The UFC reached new heights after Endeavor acquired the promotion in 2016. Moreover, President Dana White and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel worked to make MMA one of the most popular sports in the world. In a recent interview, Emanuel spoke about how good of a partner the 54-year-old has been during the most difficult time for the company.

When the global pandemic caused a significant downturn in businesses across the globe, Endeavor – the parent company of the UFC – was no exception. The financial effects of COVID-19 weighed heavily on their bottom line. Dana White’s assurance to restart UFC operations quicker than other sports was a lifeline for Endeavor. Ari Emanuel recognized this invaluable contribution from Dana White during this period.

Ari Emanuel praises Dana White for leading the charge in 2020

The Endeavor CEO’s recent ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty’ podcast appearance saw him reveal what his company went through during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ari Emanuel mentioned that he thought everything had shut down. However, Dana White was there to lead the charge. He said, “I thought we had shut everything down and Dana White… said to me, ‘Uh-huh, we’re not shutting down’. I got scared and he, like, slapped me across the face like, ‘We’re going.'”

Moreover, as Dana White promised to return to action during the pandemic, he asked Emanuel to get him an Island. The island later came to be known as the ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi. The Endeavor CEO added, “He said, ‘Get me an Island’… He was just driving that train.”

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When the venue was finally secured, the 54-year-old promoter handled every process that went on during the period. Moreover, Dana White excelled at his plans. “So we got him an island. He did everything else… He was, like, amazing.” Ari Emanuel also praised White for his leadership and purposefulness.

Emanuel calls the UFC president an “incredible” business partner

Dana White impressed the Endeavor CEO during the pandemic. At a time when Emanuel was fearful about what might happen with the Covid-19 outbreak, the UFC president showed tremendous grit. Emanuel said, “He’s an incredible partner but I for the first time got really scared and he just said, ‘No, we just have to go.'”

Furthermore, the company not only succeeded in setting up events but also made huge profits. Despite this, Dana White faced a lot of backlash. “There was a lot of heat against him, but we did it,” said Ari Emanuel. He further added, “His courage, like dragging me along, was incredible.” It seems like the UFC president earned a huge amount of respect from Emanuel after what he’d achieved in 2020.

The 53-year-old is perhaps the most important figure in the UFC. It begs the question of what the scene might have been if the UFC hadn’t operated during the pandemic. Regardless of the hurdles put in front of Dana White, he excelled at his role as a promoter. Furthermore, his grit and determination made the UFC complete 30 years of success.

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