What does it take to get on Dana White’s bad side? Simple—anything that tarnishes the image of the multi-billion-dollar empire he built from the ground up and now reigns over as the pinnacle of the MMA world. One of the most infamous examples came at UFC 133 in 2011 when former UFC fighter Dennis ‘Superman’ Hallman made a bizarre fashion statement inside the Octagon—opting to fight in nothing but speedos. The move left the UFC CEO furious and “embarrassed”, prompting an immediate public outburst. He didn’t mince words, saying, “I’d call it disgusting. It was disgusting.”
For Dana White, Dennis Hallman’s choice of attire was completely inappropriate for a UFC pay-per-view event broadcast to millions worldwide. However, the night ended in humiliation for ‘Superman’ in more ways than one—his opponent, Brian Ebersole, made quick work of him, securing a first-round TKO. But Ebersole’s biggest win of the night wasn’t just inside the cage. Despite UFC 133 being headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz, the UFC awarded Ebersole a $70,000 performance of the Night bonus. Not for the finish, though.
Instead, as Dana White later admitted, the payout was specifically for “getting the scantily clad Hallman off the screen as fast as possible.” The incident recently resurfaced after RedCorner MMA reported on Instagram that Brian Ebersole had officially dubbed it a “get that off TV as fast as possible” bonus. Dennis Hallman later clarified to Ariel Helwani that his choice to wear speedos wasn’t just a gimmick—it was the result of a lost bet. “I won’t say what the bet was about, but I lost, and the consequence was wearing speedos,” he revealed.
Despite the bizarre attire, Danis Hallman’s fight against Brian Ebersole was no walk in the park. Before getting finished at the 4:28 mark of the first round, ‘Superman’ put his grappling on display, coming dangerously close to securing a rear-naked choke. But Ebersole stayed composed, found an opening, and turned the tide, ultimately sealing the win with a knockout. While Ebersole had no trouble handling Hallman’s skills, dealing with an opponent in tiny swimwear was another story. Now, let’s hear from Ebersole himself on what it was like to fight a man in speedos.
Brian Ebersole reflects on facing Dennis Hallman after earning a $70K bonus from Dana White
Despite Dennis Hallman’s accomplished career—spanning 73 fights with 53 wins—he remains best known for one infamous moment: stepping into the Octagon at UFC 133 wearing nothing but blue speedos. That night didn’t just leave fans and Dana White in shock—it changed the UFC’s approach to fighter attire, prompting stricter dress code regulations. ‘Superman’s opponent, Brian Ebersole, later admitted the bizarre situation put him in an unexpected dilemma.
Recalling the fight, Ebersole shared in an interview, “I was just worried about his cup and worried about his uniform malfunctioning,” he said with a laugh. In the aftermath, many fans expected Dana White to immediately cut Danis Hallman from the UFC. While the promotion considered it, they needed a short-notice replacement for an upcoming pay-per-view.
That gave Danis Hallman one last shot at redemption at UFC 140, where he submitted John Makdessi in under three minutes—effectively saving his job. “Joe [Silva] told me directly to my face that it was bad news and I was probably going to get cut,” Hallman revealed on Sherdog Radio Network’s Beatdown show, referencing his weight miss. “I said, ‘Well, I guess I’m going to have to put on the performance of my life then, huh?’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir.’
“If I had lost this fight after pissing off Uncle Dana with the bikini and then missing weight—if I hadn’t put on a dominant performance, if I hadn’t finished my opponent, or if I had fought to a decision—I could have expected to get cut even if I had won.” How do you view Dana White’s response to Dennis Hallman? Was his harsh criticism warranted, or did he go too far in addressing a veteran fighter? Share your thoughts.
The post Ex-UFC Vet Claims Dana White Paid Him “Get That Off TV ASAP” Bonus To Save Face – “I Lost a Bet” appeared first on EssentiallySports.
