Dana White slaps wife: Former UFC fighter correctly predicted "big announcements" would be made to distract fans
Dana White publicly slapped his wife on New Year's Eve in a bar in Mexico. However, the incident might be overshadowed by some mammoth fight announcements that were made by the promotion this weekend.
Jon Jones' return to the octagon along with Francis Ngannou's removal from the roster was announced during the post-fight media scrum of the first UFC event of 2023.
The much-anticipated rubber matchup between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman was also finally made official.
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub had accurately predicted the strategy used by the promotion to distract fans from Dana White's slap incident. Prophesying an onslaught of big announcements, Schaub said in an interview with The Schmo a week ago:
"I think they are dealing with other problems, right? [sarcastically] So I think making fights in the least of their concerns cause there's an altercation outside the octagon that they are worried about right now. So what they're gonna do is you're gonna see a onslaught of big announcements. I bet you hear Jon Jones-Francis or Jon Jones-Stipe fight in the next week or so. It's gonna overshadow some 'things' going on with the UFC."
Catch Brendan Schaub's comments below:
Place your bets for the upcoming UFC fight night main card and earn $$$.
Dana White on the lack professional repercussions for slapping his wife
Dana White has not been penalized in any form as of yet for the incident that took place on New Year's Eve.
Watch White's post-incident statement below:
The UFC boss recently dimissed the the possibility of any professional repercussions altogether. Questioned by reporters, the 53-year-old said during the UFC Vegas 67 post-fight presser:
"The only thing that matters is my personal life. What else is there? What should it be [professional consequnces]?"
White further claimed that him being suspended for a certain period of time will only hurt his athletes and not him. The UFC head honcho stated that being labeled and losing respect is his punishment for slapping his wife:
"I told you, I was going to leave in 2016 with the sale.... could have sat out during COVID-19. What should my punishment be? What matters other than my personal life?" White added.
Catch Dana White's comments below:
Dana White asked what message it sends that he did not face any punishments in his professional life for the NYE incident. https://t.co/qCP15KLkit