Dana White’s brash, bold, and unfiltered personality has become part of his identity. But every once in a while, he shows a side that fans can’t help but respect. That moment came during Week 6 of the 2025 Dana White’s Contender Series, where the UFC CEO took time to recognize a fighter who stepped into the cage and won, just 72 hours after losing his father. 

Spain’s Hecher Sosa squared off against Mackson Lee in the latest DWCS headliner—a golden chance for both men to prove their worth in front of Dana White. The ‘Guanche Warrior’ rose to the occasion, earning a unanimous decision victory. For the Spaniard, it wasn’t just a win. It was definitely one of the greatest moments of his life. Not only did he secure a UFC contract, but Dana White also surprised him with a heartfelt letter. To top it all off, that message ended up catching the attention of a major UFC referee.

Mark Goddard reacts to Dana White’s letter to DWCS fighter  

After the fight, the UFC head honcho spoke with Sosa, telling him, “I respect your drive and your resilience after everything you’ve been through in your life. I’m going to give you the opportunity to deliver on the promises to your family — congratulations.” White then pulled him aside and handed over a note that read, “Be the f–ing reason your last name means something one day.” This gesture from the UFC CEO won many hearts, including veteran referee Mark Goddard’s, who shared it on his Instagram story, writing, “Wow, I f–ing love this.” 

Moments like this show that the UFC isn’t only about conflicts, trash talk, and fighters getting into altercations. There are also stories like Hecher Sosa’s that strike deep with raw emotion. It’s unbelievably hard to gather the strength to fight after losing a loved one—but the Spaniard did exactly that. And that’s the kind of heart Dana White looks for.

Sosa not only earned a contract with the world’s top MMA promotion but also praise from the UFC boss himself. Yet even in victory, his thoughts went straight to his late father, who couldn’t witness his son’s first step toward glory. After the fight, the 30-year-old opened up about the heartbreaking moment he learned of his father’s passing.  

Sosa reveals how he dealt with his father’s passing  

After his interaction with Dana White, Hecher Sosa walked away with more than just a UFC contract. He also carried the blessings of everyone who witnessed his moment live. Later, when he decided it was time to open up, the Spaniard took to social media and revealed, “My brother called me, woke me up and said, ‘That’s it, brother, dad is gone.’”

Few things could be more heartbreaking to hear before the biggest fight of your life. Sosa admitted he completely broke down upon receiving the news, spending the day in tears as he thought of his father, who would never get the chance to see him fight. He recalled, “I said, ‘Okay,’ and hung up—nothing else came out. I hung up to start crying, broke down, and felt a pain so strong that I could not explain—my father was not going to see me fight.”

But amid the grief, Sosa remembered something his father told him before leaving for the fight. It gave him the strength he needed to push forward. He added, “I couldn’t sleep, and I came to the conclusion that my father told me before I left, ‘Son, don’t worry, we started this together and we will finish it together.’” With those words in mind, the Spaniard found his purpose again and marched into the Octagon. Determined to make his dream a reality! And though his father couldn’t be there, Sosa made sure his family had every reason to be proud.

With that, the Spaniard’s UFC journey has only just begun. His debut at DWCS left quite an impression. But how far can he go in the bantamweight division? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.