UFC President Dana White drew criticism on social media after missing another significant public event this week in Newark.
White is typically the host of press conferences for major pay-per-view events, especially in the U.S. However, he was absent from the UFC 316 showcase today at the Prudential Center, where fighters like Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili faced off.
Dana White Misses UFC 316 Press Conference in Newark
White chose not to appear at the press conference earlier today for UFC 316. He has been traveling extensively recently and even posted a promotional update for his Phorm Energy drink on Instagram during the time of the event.
This follows his absence from the UFC 315 post-fight press conference after Belal Muhammad`s loss to Jack Della Maddalena. That previous absence was attributed to travel complications, with UFC executive David Shaw stepping in.
Instead of White, lead commentator Jon Anik hosted the press conference on Thursday, answering questions and even sharing his view on the potential Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight amidst crowd chants demanding Jones be stripped of his title.
Fan Reaction: Frustration Over White`s Continued Absence
Fans expressed their frustration on social media regarding White`s latest media no-show. Their dissatisfaction wasn`t solely about his absence but also the unusually short duration of the press conference, which lasted less than 15 minutes.
Social media comments included, “The UFC 316 presser is over in less then 15 minutes. This company is a joke,” from one user. Another questioned, “Does Dana White do any pre fight or post fight press conferences anymore?” and called the promoter “half a—ed.”
Other fan reactions included simple statements like “he`s done” concerning White`s role, and speculation that he was preoccupied with other matters, possibly referencing the public interactions between Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
Percy Harlow