Dana White has been named to TIME magazine's first list of the 100 most influential people in sports, marking a major mainstream nod for the longtime UFC boss.
White appears on the inaugural list alongside names such as LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Shohei Ohtani and Caitlin Clark, with combat sports also represented by Oleksandr Usyk and Amanda Serrano.
Installed as UFC president in 2001 after Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta purchased the promotion, White later helped steer the company through its $4 billion sale to WME-IMG in 2016, after which his title shifted from president to CEO.
White has served as the UFC's figurehead for over two decades and has also promoted other combat sports ventures, including Zuffa Boxing and Power Slap.
Next up, on June 14, White will host a UFC fight card on the South Lawn of the White House, with Ilia Topuria scheduled to face Justin Gaethje in the main event. "We’re putting on the most historic sporting event in history," White said.
The sport's rise comes decades after sharp early criticism, including when John McCain described the activity that became modern UFC as "human cockfighting."
