UFC fans left in shock from Dana White throwback birthday picture as he looks unrecognisable with hair
A THROWBACK video of Dana White in 2001 has left fans stunned with the UFC president almost unrecognisable.
The video, posted by WWL MMA to celebrate ’20 years running the fight business, was taken just after White’s school friends Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta purchased the UFC.
He was named as UFC president and spoke on camera about their 5,000 sell-out show – only a THIRD of what they currently average now.
Most striking in the video is the change in White’s voice, as he can be heard speaking with a much higher and lighter pitch.
He also had dark black hair, but like several other promoters in the fight game, the years of non-stop work got to him eventually.
White, now 52, spoke about his vision of making the UFC the ‘Super Bowl’ of MMA – and two decades later he lived up to his promise.
One fan commented: “This video truly inspires me. He’s visionary.”
Another said: “This video still inspires me every time I see it.”
One added: “Did everything he said he was going to. Fair play.”
Another commented: “Oh my. That’s so crazy to see.”
White and the Fertitta brothers were on the verge of selling the company in 2004 for just $5m after getting into around $40m debt.
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But they decided to stick it out and went on to turn the UFC into a global powerhouse.
The Fertitta brothers then decided to sell the UFC for $4.4BILLION in 2016, having purchased it initially for only $2m.
Endeavor – formerly known as William Morris Endeavor – took over while White stayed on as UFC president.
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