UFC President Dana White Dismisses Idea of Pride Night Events
UFC President Dana White has definitively stated that the promotion will not be organizing any Pride Night events, expressing a lack of personal interest in such initiatives. While the UFC has previously held events to celebrate various cultures, such as their UFC Noche for Mexican Independence Day, White remains firm in his position regarding Pride-themed celebrations.
White’s Stance on Fighter Identity
In a recent interview, White addressed the possibility of UFC Pride Nights, stating, “I’m staring at my roster of top 15 fighters. You know, I’m assuming we have some gay fighters. I don’t know how many of them are openly [gay]. I know that we have gay female fighters. I don’t give a s***. I don’t care what you are, who you are, what you do. We don’t talk about that, any of that stuff.” He further elaborated, “Everybody, do your own thing. I’m just not into it.”
Past Pride Merchandise and Openly LGBTQ+ Fighters
The comments come amid discussions on social media, with some users recalling that the UFC previously offered Pride-themed merchandise. In 2016, the promotion sold shirts that read, “We are all fighters.” These shirts featured rainbow colors, a symbol widely associated with LGBTQ+ Pride. However, these items do not appear to be currently available for purchase.
The landscape of openly LGBTQ+ athletes in the UFC has evolved. In March 2023, Jeff Molina became the first openly bisexual male fighter in the UFC. He had previously worn Pride Month shorts to support the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada. The promotion also has several openly LGBTQ+ female fighters, including former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.
Comments on Fighter’s Controversial Remarks
In a separate part of the interview, White also addressed past controversial statements made by UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit. Following a fight, Hokit made remarks about former First Lady Michelle Obama, which were widely criticized. White acknowledged the incident, stating, “You think I’m happy about what Josh Hokit said? I’m trying to unify the country and he goes out and says something absolutely stupid like he did that night, but I’m a believer of free speech too.”
