Dana White sends money to fighter after cutting him from UFC
Dana White has built up a reputation for being hard on fighters that he doesn't like, but that may not be completely true.
Over the years and throughout the evolution of the sport, the UFC CEO has visibly had his favorites and a select few that seem to irritate him. Those in his good books are often looked after, with 'Uncle Dana' taking care of them financially or otherwise should they find themselves in trouble.
Advertisement
Despite their differences, Dana White was quick to aid undefeated MMA prospect Muhammad Mokaev after the flyweight star was involved in a scary car crash.
While he was thriving inside the octagon, Mokaev was cut from the UFC due to his behavior outside of the cage. 'The Punisher' revealed that, though he was removed from the UFC roster, White still offered him a helping hand during a difficult time.
"When I had [a] car crash after being cut from UFC, I received some money from Dana too. [I'm] not sure what for, but it meant a lot to me."
@mokaev_muhammad/Instagram
Related: Muhammad Mokaev hospitalized by car crash
Another man Dana White has helped out in recent times is former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Following the Mexican's run-in with the law, new reports suggest that White covered Velasquez's bail with a $1 million payout.
Advertisement
"I don't know if he gave out a statement or something beforehand, when I was locked up," Velasquez said. "And also, he did pay my bail as well."
"So, they're helping. They've helped."
Cain Velasquez was sentenced for attempted murder against a man accused of molesting his son.
The entire MMA community and beyond sided with Velasquez after news broke of his actions three years ago. Dana White played a huge role in the UFC Hall-of-Famer's release from jail without the public's knowledge, until now.
Check out Cain Velasquez's comments on Dana White below.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Patti Lupone apologizes for ‘disrespectful' comments made about fellow Broadway actors during New Yorker interview
Patti Lupone has issued an apology after making what she now describes as 'demeaning and disrespectful' comments about two fellow Broadway stars in an interview with the New Yorker last week. The 'Evita' star's apology comes after hundreds of performers from the Broadway and theater communities issued an open letter first published by Playbill and called for accountability in light of Lupone's 'deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments' about Broadway stars Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald. In the interview, Lupone referred to Lewis as a 'b*tch' and said McDonald was 'not a friend,' prompting a wave of backlash against the notoriously thorny legend. Lupone had previously had public spats with both performers. 'I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful,' Lupone wrote in a statement posted to her Instagram page Saturday. 'I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community.' Lupone added that she hopes 'to have the chance to speak to' McDonald and Lewis personally to offer her 'sincere apologies.' The letter, which was issued to the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, also called upon the institutions to take action by not welcoming Lupone at 'industry events,' including the Tony Awards, which are presented by the two institutions. 'This language is not only degrading and misogynistic—it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment,' the letter stated. 'It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence.' The Tony Awards are set to take place June 8. In her apology on Saturday, Lupone wrote that she 'wholeheartedly' agreed with 'everything that was written' in the open letter. 'From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel they don't belong anywhere else,' Lupone wrote. 'I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better.' CNN has reached out to representatives for Lupone, Lewis and McDonald for comment. In the New Yorker interview, Lupone was asked about an incident that happened last year when Lewis posted a video to her Instagram page asking for an apology from Lupone after she had called 'Hell's Kitchen,' the stage production in which Lewis stars, 'too loud.' She said Lupone, who was at the time starring in 'The Roommate' in the theater next to 'Hell's Kitchen,' had requested that the latter's sound department make adjustments. In Lewis' video, she called herself and Lupone veterans in the industry and said Lupone's actions were 'offensive' and 'racially microaggressive.' When asked about the incident by the New Yorker, Lupone responded: 'Don't call yourself a vet, b*tch.' 'This is not unusual on Broadway. This happens all the time when walls are shared,' she added. Lupone also reacted to McDonald showing support for Lewis in the comments section of the video, telling the New Yorker she thought 'that's typical of Audra.' 'She's not a friend,' she said. McDonald was asked about Lupone's comments on 'CBS This Morning' on Thursday, but seemingly took the high road. 'If there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is,' she said. 'That's something that you'd have to ask Patti about.'

