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Making a name for yourself in the UFC is no easy task. A fighter has to go through many challenges before having a chance with the world's leading MMA promotion. Most athletes spend years proving themselves outside the organization. Even after being signed, a fighter needs to perform well. The biggest stage in MMA has no place for the second best.
The competition is fierce. Even the best in the world lose at some point in the UFC. Legendary fighters who built up fearsome reputations elsewhere have stumbled inside the octagon. Mirko Cro Cop comes to mind.
Naturally, fighters look for any and every way to raze their stock. A surefire way to progress through the ranks is to impress president Dana White. But while many seek, not too many succeed at that task. Even those in favor are at risk of falling out if they make an egregious offense.
A beef with the UFC president has impacted the careers of Cris Cyborg, Quinton Jackson, Tito Ortiz and others. So it's best to be on the good side of the boss. Now, let's take a look at five current fighters who Dana White likes.
#5. Israel Adesanya - UFC middleweight champion
Israel Adesanya came into the UFC with a wealth of experience. He was an established kickboxer with a record of 75-5. He even delved into boxing and has a 5-1 record. The Nigerian built an undefeated MMA resume before signing with the promotion.
Adesanya made short work of his first opponent, Rob Wilkinson. It was evident from the first fight that he was special. 'The Last Stylebender' progressed quickly with notable victories over Derek Brunson and Anderson Silva. His quick wit, trash talk and extravagance attracted fans, and impressed Dana White.
At UFC 236, Izzy won the interim middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum. It was one of the best fights in UFC history and helped propel Adesanya into superstardom. He defeated Robert Whitaker in 2019 to become the undisputed middleweight champion.
Since then, the president has only sung praises for Izzy. Even when he came up short against Jan Blachowicz, White commended him. If he can keep up his dominant performances, Dana White will only be more impressed.
#4. Sean O'Malley - UFC bantamweight
Sean O'Malley is among the most exciting new bantamweight contenders in the promotion. He made his UFC debut in 2017 in The Ultimate Fighter finale, but his popularity exploded in 2020. He fought three times in 2020 and won two of his fights.
'Sugar' had impressed Dana White from the beginning. His knockout win in the Contender Series led to him getting a UFC contract. The 26-year-old has evolved as a fighter since then.
His superb striking has given him four KO/TKO wins in his last five fights. His eccentric personality, both inside and outside the octagon, has intrigued fans. He never shies away from calling out the best. So far, the bantamweight has also backed up his trash talk.
Sean O'Malley is poised for UFC superstardom. A win over a notable opponent will put him in the top 15 and impress Dana White further.
#3. Conor McGregor - UFC lightweight
Conor McGregor is the biggest UFC superstar. He has been instrumental in making MMA exponentially more popular. His achievements inside the octagon are legendary, but it's what he's done for the sport of MMA that is truly important.
McGregor caught Dana White's eye even before he was a UFC athlete. According to White, he had signed 'The Notorious' after having dinner with him one night. The Irishman then went on to take the featherweight division by storm.
He dethroned longtime champ Jose Aldo and then captured a second title at lightweight. McGregor has been in Dana White's good graces from the beginning. Over the years, his relationship with the UFC president has only gotten better.
After the bus incident in 2018, White condemned the Irishman. However, he was soon back on good terms with White. Earlier this year, before his comeback fight, Dana White praised 'The Notorious'.
McGregor has now lost two back-to-back fights against Dustin Poirier. However, it seems White is ready to give him another chance when recovers.
#2. Micheal Chandler - UFC lightweight
Michael Chandler started his MMA career not in the UFC but at Strikeforce. He moved to Bellator in 2010.
In 2011, he defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the Bellator lightweight champion. Chandler made a reputation for being an explosive striker. He was also a good wrestler and dominated most of his opponents on the ground. Over the years, Chandler became a three-time champion.
Michael Chandler signed with the UFC in 2019. He was among the most high-profile signings in recent memory. Dana White showed faith in him from the start. 'Iron' Michael Chandler made his debut against No.6-ranked lightweight Dan Hooker. After beating Hooker, his next fight was a title shot against Charles Oliviera, which he lost.
While many fighters grind for years, the former Bellator champ got a title shot in his second UFC fight. No one receives such opportunities unless White favors them. Many believe Chandler has what Tony Ferguson calls ''Dana White privilege.''
#1. Kevin Holland - UFC middleweight
Kevin Holland's rise was sudden and happened at a blistering pace. Khamzat Chimaev is the only other recent UFC fighter who rose to fame so quickly. Chimaev's hype train slowed due to him contracting COVID-19, but Holland's stock has only gone up.
Kevin Holland's popularity exploded after he fought five times in 2020. In August, he derailed the Joaquin Buckley hype train. His outspoken persona and flashy style also grabbed the attention of fans. He ended 2020 with a highlight-reel knockout of UFC veteran Jacare Souza.
Though 2021 has not been such a good year, Kevin Holland's popularity keeps growing. The 28-year-old's latest fight was arguably the year's most controversial. He got buzzed after an accidental headbutt and got choked out moments later. After review, the loss was overturned to a no-contest. 'Trailblazer' handled the situation very well.
White did not like Holland in the beginning, but 'Trailblazer' has played all his cards right, and it paid off. White is now impressed by the middleweight's skills as well as his star power.
