Mark Shapiro, the president of TKO, recently lauded UFC CEO Dana White for his exceptional ability to consistently create new stars in the MMA world. During his speech at the JP Morgan Technology, Media and Communications Conference, Shapiro drew a comparison between White and the late NBA commissioner David Stern. Stern was instrumental in the NBA’s rise to mainstream popularity, during which icons like Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James emerged.
Shapiro highlighted that, much like Stern, White excels in recognizing potential talent and positioning them for success. He emphasized that White’s approach not only benefits the fighters but also the organization as a whole. Shapiro remarked:
“The only other person I can equate [Dana White] to in terms of star building is David Stern…He sees men and women. He sees these potential stars. He gets behind them. They have to win on their own but he puts them in a position if they win, to really explode. That works to our benefit.”
MMA Fighting shared a tweet featuring Shapiro’s commendations for White, underlining the significant role White plays in nurturing and promoting fighters to stardom.
In addition to the praise from Shapiro, Dana White has also expressed admiration for Michael Jordan, specifically highlighting his unparalleled competitiveness. White referenced Jordan’s career achievements, including six NBA championships, and his intense approach to the game, which was vividly depicted in the 2020 documentary ‘The Last Dance’.
White shared his thoughts on Jordan’s mindset during an interview with Sage Steele, praising the basketball legend’s dedication and drive. He noted:
“I love the line in there [Jordan’s documentary] where he’s talking about, ‘Everybody’s talking about how mean I was and I was a bad guy. They all won championships too, didn’t they?’ Yeah, exactly…You’re welcome. What are we here for? Why are we doing this?…I love that about Jordan.”
White’s admiration for Jordan’s competitive spirit reflects his own philosophy in the UFC, where he emphasizes the importance of winning and excelling in the sport. This alignment in their outlooks on competitiveness and success underscores why Shapiro views White as a pivotal figure in sports entertainment, akin to David Stern’s impact on the NBA.
