Dana White might not be available for any podcast bookings anytime soon.

The UFC CEO shocked host Howie Mandel on the popular television personality’s podcast, abruptly walking out of the show before the interview had even started.

Watch a clip of White’s sudden exit below.

The podcast started innocuously with the longtime America’s Got Talent judge praising White’s business acumen and thanking him for being on the show.

“Dana White, you are an amazing guy,” Mandel said. “I can’t thank you enough for being here. … You are not only an amazing businessman, you are an inspiration, you are a philosopher, the way you do business, the way you conduct your business and your friendships and media, I’m jealous. I can’t thank you enough for being here.”

White thanked Mandel for the compliments before saying he was “f****** tired of doing podcasts,” removing his headset, and walking out.

“Thank you all for the kind words, I appreciate it,” White said. “I am so f****** tired of doing podcasts, I’m literally done with them. I’m not doing anymore podcasts.”

Mandel was then shown looking flabbergasted at White’s sudden departure. White did not appear to be particularly agitated by the situation, nor did he give any specific reason as to why it was Mandel’s show that he chose to leave. It’s also unclear if this was possibly a pre-planned bit.

Afterwards, Mandel proceeded to conduct a full interview with comedian Ginger Billy, who was also a guest on the show. No further comment was made regarding the situation and neither Mandel nor White have addressed the situation on social media.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Super Bowl Bet
| BJPenn.com

There was plenty of rage and disappointment after the 49ers lost and Dana White didn’t announce a UFC 300 main event at Super Bowl LVIII.

With just two months to go until UFC 300 on April 13th, fans are starting to get agitated about the lack of a main event announcement.

There’s a lot of big assumptions surrounding the who and when of the blockbuster pay-per-view’s headline fight reveal. One assumption: that UFC CEO Dana White was waiting for Super Bowl 58 to announce the mega-bout on air.

That was always a long shot. White has been increasingly open about the difficulty in signing a main event. There are signs the UFC is flailing to pull something together. An the promotion refuses to even leave the Apex for Fight Nights these days, so do you really think they’d spend $ 7 million on a Super Bowl commercial?

Still, many fans kept their eyes firmly glued to White’s Instagram account during the big game, waiting for the big boss to surprise them with something. Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis is still the likely bet, if all parties can come to term. Others dreamed up some wild stuff, like a Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3 announcement.

Instead … we got nothing! Nada. Zilch.

The only UFC related content on Super Bowl Sunday was a previously released Bud Light commercial featuring Dana.

This did not go over well with the fanbase, even though — and we stress this — there was never any promises from UFC regarding a Super Bowl announcement to begin with. With that in mind, let’s check out the reactions on social media.

Michael Chiesa made the mistake of teasing a big UFC 300 announcement, and hey: it was a big announcement for him. He’ll be co-hosting a desk segment on the broadcast. The news was not taken well.

We’ll continue to be ready to update you when the UFC 300 main event does get announced. Eventually. Some day.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Alexander Volkanovski has a chip on his shoulder ahead of his big featherweight title defense at UFC 298 this Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.

“The Great” 26-3 Australian legend isn’t old. He isn’t bad. He isn’t washed up. He isn’t any of these narratives he may have created in his head or been told by deluded voices before taking on the undefeated 14-0 Spanish superstar Ilia Topuria. Volkanovski is still the 145-pound champion of the world, a supremely well-rounded fighter, and quite literally what his nickname indicates.

Volkanovski, 35, is a proven master of this mixed martial arts things we know and love, which makes sense to see how he’s built and found motivation in these fictitious manners. Few if any of his previous opponents have presented such an unshakeable confidence as the 27-year-old Topuria. Sure, Brian Ortega slightly got under Volkanovski’s skin throughout the pair’s build through The Ultimate Fighter 29 (TUF) in 2021. What makes this defense different is the combination of Topuria’s talent level and confidence plus Volkanovski’s return to the division after a tough first-round knockout at lightweight against the champion, Islam Makhachev.

No mental struggles, no short notice, and no boozing around, this one has Volkanovski chomping at the bit.

