UFC president Dana White has slammed Bevan Shields, the editor of The Sydney Morning Herald as “the biggest f***ing wimp on planet Earth” at a media conference in Sydney on Sunday, after the journalist expressed outrage over a recent interview between White and NSW Premier Chris Minns. The heated exchange unfolded after Shields penned an article condemning the UFC and the Premier’s support for the controversial sport, which he deemed “repulsive” and “glorifying violence.”
White, known for his outspoken and fiery nature, didn’t hold back in his response, mocking the editor’s criticism during a press conference following UFC 312. “For a place that is so tough, where everything on land and in the water can kill you, you have the biggest pussies in the media I’ve ever seen in my life,” White said. “I saw one story where a guy was like, ‘I saw Dana do a podcast with the Premier and it physically made me sick.’
“Holy f***ing s***. We were reading the story in the back and cracking up. That guy has got to be the biggest f***ing wimp on planet Earth,” White said of Shields.
Over the past two decades, White has turned mixed martial arts, or MMA, into a global phenomenon and, in turn, made his UFC into a behemoth, generating an estimated $1.3 billion in revenue last year, with staggering margins (EBITA) of almost 60%. Along the way, he’s become more famous than any of the fighters who step into his Octagon and amassed a net worth that Forbes estimates to be more than $600 million.
The controversy started earlier in the week when Shields took issue with Minns’ decision to support UFC events in Sydney, despite UFC’s brutal nature and White’s past, including his infamous New Year’s Eve incident where he was filmed slapping his wife. Shields called out Minns for backing a sport associated with violence, misogyny, and problematic figures like UFC fighter Sean Strickland, who had made derogatory comments about women and Australia’s gun laws.
Minns, who had previously defended his stance, reiterated that UFC’s popularity with young men in NSW justified the $16 million taxpayer investment in the events. However, this was met with backlash from women’s safety advocates and others questioning the government’s priorities.
The UFC boss has faced mounting criticism for his ties to individuals with controversial views and behaviour. Still, White has maintained his position, defending his fighters, his sport, and his close relationships with powerful figures like former President Donald Trump and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
As the UFC continues to thrive financially, it seems the battle between its critics and its advocates is far from over. White’s comment on Shields may only be the beginning of his fiery responses to those who question the UFC’s place in Australia, and the world stage.