Chatri Sityodtong, CEO of ONE FC, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Asia, is very much open to fighting the UFC’s president, Dana White. In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Chatri Sityodtong praised Dana White’s business acumen but was dismissive of the UFC president’s fighting credentials.
“I think he is an outstanding businessman. I don’t necessarily agree with the way he does things, but obviously he’s built UFC into a phenomenal company, there’s no ifs, ands, or buts.
ONE FC CEO Wants to Fight Dana White
But I don’t think he knows anything about martial arts, I don’t think he knows anything about fighting. I think he’s a fan, so I have differences.
I come from the martial arts community, I come from the martial arts background and how I treat my athletes, they are my peers. I come from the community, it’s very, very different.
I think if you’ve never been punched in the face or choked out, you can disrespect people publicly [with your comments]. But if you have had lifelong hard training… I just say we have stylistic differences. I don’t particularly respect the way he talks down to athletes.”
Dana White, ever since he bought into the UFC with the Fertitta brothers near the turn of the century, has been the public face of the organization. In many ways, he is as synonymous with mixed martial arts as Vince McMahon is with pro wrestling, for better or worse.
White has faced serious criticism in recent years for his brash persona, public rivalries, and his dismissive attitude toward paying his fighters.
Sityodtong is open to a fight with the controversial UFC figure because they’re the same age, and while Dana enjoys the high life, the ONE FC CEO is a lifelong devotee of various martial arts. “I’m a lifelong martial artist.
I’ve been doing muay Thai for 35 years and I’m a jiu-jitsu brown belt, I train five, six times a week. If there’s a fight with someone my age, why not? I’m 50, turning 51 this year. I train five, six days a week, one or two hours every day.”
Dana White is unlikely to put on his gloves and fight, but far, far stranger things have happened in the world of MMA lately. Cross-promotional superfights were an occasional highlight of the early MMA years, and may well offer fans a spectacle in the future.
Would you want to see the battle of the bosses? Let us know in the comments.
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