On this day in 2016, the UFC president couldn’t resist the opportunity to highlight a cringe-inducing mistake.
Dana White’s job means that his decision-making and actions are often being critiqued and told what he should be doing better.
Even the likes of Joe Rogan have questioned some of White’s calls when it comes to signing certain fighters, parting ways with others or changes that should be made.
In 2026, this will extend to the boxing world, with promoters like Eddie Hearn picking apart White’s plans for the long-awaited launch of Zuffa Boxing.
One memorable UFC press conference remains a key example of a time where the leading MMA promotion’s boss seized the opportunity to reverse the roles and question a member of the media.
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Dana White questioned a member of the media after he incorrectly identified Robbie Lawler
Ten years ago today (January 2), Robbie Lawler defeated Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 195 to successfully defend his welterweight title.
Another incredible battle involving the champion led many to question whether the fight of the year had taken place just two days into 2016.
When Dana White walked on stage for the post-fight press conference, he announced that the two men involved in the main event would be arriving shortly.
White, who scored the fight in favor of Condit, answered some questions before one reporter looked to ask the 170 pound titleholder about the main event.
The only issue was that he’d jumped the gun and he had mistakenly confused Albert Tumenov, who was on stage after beating Lorenz Larkin on the main card, for Lawler.
He asked his question before a confusing pause led to him retracting his comments and apologizing, but White didn’t let this error pass by without being highlighted.
“Oh, you thought that was Robbie Lawler?” White responded while laughing. “You cover this sport? You thought that was Robbie Lawler?”
After joking that Tumenov could pass the question onto Lawler, White broke another long and awkward silence before Ariel Helwani took the mic.
“That was a showstopper huh, no more questions?”
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The reporter who made the error reflected on this moment in an article published days after
The member of the media whose mistake remains a classic UFC clip wrote about his error in an article that was published several days after the press conference.
Case Keefer, in an article titled “How I committed a media blooper by mistaking Robbie Lawler at UFC 195” for the Las Vegas Sun, explained where he went wrong.
“The UFC thankfully doesn’t pan its cameras onto media members asking questions at post-fight press conferences,” Keefer wrote. “That’s the only thing that could have made my last two days more embarrassing. It was a saving grace that viewers could only hear my Herculean gaffe after UFC 195, not see it.”
He spoke about immediately panicking once he started asking his question without taking a second look to double-check who was on the stage.
“I stammered and there’s a second or two of awkward near-silence in the video, but my internal noise was as loud as Condit’s signature Rage Against The Machine-charged arena entrance,” Keefer continued.
“In fighting circles, many have uttered the phrase that you never know how someone is going to deal with getting punched for the first time. Let’s just say I didn’t respond like Lawler and awaken with my best work after eating a strike.”
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