TLDR
- Dana White says UFC will not host Pride Night events despite having gay fighters on the roster
- White stated he doesn’t care about fighters’ sexual orientation and believes everyone should ‘do their own thing’
- UFC has previously sold Pride-themed merchandise but rarely hosts themed events beyond Noche UFC
- White defends allowing fighters free speech even when they make controversial or offensive comments
- The UFC CEO says the promotion donates to various charities without publicizing those efforts
Sources: mmafighting.com | mmamania.com | timesofindia.indiatimes.com
UFC CEO Dana White says his promotion will not host Pride Night events, even though he believes there are gay fighters on the roster.
White made the comments during an interview with Fox News after four San Francisco Giants players faced criticism for their handling of a recent Pride Night event in baseball. One player declined to wear a Pride-themed hat, while three others wrote Bible verses on theirs.
When asked why UFC doesn’t have Pride Nights, White said it’s more about why should they than why don’t they.
“I’m staring at my roster of top 15 fighters, I’m assuming we have some gay fighters,” White told the outlet. “I don’t know how many of them are openly. I know that we have gay female fighters.”
White said he doesn’t care about fighters’ sexual orientation or personal lives. “I don’t give a shit. I don’t care what you are or who you are or what you do, we don’t talk about that or any of that stuff,” he said.
Dana White is asked why the UFC doesn’t have a Pride night:
“Do your own thing. I’m just not into it. I let everybody be themselves and do their thing.”
(via @TomiLahren) pic.twitter.com/MTEIGxDIA3
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 24, 2026
UFC Has Sold Pride Merchandise in the Past
The UFC has previously sold Pride-themed merchandise, including a T-shirt with the message “We Are All Fighters” featuring rainbow colors. However, White maintains that hosting special themed events isn’t necessary.
“We have a T-shirt that says ‘We Are All Fighters,’ and it’s got the gay flag colors on it, but I don’t know, everybody do your own thing. I’m just not into it,” White said.
The promotion rarely hosts themed events outside of the recent UFC White House show and the annual Noche UFC events, which celebrate Latin American culture. White emphasized that UFC operates differently than other sports.
“I’m in the fight business, so it’s a little different than baseball is like America’s game,” he said. “I stay in my lane, whatever all these other guys are doing, good luck to you. I do my own thing.”
Free Speech Policy Leads to Controversial Fighter Comments
White addressed recent controversial statements made by UFC fighters, including Josh Hokit’s offensive comment about former First Lady Michelle Obama during the UFC White House event.
“Listen, you think I’m happy about what Josh Hokit said, the night I’m trying to unify the country?” White asked. “And he goes out and says something absolutely stupid like he did that night? But I’m a believer of free speech, too. I let everybody be themselves, do their thing.”
White mentioned fighter Sean Strickland, who has made disparaging comments about female fighters, including bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington. White noted that the female fighters don’t let the comments bother them.
“They’re powerful strong women, they do their thing, they’re like, ‘We don’t give a shit what Sean Strickland says,'” White said. “We have to deal with some of it.”
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When asked if he thought other sports organizations hosting Pride Nights or similar events was performative, White agreed that could be a factor. He said UFC donates to various charities without publicizing it.
“We donate lots of money to lots of different charities and I do personally, too,” White said. “You know what you’ll never see me doing? Standing out in the middle of somewhere with a big check with a bunch of little kids standing around.”
White said the promotion does charitable work “because we should, we do it because we can, we don’t do it for attention.” He stated that UFC supports various communities, including LGBTQ+ and African American groups, but doesn’t feel the need to publicize those efforts.
“As long as you’re doing the right thing, you don’t have to run around and prove to everybody that you’re doing the right thing,” White said.
