Dana White says UFC followers shouldn’t abandon the game in the event that they don’t like Trump: ‘We can all still just get along’ | EUROtoday

Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White says he hopes politics is not conserving followers away from his fight sports activities league.

During an interview with CBS News, White — who’s pals with President Donald Trump and has been publicly supportive of him throughout campaigns — mentioned he hopes followers will simply be “authentic” and never let their political opinions get in the best way of having fun with the UFC.

“Just be authentic,” he informed CBS Sunday Morning in an interview that can air later this week. “You don’t have to agree with me, and you don’t have to like it, and I don’t have to agree with you, but we can all still just get along. That’s how this is supposed to work.”

CBS News’ dad or mum firm, Paramount, lately secured a 7-year, $7.7 billion deal to be the unique broadcaster for all UFC occasions.

White has hosted Trump at his occasions, has spoken at a number of Republican National Conventions, and managed to snag a seat at Trump’s second inauguration. His closeness with the present president is not any secret, however the UFC boss insists that he respects the president, no matter who occupies the Oval Office.

Despite that insistence, it is clear the Trump and White have a relationship that extends past simply enterprise. According to White, he speaks to Trump as soon as a month, they usually do not speak politics.

“I don’t talk politics with him,” White informed the Wall Street Journal. “And the only time I talk business with him is fights.”

According to that report, he has a portray of slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in his workplace and was gifted a pair of handguns by Kid Rock, who lately appeared in a weird shirtless exercise video with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr.

In June, White and his operation can be nearer to the White House than ever earlier than. The UFC will host a battle on the South Lawn of the White House on Trump’s eightieth birthday, June 14, as a part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. White mentioned he has confirmed the occasion is going on with the Trump household.

“So, the fighters will walk out of the Oval Office to come to the Octagon,” he informed CBS News’ 60 Minutes in November. It’s unclear if that’s nonetheless the plan.

According to Mark Shapiro — the president and COO of TKO Group, which owns UFC and World Wrestling Entertainment — TKO is definitely anticipating to lose cash on the White House occasion.

During a fourth-quarter earnings name on Wednesday, Shapiro mentioned that firm was most likely going to lose “in the neighborhood of $30 million” on the White House occasion, Sporty reviews. He mentioned the chance can be a “one-timers.”

The White House battle is predicted to price UFC roughly $60 million. He justified the loss to shareholders by calling the occasion an “investment for the long term.”

“We will not profit from the White House event independently,” Shapiro mentioned in the course of the name. “We will not be making money on America’s 250th anniversary. This is an investment for the long term. This is about earned media.”

White mentioned his major focus for the upcoming White House battle can be placing on an excellent present up up-and-coming expertise.

“My focus is to find the best up-and-coming talent in the world, do the best matchmaking to put on the best fights possible, give people the best live event in-house and on TV,” he mentioned.

“And as long as I don’t mess those up, it’s tough to blow it.”