It’s common in the fight game to see intense rivalries, brutal knockouts, and controversial decisions—both inside and outside the cage. But what happens behind the scenes is that the people who make the MMA world turn are often doing things the public never hears about. For this instance, we’re talking about the UFC CEO and President, Dana White, who has come to the rescue of a UFC Heavyweight legend who was arrested and charged with attempted murder in 2022.

The publicized case involves former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, who was arrested for allegedly pursuing and shooting a man who was accused of molesting his son, and hitting the man’s stepfather instead. The crime occurred on February 28th, 2022, where the UFC legend fired a gun multiple times at a truck carrying three people, including the 46-year-old Harry Goularte, who is facing felony charges on child molestation, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The chase went on for 11 miles, where Goularte was not harmed, but his stepfather was shot twice. Following the trials, he was sentenced to five years in jail after Velasquez pleaded no contest to attempted murder.

That is where Dana White came into the scene. The amount for Velasquez’s bail was set at $1 million, an amount the legend couldn’t afford. The story was revealed on the ‘Weighing In’ podcast by the legendary ex-UFC referee, Big John McCarthy. McCarthy revealed, “Dana does things all the time that you know people don’t know about. And he’s helpful with you know, people in need, you know, people in need that have operations that are needed and things like that, he takes care of people. You know, he doesn’t broadcast it, he doesn’t put it out in the media, and he shouldn’t. You know, these are the things that you do when you have the ability to do them. 

He further added, “Dana’s got a lot of money, you know, I don’t know where the million dollars, if it came out of his account or if it came out of a business account or whatever. But he didn’t have to do it, but he did it, and it was the, you know, I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, and it was just a good thing that he took care of someone, that was you know part of his promotion for a while. And that was in a bad spot as far as you know.” Revealing that the UFC boss came to the rescue of the legend of his promotion and paid the $1 million bail.

You heard it right, McCarthy talked about the man known for his straightforward, brash attitude, showing his support and love for those who have brought his promotion so far, and Cain Velasquez is inarguably one of them. This powerful gesture just points towards one of many instances where Dana White has done something for his close ones, and it has gone unpublicized.

Indeed, the business tycoon that Dana White is. And the grandeur that the UFC has reached it’s not just made of hard work and money. It’s also built on the blessings of many stars of the promotion that have found a helping hand in their boss, Dana White. Let’s take a look at some of those instances.

When Dana White comes to his fighters’ rescue

Dana White’s tough-talking and no-nonsense persona as the face of the UFC is well known. But those close to him, personalities in the MMA world, have repeatedly shared stories of his generosity and behind-the-scenes help that rarely make the headlines.

In one recent situation, UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman, widely famous as the first-ever UFC heavyweight champion, suffered a near-death experience after rescuing his parents from a house fire in Ohio. He was placed on a ventilator and was in critical condition. When word got out, the MMA community rallied—but Dana White took it a step further. Dana not only covered medical expenses but also promised full support for Coleman’s recovery and rehabilitation.

UFC welterweight legend Matt Hughes reacted to this act of generosity by White, saying, “Dana White is a man who takes care of his people. He doesn’t ask for credit. He just does it.”

In 2017, after the tragic Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, known as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, the UFC and Dana White donated a massive $1 million to the families of victims and first responders. The donation was made without a massive PR push, and White ensured it was delivered quickly and directly to those affected. He further stated, “This is our town. These are our people. And we’re going to take care of them.”

Stories like these paint a different picture of Dana White than what’s mostly portrayed of him in press conferences or media interviews. According to Big John McCarthy and many others, Dana doesn’t need the spotlight when it comes to helping people, he just does it. What are your thoughts on Dana White? Let us know in the comments.