It’s reached the stage where Dana White has began to expect the worst from the obligatory media events.
In the UFC president’s defence, he’s been around the block when it comes to controversial incidents at media days. He’s been there for the absolute worst of them.
He was on stage when Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz engaged in that infamous (and expensive) water-bottle fight before their highly-anticipated welterweight do-over at UFC 202.
He had to block Conor McGregor from launching a chair at Eddie Alvarez ahead of their history-making bout at UFC 205.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOANVekPdYs
Although he wasn’t present for the despicable brawl between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, he fell victim to a cruel prank by Bones and Anthony Johnson shortly after.
So it’s completely understandable that he can be a bit edgy when he has to stand between two trained killers as they pose for photo-ops.
Such was the case at the official media day for UFC 209, when White shared the stage with interim lightweight title challengers Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.
Nothing actually happened between the two fighters on stage, but ‘El Cucuy’ bringing the intensity levels into overdrive must have knocked a couple of years off the president.
White looked noticeably worried when both men stepped towards each other to give their best thousand-yard stare, and he was perhaps a bit quick to move his hand in between the two of them when Ferguson was talking smack about the Dagestani’s weight cut.
Just when it got all quiet, Ferguson let out an almighty ‘Woooooo!’ that caused everybody to jump, including White who admitted, “I’m on fucking edge today.”
Well, that is everyone except Nurmagomedov.
