UFC legend Chael Sonnen believes Dana White would be a disrupter in Washington D.C. if he decided to run for political office.
Chael Sonnen isn’t buying what Dana White is selling regarding the UFC headman’s recent comments about his interest in a future in U.S. politics.
White hosted U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump at UFC 309 last Saturday in New York City. A ceremonious walkout for Trump and his Republican party entourage received a thunderous ovation from fans at the event.
Trump, an avid UFC fan, shared many moments with fighters competing at UFC 309. UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones used his post-fight celebration to nod at the cageside Trump.
White and Trump are longtime friends, stemming from Trump’s early support for the UFC during the promotion’s previous struggles for relevancy. Trump hosted several UFC events at his resorts after White stepped in and purchased the promotion, including UFC 31 headlined by Randy Couture vs. Pedro Rizzo.
Despite being a centerpiece of Trump’s 2024 U.S. Presidential Election campaign, White shut down the idea of a future political run during a podcast interview. But, Sonnen believes conversations between the Republican Party and White are inevitable in an attempt to change his mind.
Chael Sonnen: Dana White would win U.S. Presidential Election if he ran
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Sonnen predicted that White will one day change his mind on a potential political career.
“If [Donald Trump Jr.] doesn’t want to run, somebody in the party will speak to, in closed doors, I promise you, is Dana White,” Sonnen asserted. “And while Dana White would laugh at this…somebody will talk with him, and it could be very interesting.
“I assure you that if they do that now, it would be completely blown off. However, Dana [White] did say in 2016, that if Trump asked him to be his Chief of Staff, he would leave the UFC and go be Chief of Staff,” Sonnen continued on White. “Dana never says anything in the history of him learning how to speak, that is anything against the UFC…’If the President called on me, I would serve’, and I’m just sharing with you that there’s going to be a day when Dana will change his mind [on politics], and Dana White would win. He would win the presidency.”
Sonnen teased his political future as he plans to eventually run for governor in his home state, Oregon. He ran for a spot in the Oregon House of Representatives in 2010 as a Republican. As of this writing, White hasn’t responded to Sonnen’s endorsement.
Dana White shows no signs of retiring from UFC’s top spot despite speculation
White introduced Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee earlier this year. Earlier this month, Trump was elected the 47th U.S. President-Elect in a landslide victory against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
White, along with Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, purchased the UFC for $2 million in 2001. Per BetMGM, the UFC’s net worth is over $12 billion, as of October 2024.
The UFC has become a global juggernaut under White’s leadership. After rebuilding the UFC essentially from the ground up in the early 2000s, the promotion is the worldwide leader in mixed martial arts competition.
In recent years, some fans and pundits speculated that White could potentially walk away from his UFC President post in 2026 once his current deal concludes. But, White has shut down his leaving from the promotion anytime soon and wants to also dip his toes into the boxing business.
Sonnen believes White could mimic Trump’s political fortitude if he decided to run for political office. Time will tell if Sonnen’s prediction will come to fruition as White moves ahead as the main leader of the UFC.
from Bloody Elbow https://ift.tt/a0d5QJq
