There’s something unique about a sports promoter who doesn’t back down when millions are at stake. In the violent, chaotic business of fight promotion, where stars are created, protected, and cashed in on at the proper time, Dana White continues to stand firm on an anti-traditional philosophy: merit over money. At a time when several UFC events are shaping up to be some of the most stacked cards of the year, Chael Sonnen has stepped up—not to promote a fight, but to remind everyone that White is still living by the words he pledged to honor over two decades ago.
In a conversation with Mike Bohn on his YouTube channel, ‘The American Gangster’ gave credit where it’s long overdue. He didn’t speak like a company man or someone feeding a story. He sounded like a fighter and a fan, realizing that Dana White has continually prioritized what sets the UFC apart.
While boxing continues to be criticized for inflated pairings and commercial politics, White’s decisions are strikingly different. The UFC does not protect its stars; rather, it tests them. Sonnen described Alex Pereira‘s fight with Magomed Ankalaev as a “very risky fight from a business standpoint. And it went against him.”
The oddsmakers informed him it would be against him. “He did not care.” Sonnen highlighted Dana White’s willingness to sacrifice two of his strongest draws—Alex Pereira and Sean O’Malley—not for profit, but for the idea that rankings matter. “He adheres fiercely to the code that ‘We will not be like boxing, and the best will fight the best.’”
Pereira’s loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 marked more than simply the end of his championship career. It was a risk that cost the UFC one of its most marketable fighters. Similarly, Sean O’Malley’s fight with Merab Dvalishvili exposed the UFC’s top bantamweight to a style that diminished his sparkle and fan appeal.
Image credits: Imago
Both fights were high-risk moves, but they sent a message: no one is safe from competition in the UFC. Sonnen said it best: “After 25 years, we’ve got to give it to Dana. Bro, you told the truth,” when he said in the UFC, only the best will fight the best.
And that truth has helped the UFC grow above the competition, where champions are challenged, contenders are rewarded, and no star is ever elevated beyond the sport. However, many fans would surely disagree, as a current petition somewhat proves that the UFC and Dana White are protecting Jon Jones.
Petition to make Dana White strip Jon Jones earns massive support
It’s strange that Dana White, who was praised for allowing the finest fighters to compete, is now at the heart of a controversy that calls into question whether the same principle applies to Jon Jones. Fans have been anxiously waiting for interim champion Tom Aspinall‘s title shot, while ‘Bones,’ despite being the most decorated fighter in MMA history, has yet to share the cage with him.
With no definitive schedule in sight and Aspinall sidelined, many believe the UFC is no longer operating on pure merit. The result? A petition has gone viral on the internet, demanding that the head honcho strip Jones of his title. In fact, more than 130,000 fans have already signed the Change.org petition. But, more than the numbers, the tone of the comments reveals the sentiment.
According to them, Dana White cannot continue playing favorites like this. It’s squandering Aspinall’s prime, unjust to other fighters, and, quite honestly, hurting the sport. For these fans, it’s not about diminishing Jones’ reputation; it’s about fairness and maintaining the UFC standard that the UFC CEO has always professed to preserve. Despite White’s insistence that Jones vs. Aspinall will take place in 2025, the silence and delays become increasingly noticeable.
Jon Jones, however, mocked the petition when it only had 40,000 signatures. It’s more than tripled since. Fans aren’t looking for anything outrageous—just resolution, clarity, and a legitimate unification battle. Until then, the frustration mounts, and the man once credited with putting the sport first now confronts public pressure to prove that he still lives by that code. What do you think? Will the petition work? Let us know in the comments.
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