Dana White explains how an 'average fighter' can become a star in the UFC.

Dana White puts belt on Alex Poatán. Photo: Reproduction/UFC

Dana White believes there's one essential factor that differentiates an average fighter from a true UFC star. In a scenario where fans and experts increasingly point to the ability to attract an audience as being just as relevant as performance inside the octagon, the question arises as to what truly makes an athlete stand out. For the president of the world's largest MMA organization, the answer is simpler than it seems.

According to Dana White, it all starts with the ability to fight at a high level. For him, the athlete's profile, personality, or communication skills don't matter, as long as they can beat tough opponents, climb the rankings, reach the top of the division, and eventually become a world champion. In the executive's view, dedication and competitiveness inside the octagon are the main elements capable of winning over the public and transforming a fighter into a star.

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“First of all, do you know how to fight? Can you get into the top 10, top 5, top 3 and, obviously, become a world champion? You can be deaf and mute, if you fight tooth and nail, people will adore you. Many different things make someone a star, but the main one is: do you know how to fight?”, said Dana White in an interview with UFC on TNT.

Dana White bans UFC stars from competing in super fights in boxing.

UFC striking specialists received terrible news from Dana White. Last Wednesday (21), in Las Vegas (USA), at the press conference to promote the first 'Zuffa Boxing' event, the president of the world's largest MMA organization banned his athletes from carrying out the long-awaited 'crossover' with boxing.

It's no secret that many MMA fighters currently under exclusive contracts with the UFC are publicly and consistently expressing a desire to test themselves in boxing. However, Dana White is not receptive. On the contrary, when questioned by a journalist about whether he would use the company's athletes to promote his new boxing organization, the UFC president was blunt. Therefore, the professional's veto frustrated the... plans de Alex Poatán, Ilia TopuriaSean O'Malley, among other strikers.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of nonsense about this. Are we going to have to use UFC fighters to create stars? I don’t know. What does that mean? I don’t want that. I didn’t want that when I wasn’t involved with boxing, and I definitely don’t want it now,” said the executive.