Los Angeles Times
36 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Carlos Vela helped grow soccer in the U.S. Here are 9 other Latino players who have done the same
A legend of Major League Soccer has officially hung his cleats. Carlos Vela, the first designated player signed by Los Angeles Football Club and the top scorer in the club's history, announced his retirement on Tuesday. During his time with LAFC, the Mexican striker established the club as a prime destination for well-known players from around the world — European stars Gareth Bale, Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris all joined the black and gold. He helped the team win its first trophy by scoring 34 goals during the 2019 season, en route to lifting the Supporters' Shield and setting the MLS single-season record. Vela's arrival was yet another chapter in the long history of Latino players leaving a mark on MLS. Here are nine other footballers who did the same. As the newest kid on the soccer block, MLS needed serious playmakers to establish itself as a legitimate league when it first launched in 1996. To do so, it enlisted high-profile players from Latin America. Marco Etcheverry, Carlos Valderrama and Jorge Campos dominated American soccer from 1996 to 2001. Etcheverry, born in Bolivia, dribbled his way into the history books by helping D.C. United reach the MLS Cup finals four consecutive years, winning three of them, including the inaugural one. Valderrama, who hailed from Colombia, directed the offense of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and was instrumental in the club winning the first ever Supporters' Shield — awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. The league's initial success also depended on the personalities on the field. Sports, after all, exist to entertain. Enter Jorge Campos, the very colorful goalkeeper from Mexico. Campos didn't just have swagger; he was also a two-way player. As a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire, Campos would start games as the goalkeeper and finish as a striker. His unique style gave the MLS the coolness it needed to remain relevant. Carlos 'El Pescadito' Ruiz, who started off his career in his native Guatemala, admitted that he had doubts when he first agreed to transfer to MLS. 'Everything we hear about Major League Soccer is not so good. … We hear that all the players come here to finish their careers,' Ruiz told the New York Times. It didn't take long for Ruiz to make an impact. He notched 24 goals during the 2002 season — his first in the league — earning the Golden Boot award given to the season's top goal scorer. That same year, Ruiz led the Galaxy to its first MLS Cup. English soccer legend David Beckham made a splash when he joined the Galaxy in 2007. But he wasn't the only high-profile footballer to make a move to MLS that year. Cuauhtémoc Blanco, one of the most popular players in Mexican soccer history, chose to take his talents to the Chicago Fire, becoming the second-highest-paid MLS player in the process (behind Beckham). Blanco's short MLS stint was productive: He was a two-time MVP finalist, scored the MLS goal of the year in 2007 and took home the MLS All-Star Game MVP honors in 2008. Also coming into the league in 2007 was Guillermo Barros Schelloto, who joined the Columbus Crew after not getting enough playing time at Argentine club Boca Juniors. Thanks to Schelloto, the Crew, one of the league's founding clubs, won its first MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield in 2008. He was also named the 2008 MVP. In 2011, Schelloto returned to Argentina, though not before cementing his place as one of the most iconic players in Crew history. These three highlight how important attracting players from Latin America has been for MLS during much of its existence. Raul Ruidiaz was instrumental in the Seattle Sounders' transformation from expansion team to one of the most formidable clubs in North America. The Peruvian-born player joined the team in 2018 at age 27 and led the team to its second MLS Cup victory in 2019. In 2022, the Sounders became the only MLS club to date to win the CONCACAF Champions League. Ruidiaz contributed two goals in the Sounders' 5-3 aggregate victory against Mexican side UNAM. Ruidiaz left the club at the end of 2024, but not before becoming the Sounders' No. 2 all-time leading scorer in franchise history. After bouncing around and struggling at