“The good thing is about someone like that, I’m always trying to fight or find a No. 1 guy,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “A clear contender for me to face in this featherweight division and Ilia is it, right? He was the next, it’s clear. They signed the date. I actually wanted him straight after Yair [Rodriguez]. I told him come jump the fence and get a faceoff because he was undefeated. I didn’t want anyone else fighting him. I wanted to make sure I got a young, hungry undefeated guy that’s got hype around him.

“He likes to talk. So, it’s easy to get motivated for this, right? I need to do nothing to hype up this fight. Let him do the talking and I’ll do the walking February 17, 18 in Australia. Do work, humble him, and show the world again — remind them and let him know that he’s still got a way’s to go until he’s up at the top. I’m gonna show him that.”

Volkanovski rebounded spectacularly after his first loss to Makhachev by unanimous decision at UFC 284 one year ago today. The featherweight king went on to International Fight Week 2023 and walloped his interim champion opponent Rodriguez. The third-round TKO stoppage was one of Volkanovski’s best performances and silenced doubters who thought he’d finally be unseated after he lost for the first time in the octagon.

Rodriguez is a more experienced and established fighter than Topuria at this point and has had his growing pains. Former champions Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway say hello. With Topuria, Volkanovski plans to play the teacher role.

“Prediction is I teach him a good lesson,” Volkanovski said. “He’s gonna be embarrassed, eat some of his words, and it’s gonna be maybe the start of his journey. He’s young, he is confident, I’ll humble him, he’ll bounce back and start after I give him a good beating. Round two, I think. I think I crumble him in the first.

“I’m not saying that he’s gonna be an easy fight, but I think just how confident he is, he hasn’t been able to prove that. I prove that every time I step in this gym. I push myself to the limits. I don’t know if he does. He doesn’t act like it so I’m gonna push him, and I think I crumble him inside one and I get the finish soon after that.”

TOP STORIES

Game. MMA world reacts to Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win: ‘Where is the UFC 300 main event fight announcement?’

Swerve. Jon Jones says he turned down UFC 300 headliner, future fight against Tom Aspinall ‘not off the table’

Resume. Report: Israel Adesanya’s self-titled New Zealand subdivision latest addition to $ 20M portfolio

Silly. Donald Cerrone endorses Power Slap if you want to ‘hear CTE brain damage’: ‘Not even I would do this’

Upset. Jack Hermansson refused to be ‘stepping stone’ for Joe Pyfer, calls for fights with Nassourdine Imavov or Khamzat Chimaev

Comeback. Kevin Lee explains decision to return from retirement, reveals timeline to fight again after ACL surgery

Planning. Coach: Ilia Topuria’s style is ‘a good fight’ for Sean O’Malley — and Topuria knows it

$ $ $ . UFC Vegas 86 bonuses: Dan Ige lives up to his nickname with monster $ 50,000 knockout

Lesson. ‘Different ball game’: Pros react to Jack Hermansson’s gutsy upset win over Joe Pyfer at UFC Vegas 86

VIDEO STEW

UFC Vegas 86 Post Show.

UFC 298 Countdown.

Class with Jones.

Sugar Champ Camp.

Wrestling.

Pereira’s checks.

An Almighty Food Tour

MORNING MUSIC

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Sightseeing.

Faceoff.

New Year.

Artsy.

Return.

Little by little.

Very much so.

Damn.

Stupid choices get you stupid results.

And the follow-up rant.

Anywhere.

Random Thatch sighting.

He went into business for himself!

Bad news.

Juice week.

Staying busy.

Zero creativity.

Learning lesson.

Another year.

Heavyweight gilly?!

Should be good.

Not bad.

History.

Right.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Philipe Lins (17-5) vs. Ion Cutelaba (17-9-1, 1 NC); UFC 299, March 9

Igor Da Silva (8-0) vs. André Lima (7-0); UFC Vegas 89, March 23

Maheshate Hayisaer (9-3) vs. Gabriel Benitez (23-12); UFC Fight Night, April 27

Joanderson Brito (16-3-1) vs. Jack Shore (17-1); UFC 301, May 4

Jake Hadley (10-2) vs. Charles Johnson (14-6); UFC Fight Night, May 11

Emily Ducote (13-8) vs. Vanessa Demopoulos (10-5); UFC Fight Night, May 18

Joselyne Edwards (13-5) vs. Ailín Pérez (9-2); UFC 302, June 1

FINAL THOUGHTS

I think Volkanovski vs. Topuria has the potential to be one of those Fight of the Year caliber battles or a lopsided beating in either direction. No other option (knock on wood).

