Admitting to a “Tough” Pill He Had to Swallow, Dana White Confesses the Truth About His Relationship With Ronda Rousey – “Would Come to My House for Christmas and…”

Published 12/27/2023, 5:55 AM EST

Dana White has been the head of the UFC for a long time now. So it’s only natural that the CEO looks back at days that were different and more personal. In an old episode of This Past Weekend with Theo Von, White got a little emotional about the fighters he had to part ways with while recalling how they would meet at his house for the holidays. White talked about the bond he shared with his fighters especially how close he was with former UFC Champion Ronda Rousey.

It’s always a teary moment for the UFC head honcho to think about all the friends he made that had to leave. He detailed how watching Khabib Nurmagomedov retire so early in his career was difficult and also mentioned how Rousey’s departure was a “tough one.”

Dana White says he and Ronda Rousey were “super close”

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Dana White appeared on Theo Von’s show to speak of a bunch of things. It was on the 14th of November, 2023, that Von asked White “is it hard not to get attached to someone” while talking about how it felt to let his fighters go. Retirements can be tough when you’re one “big family”, and it can also be tough to watch your family members fight. But for the UFC supremo, it was pretty routine.

White said, “100%. Especially in the early days. We were like a big family. It was like everybody knew everybody. When you go back to Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, you know I mean that whole group back then. I mean these people would come to my house for Christmas and Thanksgiving and you know, holidays and things like that . . . and Ronda Rousey. Ronda and I are super close and that (retirement) was a tough one.”

Von struck a nerve when he asked if a retirement “broke” his heart. While Nurmagomedov’s retirement was at the top of White’s mind, Rousey leaving the Octagon forever was no less tragic.

White and Rousey still enjoy a good relationship. Last year the UFC head appeared in Paddy Pimblett’s podcast and revealed that Rousey still texts him to thank him for believing in her and allowing her to change her life with a break in UFC. Rousey has also gone on to say that Dana White will always be one of her best friends.

Ronda Rousey decided to make an ambitious return to the Octagon after losing against Holly Holm in 2015. However, she would not last longer than 48 seconds in the cage against the then-reigning bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes. Nunes would throw multiple strikes that went unanswered and eventually, she landed her knockout blows that shook Rousey enough for ref Herb Deen to stop the fight. It only makes sense to be heartbroken seeing a legend leaving the cage after such a tragic loss. But why was the undefeated Nurmagomedov’s retirement a big bummer?

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White says he wished Khabib didn’t retire

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired with a professional record of 29-0. That’s not something everyone can be boastful of. The last opponent he faced was the human highlight reel, Justin Gaethje. The Dagestani mowed through the lightweight division and fought multiple icons.

However, Nurmagomedov would lose his father during his time in the UFC. When Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov passed away, Nurmagomedov’s spirit to continue forward also waned. A deeply family-oriented man, ‘The Eagle’ began undoing his gloves as soon as his victory over Gaethje was announced. Perhaps recalling this fateful moment made Dana White reminisce. He noted how Nurmagomedov’s retirement was the “toughest retirement” for him as he had “so much more to offer” and yet his mind was made, he was out.

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For a lot of UFC stars, Dana White gave them their first big break and it was obvious from his words that he felt close to his fighters and when they left the octagon it was difficult for him. What do you make of Dana White’s comments? Whose retirement from UFC hit you the hardest?

“Be a Champion”- Amid Distraughtful Phase, Khabib Nurmagomedov Becomes a Source of Inspiration for Family and Teammates

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Written by:

I'm Prit Chauhan, and I'm a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. I've been in the writing business for three years, covering areas like mass media marketing, and even tried my hand at fiction. My experience includes research work at the University of California, Berkeley, which helps me spin fact-based stories about the world of Mixed Martial Arts effortlessly.

Edited by:

Yeswanth Praveen

Admitting to a “Tough” Pill He Had to Swallow, Dana White Confesses the Truth About His Relationship With Ronda Rousey – “Would Come to My House for Christmas and…”

Dana White says he and Ronda Rousey were “super close”

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White says he wished Khabib didn’t retire