REVEALED: Dana White told fighters in 2014 ‘YOU’LL NEVER go back to putting your hands on a woman’ and now faces calls to quit as UFC president after KILL his wife on New Year’s Eve
Dana White is facing calls to quit his role as UFC president after a 2014 interview resurfaced in which he said ‘you can’t recover from putting your hands on a woman’.
White apologized Tuesday after a video surfaced in which he publicly slapped his wife in the face during an argument on New Year’s Eve.
The 53-year-old White has been married to his wife Anne since 1996. The couple have had three children together over the past 26 years while his net worth has soared to a reported $500 million in the formation of the UFC, the world’s most popular mixed martial arts promotion.
But his position at the top of the UFC may now be on the line after a 2014 interview surfaced, in which he reacted to a video of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice abusing his wife.
UFC boss Dana White has apologized for slapping his wife on New Year’s Eve
White said he had no excuse for his actions and said he was ’embarrassed’ about the clip
Speaking on FOX Sports Live at the time, White said: ‘It’s a tough one. First of all, the video is terrifying. Really scary. You’re talking about a guy who’s been in the fight business since he was 19 years old. This is the most disturbing thing you will ever see.
‘What’s as bad as the blow is that he shows no remorse after he does it. You know, if you do something in anger and you go, “Oh my god. What did I do?” There is none of that in this man. I don’t know all the ins and outs of what Roger Goodell did or knew or how it was handled but it sure was bad. I can tell you this: I don’t want to be Roger Goodell.
‘We’ve been the people to let these guys know, other guys to make up for what they’ve done and come back. There is one thing you will never get back and that is laying your hands on a girl. I’ve been like that in the UFC since we started here. You’re not going back to putting your hands on a woman.’
White has been married to his partner Anne for 26 years and the couple have three children
White – who has led the UFC since 2001 – has previously said there is no way back for fighters who are violent towards women
White and his wife were celebrating New Year’s Eve at El Squid Roe in Cabo San Lucas, where the clip was shot. The footage shows White appearing to say something to Anne, who reacts by slapping her. He then slapped her on the back before the couple separated.
Addressing the incident to TMZ, the UFC boss said: ‘My wife and I were out on Saturday night on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, that’s what happened.
‘I’m one of those people who says there is never, ever a reason for a man to put his hands on a woman and now here I am on TMZ talking about it.
‘It’s one of those situations that’s horrible. I’m ashamed. We have three kids and since the video popped up, we have shown the kids and we are more focused on our family right now.
‘People will have their opinions about it and people’s opinions will be right, especially in my case. You don’t put your hands on a woman, ever.’
His wife Anne was quoted by TMZ as saying: ‘To say this is out of character for him is an understatement – nothing like this has ever happened before.
‘Unfortunately, we both drank too much on New Year’s Eve and things got out of control, on both sides. We have discussed this as a family and apologized to each other.’
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