clubs in Switzerland and Italy, the Venezuelan-born Josef Martínez found a home at Atlanta United FC, joining the expansion club while on loan from Torino in 2017, during its inaugural season. The following year, Martínez had one of the most prolific individual seasons in MLS history. His 31 goals set an MLS single-season record (broken the following year by Carlos Vela). In addition to winning the Golden Boot, Martínez was named league MVP, All-Star Game MVP and MLS Cup Final MVP (Atlanta United won its only MLS Cup by defeating the Portland Timbers, 2-0). Martínez was key in turning Atlanta into a soccer city. During the 2018 season, the franchise averaged more than 53,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For context, BMO Stadium (where LAFC plays) and Dignity Health Sports Park (where the Galaxy play), have a seating capacity of 22,000 and 27,000, respectively. Since its inception, MLS has had a somewhat earned reputation of being a place where players go to retire. But over the last decade, the league has helped change the narrative by exporting young talent to Europe. Which brings us to Miguel Almirón. The Paraguayan soccer player formed part of Atlanta United's 2018 championship run. In 2019, he was sold to English Premier League club Newcastle United for a reported $27 million. Almirón's transfer paved the way for the likes of Mexican American Ricardo Pepi and Colombian Jhon Durán to follow suit. In 2022, FC Dallas received $20 million for Pepi (he was 18 at the time) from German club Augsburg, and the Chicago Fire received $18 million in transfer fees from EPL club Aston Villa for Duran.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sydney Sweeney's New Soap Collab Will Be Made With 'Her Actual Bathwater'
Men like Sydney Sweeney. How much do they like her? Well, men's personal hygiene company Dr. Squatch is making a new soap with a secret ingredient: Sydney Sweeney's actual bathwater. For real. 'You kept asking about my bathwater after the @drsquatch ad … so we kept it,' Sweeney (Euphoria, The White Lotus season one) posted to her Instagram account on Thursday. Called 'Sydney's Bathwater Bliss,' the bricc (what Dr. Squatch calls its soap bars) is a 'very real, very limited-edition soap made with my actual bathwater,' Sweeney wrote. More from The Hollywood Reporter Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, Michelle Yeoh Films Sell Wide at Cannes Sydney Sweeney Teases "Unhinged" 'Euphoria' Season 3 Sydney Sweeney, Halsey Get Violent While Hunting Down a Rare Artifact in 'Americana' Trailer Why do this? Well, you know why: because men are gross. So now they can cleanse themselves — well, their skin at least — with saponified oils (of olive, sustainable palm and coconut), shea butter, natural fragrance, Sydney's bath water, sand, mica, kaolin clay and sea salt. God knows what else they'll do with it: Dr. Squatch called Sweeney's bathwater 'one of nature's finest aphrodisiacs.' Don't try to check us on that 'men are gross' thing. First of all, I'm a man and I'm gross. But more relevant here are the multiple stalker fan letters to Dr. Squatch asking for this exact product — and definitely asking for worse things. Here's a relatively tame one: Unfortunately, there's a lot more where that came from; swipe right on the post. Clearly, the personal-care company (and Sweeney, whom Dr. Squatch calls a 'legend' for this) are leaning in. Days ago, the collab was teased by a Dr. Squatch post that read: 'Wanna take a shower with Sydney Sweeney?' Well, come June 6, you can. Sort of. The medium grit bar soap has 'refreshing notes of pine, Douglas fir and earthy moss,' per the manufacturer. Naturally, Dr. Squatch named the scent 'morning wood.' Sydney's Bathwater Bliss is 'a perfect combination of the two best places on the planet: The outdoors and Sydney Sweeney's bathtub,' the company continued. It appears that 100 creeps lucky winners will get a bricc made with Sweeney's actual bathwater. (To win one, you have to be '18+.' This bath soap couldn't get pornier.) The rest of you can buy a bar next week for $8. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Dr. Squatch and Sweeney's reps for more info. Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Lady in the Lake' to 'It Ends With Us': 29 New and Upcoming Book Adaptations in 2024 Meet the Superstars Who Glam Up Hollywood's A-List Rosie O'Donnell on Ellen, Madonna, Trump and 40 Years in the Queer Spotlight