"I think I have a learning disorder" - When Dana White explained having the UFC's iconic War Room boards at headquarters
Dana White once shared insights into the UFC's renowned War Rooms, explaining the necessity of having a dedicated space for each of his combat sports endeavors. The UFC CEO, having propelled the promotion to unprecedented success with a roster of the best fighters in the world, naturally requires a well-organized workspace for the company’s daily operations and strategic direction.
The War Room serves as the strategic hub where UFC executives and matchmakers come together to plan event schedules and determine matchups. It boasts a massive wall adorned with large magnetic boards, each one dedicated to an upcoming fight card.
During an appearance on My Mom's Basement with Robbie Fox in June 2023, White White was asked about the number of War Rooms at the UFC's headquarters in Las Vegas and their specific functions.
The UFC head honcho revealed that he had created an independent strategy room exclusively for his slap-fighting league, Power Slap. He also mentioned that he's developing a new venture and has set up a third War Room to oversee this initiative:
"We also have a war room for another project that we're getting involved in. I'll tell you about that when we're ready to launch it... There are three war rooms here now."
White further explained that these dedicated spaces are essential for optimizing operations and decision-making across all of his ventures:
"This is what I need, I can't just sit here and talk back and forth and talk about fights. I have to be able to see it. I have to look at the rankings. I got to look at the map. I think I have a learning disorder; I have to see it on the walls or whatever. Yeah, that's why we build these things."
Check out Dana White's comments below (0:40):
When Dana White's War Room footage leaked UFC 305 fight card
Dana White announced the new main event for UFC 303 in June: a rematch between light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. This came after the originally planned headliner between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler was called off due to the Irishman's toe injury.
Meanwhile, some sharp-eyed fans spotted another magnetic board in the background of the War Room, showcasing some of the fights planned for the UFC 305 card.
The board displayed names like Israel Adesanya, Song Yadong, Jack Della Maddalena, Steve Erceg, and Drakkar Klose, all of whom were initially listed for the UFC 305 card. However, it was later revealed that this wasn't the final lineup, as Yadong, Della Maddalena, and Klose ultimately didn't compete on the Australian fight card in August.