"Jordan is a killer"- UFC President Dana White picks Michael Jordan among NBA legends who could've made it in MMA
UFC President Dana White believes Michael Jordan could have been one of the basketball legends to make it in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). During an appearance on Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe's podcast "Club Shay Shay" that went live on Apple Podcasts on Wednesday, White made a compelling case behind choosing Jordan.
"You gotta go with Jordan," White told Sharpe. "Jordan is a killer. I've spoken about Michael Jordan many times. Never met him, don't know him, don't want to meet him. I like him too much.
"I respect him too much. I love his killer instinct. Don't want to meet him. Respect him to death."
White seems to be a huge fan of Jordan's mentality. He pointed that out as a key ingredient in making a great MMA fighter when he chose Tom Brady as one of the football players who could make it big in the sport.
"The mindset that it takes to be great, that's No. 1, it starts there," White said while arguing Brady's nomination with Sharpe.
Dana White also named Bill Laimbeer, Metta World Peace, Glen "Big Baby Davis," and Shaquille O'Neal among players who may have made their mark in the fighting business. Sharpe suggested Charles Oakley's name, which White agreed with.
However, the two had a back-and-forth over Shaq's nomination. White made it clear he was referring to O'Neal at his peak, citing his speed, agility and power that would have made him a great bet inside the octagon.
Dana White has watched Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance" documentary 3 times
Dana White's love for Michael Jordan seems unparalleled. It's not the first time he's openly spoken about his admiration for the legendary NBA superstar. The UFC President once shared he even watched "The Last Dance" documentary on Jordan's Bulls dynasty three times.
"I love Michael Jordan, I love the killer that he was, you know, everything about him," White said on The Sage Steele podcast in April. "I watched 'The Last Dance' three times."
White revealed he wears the Jordan Brand's socks and shoes, too. White is also unbothered about hearing bad stuff about his favorite NBA player. The UFC President admired Jordan's "mean" mentality on display in the documentary, which was one of his biggest takeaways.
The 54-year-old said in May that he grew up idolizing Black athletes, including Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson, while speaking on "Club Random with Bill Maher." With only a seven-year age difference, it's not difficult to understand why Dana White has so much respect for Jordan after watching his entire career unfold at his peak.