Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White defended free speech, denying accusations that he has allowed fighters “a long leash” regarding what they are allowed to say.
Following Saturday’s UFC fight, White was told by a reporter that he gives “a long leash” when UFC fighters are onstage in front of a microphone, with the reporter warning White that he is “getting into territory of homophobia, transphobia.”
“I don’t give anybody a leash,” White responded. “A leash? Free speech. To control what people say, and to tell people what to believe? I don’t f***ing tell any other human being what to say, what to think, and there’s no leashes on any of ’em.”
White then asked the reporter what the question he wanted to ask was specifically, to which the reporter said that he would “move on.” The UFC president agreed, adding that moving on was “probably a good idea.”
“That’s ridiculous to say I give somebody a leash,” White added. “Free speech, brother. People can say whatever they want, and they can believe whatever they want.”
White’s defense of free speech comes after UFC star and former interim world champion Colby Covington spoke out against USA Boxing’s new transgender policy, which allows any adult biological male who identifies as a woman to compete among biological women. Covington called the policy “despicable,” saying that men do not belong in women’s sports, regardless of “what their hormone levels or pronouns are.”
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Covington also called former President Donald Trump the “strongest fighter” he’s ever met at the end of 2023.
In October, White and the UFC faced some pushback for entering a partnership with Bud Light, as the beer brand had partnered with transgender social media star Dylan Mulvaney in March. White defended the partnership, arguing that he is looking at “all the good things” that the beer brand’s parent company has done, such as employing U.S. veterans and helping farmers grow their crops.
