendar of exclusive, diverse and unmissable events to boost our visitor economy, support local businesses and create more jobs, and that’s exactly what these UFC events will do,” Minns said when the plans were first announced in 2023.
The first Sydney event, held in September 2023, sold out in just 13 minutes.
With more than half of the 18,000-plus crowd coming from overseas or interstate, the initial event alone generated $15.3 million, nearly as much as the reported $16 million invested by government.
