Dana White didn’t have much to say apparently.
White was set to be a guest on Canadian comedian Howie Mandel’s podcast before abruptly walking off the set after a warm 30-second intro from Mandel for reasons that are unclear.
“Thank you for all the kind words, I appreciate it,” White said before walking off the set. “I am so f–king tired of doing podcasts. I am literally done with them. I am not doing any more podcasts.”
Mandel, watching him walk off the set, immediately began talking to his other guest, comedian Ginger Billy, without acknowledging White’s walk off.
While the interaction could be a work for publicity – it’s been successful if that’s the case – White looked noticeably upset while Mandel introduced him, showering him with compliments.
Dana White didn’t look too thrilled with Howie Mandel’s showering of compliments. X, @HappyPunch“Sometimes when you wish upon a star, the star shows up,” Mandel said prior to his introduction.
“Dana White, you are an amazing guy. I can’t thank you enough for being here. You and Ginger seem to be getting along. You are not only an amazing businessman, you are an inspiration. You are a philosopher — the way you do business, the way you conduct your business and your friendships and media, I’m jealous. Dana, I can’t thank you enough for being here.”
White looked particularly flustered when Mandel called him a philosopher.
White has done and been called many things in his over 20-year career as the head of the UFC, but a philosopher would probably be the newest one.
It is possible that White took exception to the rosy compliments that Mandel tossed in his direction. But it’s also feasible to believe that White, who has nearly become a full-blown social media influencer at this point, would do something like this to boost Mandel’s podcast.
Howie Mandel watches Dana White walk off the set in shock. X, @HappyPunch Dana White takes his headset off and walks off. X, @HappyPunchWhite has done a lot of podcasts as the stars flooded Las Vegas for the Super Bowl.
He recently appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and “The Full Send Podcast” with Bob Menery and Kyle Foregard last week while doing live streams with the Nelk Boys, and he even appeared with Kevin Iole, formerly with Sports Illustrated.
White has also had an antagonistic relationship with media personnel for years.
“The media are the dumbest, know nothing, do nothing, never f–king built nothing mother f–kers on planet earth,” White said on the “Bussin with the Boys” podcast in November. “Why does their opinion matter? What have they ever done? What have they ever created?”
The short-lived podcast appearance will likely lead to a host of questions at the UFC 298 press conferences between Thursday and Saturday.
