Dana White says the gap in required skill level is the main reason influencer athletes tend to choose boxing over the UFC.
Speaking on a recent podcast, the UFC CEO and president broke down why crossover fighters rarely make the jump to mixed martial arts:
You have to have such a high skill level to do mixed martial arts.
Anybody can put on a pair of gloves and throw punches at each other.
You know, going to the ground and pulling off submissions and doing all that stuff is a whole other level.
White wasn’t downplaying boxing itself, but stressed that MMA demands competence across multiple disciplines at once – striking, takedown defense, wrestling against the cage…
Well, you have to have it all.
If you’re not a well-rounded athlete, you cannot exist in the UFC. You can’t be successful here.
You have to have it all.
White also credited Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and longtime commentator Joe Rogan specifically, with helping audiences understand what’s actually happening once a fight hits the mat:
Joe Rogan is the best combat sports commentator of all time.
When they went to the ground, two or three steps before it happened, Joe Rogan would start walking you through what was going on and literally helped educate millions of people on the ground game.
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents
💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win?
💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers?
It’s not your age. It’s your strategy.
If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you.
🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:
Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu
Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting?
Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35
who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.
Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made
specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.