Dana White: Donn Davis and 'PFL ought to preserve the UFC out of their mouth'

ABU DHABI – What initially began years in the past as a distant but respectful relationship (not less than publicly) between the UFC and PFL has slowly was a little bit of a feud.

Days after PFL: Battle of the Giants occurred, Dana White was requested about latest claims made by Donn Davis that PFL was beating UFC in some statistical classes. Unsurprisingly, White didn’t agree. What was a shock was that he got here ready with a printout and rattled off statistical comparisons between Energy Slap and PFL.

“Initially, the PFL ought to preserve the UFC out of their mouth,” White informed MMA Junkie and different reporters Thursday. “They will’t even cope with Energy Slap. Energy Slap destroys PFL. It’s bizarre that you simply ask these questions as a result of I simply occur to have some papers right here.”

After itemizing off stats of social media posts and views, White took exception with Davis’ interview Wednesday with MMA Combating, throughout which the PFL CEO claimed he doesn’t watch MMA outdoors of his personal model.

“I can preserve occurring for a f*cking month right here,” White mentioned. “Then, if you wish to get into what he mentioned concerning the UFC, I’ve a laundry listing right here. However let me simply begin with this: UFC Vegas 84 on the Apex beat them. So hear, I perceive and I like the stuff that he mentioned. He feels like Kamala (Harris). He talks lots however says nothing. I might hate to be one in all that guys’ traders. ‘I don’t watch MMA. I’ve labored seven years and have by no means taken a trip.’ You need to most likely take a trip. You’re out of your f*cking thoughts, dude. You need to most likely take a trip.

“I’ve a listing right here. I’ll have Lenee (Breckenridge) get you guys this listing of all these numbers. However that man shouldn’t even point out the UFC. He’s not even in Energy Slap’s (realm). Then right now he was speaking about how ‘there’s all types of mixture packages and stuff how this works.’ He doesn’t beat Energy Slap in income. He doesn’t beat Energy Slap in ticket gross sales. He doesn’t beat Energy Slap in sponsorship. He doesn’t beat Energy Slap in something, not to mention the UFC.”

Previous to PFL’s acquisition of Bellator in late 2023, the promotion was not often talked about by White in interviews. Nonetheless, now that the panorama has modified, White has been requested about PFL with elevated frequency. He initially spoke with respect when speaking about PFL, Davis, and the remainder of the possession group.

Over time, nonetheless, the jockeying for credit score within the public enviornment has elevated. PFL and Davis have tried to color themselves in the identical mild because the UFC in a extra aggressive method than former Bellator president Scott Coker did throughout his tenure because the UFC’s largest competitor.

In response, White’s putdowns have additionally picked up. On a virtually weekly foundation throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence, White can be requested about PFL – and gladly embrace the chance to speak down on the model.