Dana White appeared lost for words when asked to make a statement about the Black Lives Matter movement.- White is the president of the world's premier mixed martial arts organization, the
UFC . - The UFC held a behind-closed-doors event in Las Vegas, a show which saw two athletes make supportive statements and actions regarding the movement.
- At the post-event press conference, a reporter twice asked White to comment. "I don't even know how to answer that question," he said.
The UFC president Dana White appeared lost for words Saturday when asked to comment on the Black Lives Matter movement at the post-event press conference, which followed UFC 250.
Civil rights protests have gone beyond the United States and into major cities in other countries, like Tokyo, Amsterdam, and London.
Following the UFC 250 event in Las Vegas, the company's fifth show in the coronavirus era, a reporter asked White whether the company would make a statement or comment regarding the protests.
"In light of some of your fighters speaking up, is the UFC prepared to make a statement, or have you talked about it at all?"
White responded: "I don't understand what you're asking."
—Jevan (@jevan_bay) June 7, 2020
There have been daily demonstrations following the death on May 25 of George Floyd, a black man who died after the white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Chauvin has since been charged with second-degree murder.
Supporting Black Lives Matter has been a hot topic for fighters
Aljamain Sterling choked Cory Sandhagen unconscious at the UFC event on Saturday, then used his platform during the post-fight interview to support those "fighting the good fight."
He said, "the world is in shambles, especially in America." He said things need changing, "especially the injustices happening to minorities."
Sterling's speech followed another UFC fighter who made a statement.
In the evening's second bout on the early preliminary section of the UFC 250 card, the UFC light heavyweight Devin Clark knelt on a knee and raised his fist when Bruce Buffer introduced him.
Sterling and Clark's actions during an event follow those made outside of the sport by Jon Jones, who took to the Albuquerque streets to fight crime while challenging those who protest to do so peacefully, and Israel Adesanya, who made a powerful speech about being black in today's society.
White spoke about Jones and Adesanya at the media event but failed to make a statement about Black Lives Matter
White recognized what his athletes have been doing away from the UFC Octagon and even said that he had received phone calls from his African-American fighters.
White said he had given advice to those who called and said he would never tell anybody how to express themselves — whether it's through protest or social media commentary.
"Israel Adesanya was very involved in his country, Jon Jones was out there doing his thing, [and] other African-American fighters for the UFC called me and asked me for advice," White said.
"I gave them the best advice that I could give them."
He continued: "Everybody is dealing with all of this madness going on in the world right now in different ways. Everybody's gonna handle it differently.
"I would never try to tell somebody how to express themselves — whether it's fear, anger, whatever it might be. The beautiful thing about America is everybody can and however they want to, so I would never do that."
The reporter then reiterated her question if the UFC, or White, would consider "making a statement as an organization."
White said: "About what?"
The reporter said: "About the protests, or about the reason why the athletes are kneeling in other organizations."
White said: "I don't even know how to answer that question."
The reporter added: "So that's a no."
White finished: "Okay."
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