“Dana Never Gave Me a Bonus Again” – MMA Legend Reveals Mistake Dana White Refused to Overlook for Going Against Advice

What happens when you anger Dana White? Ask former UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev, who found himself cut from White’s billion-dollar promotion. But Mokaev is not alone in facing the UFC boss’s wrath. A notable feud from a few years ago involved light heavyweight star Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, whose ongoing rivalry with his ex-employer frequently made headlines. More than eight years have passed since their relationship soured, but Jackson has not forgotten the perceived bias from Dana White.

Interestingly, this feud recently resurfaced during an episode of Jackson’s ‘JAXXON Podcast’ on YouTube, when his guest Michael Bisping brought up Quinton Jackson’s bonus during his UFC career. Bisping inquired, “You got a million-dollar bonus when you knocked out Chuck (Liddell), right?” In response, ‘The Rampage’ said, “No, no, no, no, he only gave me one bonus. And because I said something about it, Dana never gave me a bonus again. A couple of fights later, I asked him, ‘Dana, why you never give me more bonuses?’ He was like, ‘Yep.‘” Moreover, the former middleweight explained that the bonus for that fight was even higher than his fight purse.

Additionally, Quinton Jackson elaborated on why Dana White stopped giving him bonuses. He admitted to disregarding Dana’s request not to share information about the bonus with his manager. “That was like my second fight there,” ‘Rampage’ recalled. “And he gave me a bonus. I thought I was doing good—like, ‘Oh cool, cool, gave me a bonus.’ He never told me I wasn’t supposed to talk about it. He just told me not to give it to my manager. He couldn’t stand my manager at the time.”

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via Imago

Over the years, Dana White has cultivated an image as a leader who fiercely supports his allies in their times of need. For example, figures like Joe Rogan and Donald Trump, despite their share of controversies, stand as prime examples of his unwavering loyalty. However, on the other hand, crossing the UFC boss can quickly turn allies into adversaries. Notably, a striking example of this dynamic is former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who has transitioned from being a marquee fighter to becoming one of White’s most outspoken critics.

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Dana White despises Francis NgannouEarlier this year, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made his highly anticipated return to the MMA world, after his 2023 signing with the PFL and faced Renan Ferreira. However, his comeback reignited the long-standing tension between ‘The Predator’ and UFC president Dana White, a feud that had been simmering for over a year. During the promotional events leading up to the fight, Ngannou took aim at the UFC boss, accusing him of making things up and claiming the UFC and White owed him money. He went as far as to label White a “bully.”

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When these accusations reached Dana White, he was quick to respond. At the UFC 308 press conference, Dana White shot back, stating, “Never happened, so he’s full of s**t there… he actually owes me money because we had to watch that fight between him and the Black Beast [Derrick Lewis]. Me praying for [his downfall]? Trust me, I don’t think about Francis that much. You guys asked me the question about the PFL, and I responded.”

This begs the question: Does the UFC boss hold grudges against those who oppose him, or is he merely defending his reputation? Ben Askren, back in October, called out White’s approach, describing his responses as “unnecessary and petty.” What’s your take on Dana White’s stance toward his former fighters? Does he hold grudges for too long, or is he just standing his ground? Share your thoughts below.