UFC fans have been left stunned after watching an interview clip of Dana White speaking back in 2001.
White, 55, is one of the most recognisable faces in MMA circles. His no-nonsense approach to business has allowed the UFC to become the world’s premier MMA organisation despite having only been founded in 1993.
He first became involved with the organisation back in 2001 when Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the company for a reported fee of $2m before it became a subsidiary of Zuffa.
White was then given the role of company president.
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These days, the Connecticut-born CEO is a self-assured figure, but this has seemingly not always been the case.
On Tuesday morning, a video was posted by the UFC to their official X page.
The clip was from an interview with White back in 2001 after he made his first appearances at a UFC event, which took place at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
And it was the way White – who was 32 at the time - looked rather than what he said, which has got fans talking.
One said: "Dana’s teeth game is something else what was that man doing before UFC."
Another added: "It’s crazy how much he has changed over the years lol."
A third commented: "What a high pitched voice he had back then."
While a fourth explained: "Dana white sounding like Adam Sandler back then."
Of course, over 30 years on his appearance has changed significantly and this is party down to his strict fitness routine.
Back in 2023, White's appearance altered after he lost 36kg in weight, which he claimed was influenced by his decision to work with human biologist Gary Brecka.
"So I did everything he said, to the letter," White said on 'The Action Junkeez Podcast'. "My legs were so f***** up 13 weeks ago, I couldn’t tie my shoes. I couldn’t bend over to tie my shoes, because my legs were f***** up. I could barely walk some days.
"I feel like I’m 35-years-old again. Swear to God, I feel like I’m 35 again."
Brecka also revealed some of White's secrets when he appeared on the 'Joe Rogan Experience' back in 2023.
"He's [Dana White] on hormone therapy... he went on a strict ketogenic diet, he got a red light therapy bed, he got a PMF mat, he did start doing cold plunging and he does use something called hypermax multi-step oxygen therapy," said Brecka.
"He didn't drink, we cut all the white flour, white rice, white bread, white pasta completely out of his diet. And sugars of all kinds."
Topics: UFC, Dana White, MMA
Luke Davies