UFC CEO Dana White has shared his favourite UFC moment of 2022.
The outspoken American has helped turn MMA into a multi-billion-dollar industry since becoming UFC president in 2001. Dana White has seen nearly 25 years of thrilling knockouts, slick submissions, and unforgettable moments. These have helped make MMA the fastest-growing sport in the world.
Remarkably, Dana White has narrowed down his all-time favourite to just one knockout.
Dana White Names Chuck Liddell’s Knockout of Tito Ortiz as His Favourite UFC Moment
Before Dana White became the UFC president, Dana managed Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. This was a role he held until Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta purchased the promotion. When Dana White took over as UFC president, he went and handed off his high-profile clients due to the conflict of interest between managing and promoting fighters.
However, things then quickly soured between Dana White and Tito Ortiz. Tensions went and reached a boiling point after Tito Ortiz defeated Ken Shamrock at UFC 40 back in November 2002, and negotiations for a potential Liddell-Ortiz fight fell apart. The two eventually met in the Octagon at UFC 37. This was when Chuck Liddell secured a knockout victory in the second round. A rematch would follow two years later, where Chuck Liddell was able to secure another stoppage victory
Despite this outcome inside the cage, Dana White’s relationship with Tito Ortiz remained strained. Back in 2007, a boxing match was nearly arranged between the two, but Ortiz failed to show up for the weigh-in, and the fight was cancelled.
Years later, when he was asked about his most satisfying MMA moment, Dana reflected on Liddell’s knockout over ORTIZ. Eighteen years after that iconic victory, Dana White named it his “favourite moment” in UFC history. During a 2022 interview with GQ Sports Dana White stated;
“When Chuck Liddell knocked Tito Ortiz out,”
“That was my favorite, favorite moment that has ever happened in UFC history.”
UFC 311 Set to Kick Off 2025 with Stacked Card, Including Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan Rematch
Dana White is set to close out a successful 2024 with UFC 310 this weekend. At 55, he has already laid out plans to keep the momentum going into the new year.
UFC 311 will take place at the Intuit Dome in California on January 18th. On Wednesday evening, Dana White revealed that the main event of the first pay-per-view of 2025 will feature a rematch between lightweight champion Islam Makhacev and Arman Tsarukyan.
The bantamweight title is also to be on the line in the co-main event. This is due to the Georgian powerhouse Merab Dvalishvili facing the undefeated 18-0 Russian, Umar Nurmagomedov.
Other confirmed fights for UFC 311 include Jiri Prochazka facing off against Jamahal Hill, Jailton Almedia vs Serghei Spivac and finally Kevin Holland against Reinier de Ridder.
It is a card so stacked that even Tito Ortiz would have a hard time criticising it though given their long-standing feud, he might still try.
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