Also, Strickland gets triggered in bizarre ways, man.

Thanks for reading and happy Monday! Who all watched the game last night?

POLL POSITION

Last Week’s Results:

Friday: 54% of 335 total votes answered “Joe Pyfer and Dan Ige” when asked, “Who wins at UFC Vegas 86?” Jack Hermansson defeated Pyfer via unanimous decision and Ige defeated Andre Fili via first-round knockout (punch) at 2:43.

56% of 218 total votes answered “Kansas City Chiefs” when asked, “Who wins Super Bowl LVIII?” The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 25-22 with three seconds left in overtime.

Thursday: 63% of 419 total votes answered “No” when asked, “Do you believe Colby Covington’s injury claims?”

Wednesday: 74% of 527 total votes answered “Tony Ferguson” when asked, “Who of the three that he mentioned interests you most for Kevin Lee?”

Tuesday: 55% of 679 total votes answered “Winner of Geoff Neal vs. Ian Machado Garry” when asked, “Who should Colby Covington fight next?”

Monday: 57% of 368 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Is Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera the biggest fight in the UFC bantamweight division?”

Today’s exit poll:

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

It’s either win or go home for Henry Cejudo on February 17.

The former two-division world champion returns to the Octagon at UFC 298 in Anaheim nine months removed from his split decision loss against then-bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling. This time, ‘Triple C’ will square off with Sterling’s best friend and No. 2 ranked contender at 135, Merab Dvalishvili.

If Cejudo wins, he will likely face the winner of next month’s bantamweight title tilt between defending champ ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. But if he loses, it could bring an end to his iconic UFC career.

“This is for the No. 1 contender spot,” Cejudo said in an interview on The HJR Experiment. “I think after losing to Aljamain, I think if I was going to go maybe down the ladder, I would probably be done with fighting again. Yeah, man. Because it’s just like, this sport is hard, man. Training camps, having two kids and things like that. It’s all or nothing, man.”

Facing a do-or-die situation, Henry Cejudo is taking some extreme steps to give himself the best possible shot at snapping Dvalishvili’s nine-fight win streak. During the latest episode of UFC Countdown, ‘Triple C’ broke the news to his longtime coach — Eric Albarracin — that his services would not be needed for what could be the final fight camp of Cejudo’s career.

“You were with me for my last Olympic trials,” Cejudo told Albarracin. “You’ve been there for me, but as of right now… I just want to let you know for this camp, I’m getting rid of specific coaches. You included.”

“Sometimes you are too close to somebody and people just get too comfortable,” Cejudo added.

Throughout his illustrious run as a mixed martial arts coach, Albarracin has coached Bellator stars Patricio Pitbull and Patricky Pitbull, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, one-time UFC title challenger Paulo Costa, and the recently retired ‘Korean Zombie’ Chan Sung Jung. All in all, he has coached 13 world champions.

Cejudo’s decision to relieve Albarracin of his duties ahead of UFC 298 earned mixed reactions from fight fans — some commending the Olympic gold medalist for doing whatever it takes to win while others disparaged his decision to break the news on camera.

“Great to see Cejudo’s willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Interesting move by Triple C.”

“Bringing a camera crew to have that conversation with someone is wild.”

“He’s going all in.”

“That had to be hard for Cejudo and of course, it’s gonna hurt Eric it’d be weird if it didn’t sting a little but they’re pros they know what they need.”

“Why is this idiot doing it on camera?”

LowKickMMA.com

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Former UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko trains out of Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand.  She spends a lot of time in the Southeast Asian country.  

While she’s been there, “Bullet” has posted several bikini photos to her Instagram account.  

Shevchenko held the women’s 125-pound title from 2018 until her loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 in March of last year.  The rematch with Grasso last September ended in a split draw.  

In her nine-year UFC career, Shevchenko has only lost to two women: Grasso and former two-division champion Amanda Nunes.  

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Future Clash?
| BJPenn.com