Fans are scrambling to decode Dana White’s comments after he admitted wanting a fighter to lose last year. The revelation surfaced as excitement builds for the UFC’s first event of the new year. This Saturday, the UFC returns to Las Vegas with UFC 324, featuring an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The event marks a major moment for the promotion’s 2025 calendar.
Ahead of the show, Dana White has appeared across media outlets to promote UFC 324 and his first Zuffa Boxing event on Friday. These appearances followed months of criticism suggesting he stepped back from promotional duties. His latest comments reignited debate among fans, who viewed the remarks as another controversial moment that quickly spread across social media.
Dana White Admits He Wanted a Fighter to Lose
Dana White has often claimed neutrality when discussing UFC matchups and usually avoids publicly favoring fighters. That stance shaped his public image for years, but history shows clear exceptions. White shared a long and public feud with Tito Ortiz while Ortiz fought under the UFC banner. The rivalry escalated to planned fights that never happened.
Years later, White admitted enjoying Ortiz’s knockout loss to Chuck Liddell, citing his dislike for the former champion. Now, White has revealed another similar moment. He admitted wanting a different fighter to lose last year, sharing the comment ahead of another pivotal year for the UFC.
During an interview with Real 92.3, a host asked White when he last wanted a UFC fighter to lose. White answered directly and without hesitation. He called it a great question and said it likely happened in the middle of last year. He explained that the UFC employs nearly 1,000 fighters and acknowledged mutual dislike can exist.
Fans Rush to Guess the Fighter
White’s admission immediately ignited speculation online as fans flooded comment sections with theories. One fan suggested Khamzat Chimaev against Dricus Du Plessis. Another shared an image from Magomed Ankalaev’s loss to Alex Pereira, claiming the answer seemed obvious.
Another theory focused on the UFC’s push behind Sean O’Malley. A fan suggested White wanted Merab Dvalishvili to lose to protect O’Malley’s star power. Others pointed toward Bryce Mitchell, with several fans labeling him the most likely candidate.
Mitchell fought twice last year, competing in April and July. He suffered a brutal loss to Jean Silva before rebounding with a win over Said Nurmagomedov. White later released a public statement after Mitchell made controversial podcast comments that drew widespread backlash. “It was no doubt Bryce Mitchell,” one fan insisted, while another critic added that boxing does not need that influence.
