UFC President Dana White has opened up about his approach to family, work and raising his children. Despite building one of the biggest combat sports organisations in the world, White says he wanted his sons to understand the value of hard work from an early age.White’s comments come as he has also spoken about his difficult relationship with his late mother, June White. His family life has often been complicated, but White has been clear about one thing. He wants his children to build their own paths and understand the effort required to succeed.
Dana White opens up on wanting his sons to understand what real work looks like
Dana White and his wife, Anne, have three children. Their sons are Dana White III and Aidan White, while their youngest child is daughter Savannah White.White has previously said that he never wanted to force his career path on his children. He wanted them to find something they genuinely enjoyed. However, he also wanted them to understand the importance of showing up and working hard.That is why White made his sons experience construction and other manual jobs.His view is connected to the way he built his own career. White did not come from a wealthy background. He has often spoken about working hard before becoming one of the most powerful figures in combat sports.White believes that young people can learn valuable lessons by working alongside others.“This younger generation thinks you can work from home and build a successful business. It’s impossible… A lot of good ideas come from everybody being at work”, he said on The Diary of Ace Podcast.For White, the lesson was not simply about earning money. He wanted his children to understand responsibility, discipline and the value of being around other workers.His children have ultimately followed very different paths.Dana White III developed a passion for football. He played the sport at the University of San Diego after growing up playing football in Nevada.Aidan White initially followed his brother’s interest in football. He later moved towards combat sports and made his amateur boxing debut in 2018. He eventually became involved with action sports and Nitrocross through Thrill One.Savannah White has followed a quieter path. She has stayed away from much of the spotlight surrounding her father and brothers.White’s approach to parenting has also been shaped by his own complicated family history.His relationship with his mother, June White, became deeply strained. June wrote an unauthorised 2011 biography about her son, Dana White: King of MMA, which was highly critical of him and his behaviour.White later spoke openly about their falling-out. He said a series of increasingly aggressive emails demanding money contributed to the breakdown of their relationship.June died in 2023. When discussing the loss of both parents, White said he had “almost no feelings about it” because he had put those relationships far behind him.
