AE Daily News
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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White stated he doesn’t count on punishment after a video emerged of him in a bodily altercation along with his spouse earlier this month. White made the feedback Wednesday at a media day for UFC Fight Night 217.
Asked whether or not he expects there to be repercussions from the corporate, White stated: “What ought to the repercussions be? You inform me. I take 30 days off? How does that damage me?
“Me leaving hurts the corporate, hurts my staff, hurts the fighters. It doesn’t damage me.
“What is my punishment? Here’s my punishment: I’ve to stroll round for nonetheless lengthy I reside … and that is how I’m labeled now.
“The punishment is that I did it, and now I have to deal with it.”
In the video, obtained by TMZ, White and his spouse, Anne, are seen arguing earlier than exchanging slaps in a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on New Year’s Eve. Neither White nor his spouse are going through authorized expenses over the incident.
White claims that conversations had been held between himself, Endeavor chief govt and UFC proprietor, Ari Emanuel, and broadcaster ESPN over what motion was acceptable.
“We’ve had plenty of discussions internally – with Ari, with ESPN – nobody’s happy,” the 53-year-old stated. “Nobody’s happy about this. Neither am I. But it happened.”
White additionally stated he was not trying to make excuses for his conduct and reiterated his stance on home violence.
“There’s never an excuse … There’s no defense for this and people should not be defending me over this thing, no matter what.”
On Monday, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus wrote an open letter to Emanuel and Endeavor calling for White to get replaced as UFC president.
“Given Mr White’s previous remarks against domestic partner violence, we believed that Endeavor and the UFC shared this commitment to safety, respect and accountability,” the letter reads.
“And but, we have now seen the video of UFC president Dana White, the place he strikes his spouse at a New Year’s Eve celebration … We have been appalled. It was alarming to say the least. In the times because the video was launched, you have got remained silent.
“We are calling for the immediate removal of Mr White as president of UFC.”
AE Daily News reached out to Endeavor for remark however didn’t instantly get a response.
When contacted for remark, ESPN gave solely a brief assertion saying: “We have been covering the story on our platforms since it broke and will continue to do so.”
TBS has delayed the premiere of a actuality collection from Dana White – Power Slap: Road to the Title – by one week to January 18. TBS and AE Daily News are a part of the Warner Bros. Discovery community.
