Dana White Names the 4 UFC Fighters He Believes Are in a Class of Their Own

yahoo sports mma |  
Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dana White at UFC 229
Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Kshitiz Kumar Singh

Over the years, several UFC fighters have helped define the company and shape it into the powerhouse it is today. From Royce Gracie and Mark Coleman to Randy Couture and Matt Hughes, these legends helped pull the sport out of its darkest days and turn it into a global phenomenon. So, it is always interesting to hear which fighters Dana White believes stand above the rest.

The UFC CEO recently appeared on The Diary of a CEO podcast and named Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Chuck Liddell, and Khabib Nurmagomedov as his four ultimate choices. White said, “Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Chuck Liddell when it was his time, Ronda Rousey.”

Dana White Names Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Chuck Liddell and Khabib Nurmagomedov in a League of Their Own

White first spoke about Ronda Rousey, the UFC’s first female champion and the woman who convinced him to give women’s MMA a chance inside the promotion. He explained, “People want to talk sh*t about Ronda Rousey now. Ronda Rousey came to me. I didn’t want women in the UFC, right? And the reasoning was I was trying to sell men into networks and sponsors, and they were like, ‘This is too whatever.’ Women?”

White then recalled the first time Rousey approached him and explained how the former 135-pound champion convinced him to take a chance on women in the UFC. He said, “Ronda grabbed me at an event and said, ‘Hey, I’m Ronda Rousey, can I get 15 minutes with you?’ We went into my room at the arena and minutes into the conversation, I’m like, ‘Holy sh*t, I think I’m going to do this, and she’s the one to do it with.’”

He added, “She came in with the whole f*cking bravado. You want to talk about a chip on your shoulder. I mean, she had it. So many people now want to hate on her. She is a f*cking unicorn.”

Rousey went on to become one of the biggest stars in UFC history. She became the promotion’s first female champion, successfully defended her 135-pound title six times, and helped make women’s MMA a major part of the UFC.

 

ALSO READ:Daniel Cormier Says Justin Gaethje Has No Easy Options Amid UFC Title Defense Questions

Next on White’s list was Conor McGregor, arguably the biggest star the UFC has ever produced. White recalled meeting McGregor before signing him and immediately seeing his potential. He said, “Conor McGregor, I went to dinner with him when we signed him. I left that dinner, I called Lorenzo Fertitta, and I said, ‘Dude, I don’t know if this guy can fight or not, but if he can even throw a punch, he’s going to be a massive superstar.”

White’s prediction turned out to be spot on. McGregor quickly became one of the UFC’s biggest attractions thanks to his elite striking and unmatched ability to sell a fight. He knocked out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds at UFC 194 to become the featherweight champion before making history at UFC 205.

At Madison Square Garden, McGregor stopped Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously. He also became the promotion’s biggest pay-per-view draw, with his rivalry against Khabib Nurmagomedov producing UFC 229, which remains one of the biggest events in UFC history.

Nurmagomedov was the next name on White’s list and represented almost the complete opposite of McGregor. While McGregor built his legacy through striking and showmanship, “The Eagle” became synonymous with dominance and consistency.

Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record, including 13-0 in the UFC. His suffocating grappling style made him one of the most dominant fighters the sport had ever seen, and he famously lost just a single round on a single judge’s scorecard throughout his professional career.

His incredible run ended with his retirement in 2020 after victories over some of the best fighters of his generation, including McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. He also left the sport as the reigning UFC lightweight champion. Finally, White named Chuck Liddell, who was arguably the face of the UFC during its mid-2000s explosion.

“The Iceman” became one of the promotion’s biggest stars while building a 21-8 professional record, with 13 of his wins coming by knockout in the Octagon. Liddell was one of the key figures who helped establish the UFC’s light heavyweight division and became a major pay-per-view attraction during the company’s rapid growth.

Alongside stars such as Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture, Liddell helped push the UFC into the mainstream during the Zuffa era. At a time when the sport was still fighting for acceptance, these fighters helped turn MMA from a niche attraction into a major part of pop culture.