‘P***y’: Why Dana unleashed on Aussie editor

UFC President Dana White has taken aim at the Australian media in an explosive press conference, even calling one Sydney newspaper editor a “p***y”.

UFC president Dana White has gone to war with a Sydney newspaper editor in a fiery press conference, calling the Australian media “the biggest bunch of p***ies”.

Mr White made the comment in response to an opinion article by Sydney Morning Herald editor Bevan Shields, who said he felt “sick” after listening to a podcast between the UFC boss and NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Dana White launched a tirade against Australia media on Sunday. Picture: YouTube

Dana White launched a tirade against Australia media on Sunday. Picture: YouTube

In the article, Mr Shields questioned the NSW Government’s decision to grant the UFC $16 million of taxpayer funding to bring three of their events to Sydney, calling the sport “repulsive”.

“If people want to go to these events, good luck to them. I make no judgment about their decision,” he wrote.

“But I do question the wisdom of spending taxpayer funding on the glorification of violence.”

At a press conference in Sydney on Sunday, Mr White colourfully fired back at the article.

“I saw a story where the guy was like ‘I saw Dana do a podcast with the Premier and it physically made me sick’ – holy f**king s**t, you guys must have the biggest bunch of p***ies of all time in the media here,” he said.

“For a place that is so tough - everything on land, in the water can kill you - you have the biggest p***ies I have seen in the media in my life.

Dana White leaves the press conference at Qudos Bank Arena. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“That guy has to be the biggest f**king wimp on planet earth.”

Minns’ podcast sit down

In the controversial podcast last week - where Mr Minns sat down with Trump-ally Mark Bouris and Mr White - the NSW Premier said he had “loved” the UFC for “years and years”.

“For some reason, the previous government didn’t try and grab UFC pitch it into Sydney,” he said.

“A lot of people don’t understand the life that you have to live to be an MMA fighter. And I think that they’re good values, genuinely good values, for a lot of young people to have.”

Mr Minns’ comments were condemned online, given one of the Sydney fights features US fighter Sean Strickland, who once labelled himself “a neo-Nazi”.

“I would like to consider Australians as English white trash and even some Irish,” Strickland said last week.

“As an American white trash, I feel like I have a lot in common with you.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns featured on the podcast with Dana White. Picture: YouTube/Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

Mr Strickland also took aim at Australia’s gun control laws last week ahead of his fight.

“You had one mass shooting and gave up all your guns, that was kind of pathetic,” he said about the introduction of gun laws after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

“You guys have got a lot of cameras here – red light cameras, cell phone cameras, seatbelt cameras, speed cameras.

“How do you get a b***job while you drive? Do you get a ticket for that, is there that kind of camera.

“It’s real f***ing communist here.”

Shields article ignites debate

Mr Shields was backed up over the weekend by Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons, who called out Mr White for slapping his wife.

“Why the hell is the NSW taxpayer subsidising this unacceptable, brutal sport to the tune of $16 million?” Mr Fitzsimmons wrote.

“Dana White, they reckon, is worth $500 million. So why are we kicking into his tin?”

Mr Shields’ article was also slammed by United Australia Senator Ralph Babet.

“The attacks on Dana White and the UFC aren’t really about taxpayer money - that’s just a smokescreen,” he wrote on X.

“The real issue? His ties to President Trump, Elon Musk, and his new role at Meta, which has rolled back censorship and removed tampons from men’s bathrooms. The media will keep coming for him and anyone else who puts their nation first and holds conservative values.”