Dana White said the UFC “probably should’’ talk about holding an event in Russia.
White, the UFC’s CEO, shared his thoughts during a press conference Saturday, Oct. 24 after the mixed martial arts promotion held an event in Abu Dhabi.
White took questions from the media, including from a man who, with White’s permission, asked his question in Russian before it was translated.
The man, who was not seen on the videotape of the press conference, started by noting that entering Saturday, two UFC champions were Russian. One is Petr Yan, who on Saturday defended his bantamweight title.
“Is there a way that we can have an event in Russia and what needs to be done for there to be an event in Russia and are there any talks about an event in Russia?" the man
asked, via translator.
Replied White, “There hasn't been (any talks), no. But it's a good question. We have not talked about doing an event in Russia. But yeah, we probably should.’’
Russia's invasion of Ukraine
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Russians were largely isolated by the international sports community. But that has begun to change.
The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July and removed its general recommendation against hosting events or restricting Russian athletes, though the IOC itself still maintains that it will not organize events inside Russia.
The largest international sporting events have maintained the same stance against holding events in Russia.
White is a close friend of President Donald Trump, who recently has shocked some political leaders by negotiating a deal to buy Russian diesel fuel and waiving new sanctions against Russia that were passed by Congress.
When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Trump’s diesel deal, Trump told reporters it is “time for Ukraine to get a new president.’’
On June 14, the UFC held an event at the White House. White promoted it as part of the country’s 250-year anniversary but the event also fell on Trump’s 80th birthday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dana White: UFC hasn't talked about holding event in Russia but 'probably should'
