Dana White has a newfound respect for Vince McMahon.
The UFC CEO was at one point a bitter rival with McMahon, with both titans wanting to do all they could to prove that they were the most dominant force in the combat world, with McMahon, in particular, targeting White unprovoked. However, all of that would change when both sides were placed on the same team in April, as it was announced that Endeavor and WWE would be joining forces to create the powerhouse conglomerate TKO Holdings.
White went into detail about his past and present relationship with the WWE Chairman in an interview with Sports Illustrated. The UFC owner began by referencing that McMahon was out to destroy him in the past but in the present day McMahon is a completely different person:
“My history with Vince isn’t a good one. He tried to f— me so many times for no reason whatsoever except just to f— me. But that’s in the past. Now that Vince and I are allies, no one’s been a better partner than Vince. Since day one of the deal, it’s like I’m dealing with a different guy. It goes to show that when you oppose him, or he thinks you are opposing him, the guy comes after you blindly. Once you are aligned, Vince is an incredible partner. We’ve probably spoken on the phone 20 times since the deal. It’s all added-value conversation–with Vince doing work and raising the bar for both companies,”
White concluded by stating how much respect he has for McMahon and compared him to one of the greatest athletes of all time:
“Vince McMahon, man, he’s an absolute savage. Even with the stuff that went down with us in the past, I respect it. I love killers. He’s definitely a killer. He’s the Michael Jordan of the business world,”
Vince McMahon Did Not Receive Bonus From Merger
According to reports, McMahon did not receive what he expected following the creation of TKO Holdings. It was stated that Vince McMahon “got played” and did not be receive a payout of billions.
Although White’s position in the Ultimate Fighting Championship remains unchanged following the merger, the same can not be said for McMahon. While the chairman became more and more involved in creative following his return at the start of the year, Endeavor bosses made the decision to remove Vince McMahon from the position shortly after the deal had been finalised.