From Dana White’s runner to UFC fighter? Sal Everett competes on Contender Series tonight
Talk about climbing the “corporate” ladder.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) employee, Salhahuddin “Sal” Everett, will attempt to trade his company badge for a UFC contract tonight (Tues., Oct. 6, 2026) when he battles fellow undefeated Welterweight prospect, Ozzy Martin, on Week 9 of Contender Series inside Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada (full results here).
Everett’s road to the Octagon is unlike any other fighter competing this season.
The 29-year-old started at the bottom of UFC’s corporate operation, working in the mailroom and as a graveyard security guard before eventually becoming UFC CEO Dana White’s personal runner. In other words, Everett went from stocking White’s refrigerator and handling errands behind the scenes to fighting directly in front of his former boss with a UFC contract on the line.
Ironically, Everett’s fighting ambitions nearly prevented him from getting inside UFC headquarters in the first place.
“I actually applied for the UFC in 2019 and didn’t get the job,” Everett told Spinnin’ Backfist. “I remember telling the director of security — he asked me where I would see myself in five years — and I told him, ‘Fighting for the UFC.’ And he actually didn’t give me the job for whatever reason. A year and a half later, or two years later, I wound up working for them.”
Mission accomplished … at least partially.
Everett eventually landed a UFC security position through a third-party agency before working his way into White’s inner circle. According to Everett, he was stocking the company refrigerator when the matchmakers casually informed him that he would be getting an opportunity on Contender Series.
Of course, Everett did not receive the shot solely because of his UFC connections.
“Bundy” holds a perfect (4-0) professional record after compiling a 4-0 amateur resume, finishing all eight opponents along the way. None of his four professional fights have lasted three minutes, including a ridiculous four-second knockout of former Power Slap competitor, Wesley Drain, in Jan. 2026. Most recently, Everett submitted Armus Guyton via first round rear-naked choke in July.
White has already admitted it will be difficult to remain unbiased when his former employee competes. However, Everett will still have to earn his way onto UFC’s roster against Martin, another undefeated (4-0) prospect with a 100 percent finish rate.
The 24-year-old Martin has knocked out all four of his professional opponents, most recently flattening Ryan Jett in just 30 seconds.
So, something has to give tonight.
“By any means necessary, I’m getting that contract,” Everett told MMA Fighting. “That would be the best promotion I ever got in my whole life.”