We're talking Ali.

Sugar Ray Duran.

What does it mean to you to have the UFC airing on the network?

Yeah, obviously we're on fire right now.

So, uh, for ABC to want us on the network and Aris And not just for us, but for the fighters.

Like you were saying, You know, I used to watch it all the time.

ABC s Wide world of sports All the big fights were on there.

Ali, Sugar Ray.

And for these kids to get this opportunity to showcase what they have on ABC is such a big deal to us.

Let's talk about the kids, then they because Holloway, maybe he should still be champ, right?

And he's fighting a guy we just showed.

The clip caters, uh, you know, elbow against Stevens.

When I saw that at first I thought it was a straight right hand.

The elbow was thrown like, perfectly.

If you got the back view, I thought these were two guys who like to stand up and fight.

What should fans expect in the main event?

You are absolutely right, Max.

They are both mean nasty.

You have the number one rated guy in the world former world champion.

Many people think he one of the last fight and still should be championed, including himself.

Max Holloway taking on Calvin Cater, who is ranked number six.

Hungry, Mean, nasty.

Knocks people out.

And you know, when we got asked to go on the ABC, I was so thankful that this was the main event.

It's gonna be a good one, Dana.

Always a pleasure to have you on the show, buddy.

When you think about the UFC, obviously you guys are doing a phenomenal job and we think about God's with box office appeal.

I mean, the Connor McGregor's of the world obviously come to mind along with various others.

Could you just rewind the clock just a little bit and speak toe what he has meant for the sport?

The UFC in light of all the things that have happened since then because it just seems like even though it was growing and growing and growing throughout the years when he went up against Mayweather, it took the popularity of the sport.

It appears to another level.

Could you speak to that for a second?

Yeah, I agree.

He's a massive superstar, and that was obviously ah, global massive fights, the biggest paper view of all time.

It's the biggest combat sports paper view of all time.

And not only did did he helped, you know, growing the sport in the United States, but throughout the rest of the world, throughout the UK, Europe, Australia, Connor McGregor is is a massive superstar for us.

So how do you do that, Dana?

Because when I look at the UFC and you and I have talked about it like you're a boxing fan, who is, I'm not gonna make all the mistakes of boxing made.

I'm gonna do the opposite of that and and you've done it.

But one of the things it seems to me you've done is you've taken the best of the N B A in the sense that it's a star driven sport and the NFL in the sense that, of course, it hurts when you lose a big star.

But it's really the brand that people respond Thio.

They know they'll beam or stars, and it's really more about the brand than any individual.

Was that conscious for you?

Did you have that plan and How do you juggle the two on the one hand, promoting these individual stars, like the MBA and the brand Like the NFL?

Well, they go hand in hand.

Really?

What happens is when you have the UFC, which is, you know, a star.

And it's all right, You know, you have this massive brand, and you have all these superstars that live inside the brand.

It goes hand in hand, and they helped build each other.

You take a guy like Connor, um, and he comes into the U S.

C and starts to work his way up, starts to build his name.

Fans started.

He has that thing, that thing, that it factor.

And as he starts to become a massive superstar, more and more people, um, learn about the UFC.

But the UFC helped build him.

So it really goes hand in hand.

Dana, when I look at you, I mean, I want to get a little bit personal here from just talking about you for a second.

Do you realize that you are one of the biggest stars in the UFC?

When people talk about the UFC, they talk about you.

You ain't in a you in the octagon wrapping a belt around somebody when all is said and done.

But when they talk about you, when they talk about the UFC, they talk about you, and I believe I know the reason why.

Max, you can chime in with this, too.

If you agree, if you agree or disagree with me, you know that Dana White is gonna make sure people have get to see the fights that they want to see, which is a challenge in the sport of boxing.

That doesn't appear to be the case in the UFC.

Do you ever take a moment, Dana, to really reflect on it and think about things in that fashion?

Well, just like I was saying, You take all the big superstars and you take the powerful brand of the UFC.

I'm the guy that's involved in every fight.

I'm the guy that's out promoting every fight.

I'm the guy that's telling you why this fight on Saturday night on ABC is gonna be so good.

And why you should whatever other plans you had you were thinking about doing, you shouldn't do because you should be home watching this fight.

I'm that guy and I'm aligned with all of them.

So, you know, it makes sense.

Yeah.

Since day one.

Dana.

Dana, let me ask you Go ahead, Max.

Go ahead.

Sorry, Molly.

In terms of Connor McGregor getting back to McGregor for a second.

What would be your dream scenario from here on out for Connor McGregor and the UFC?

Well, this Connor McGregor that's gonna fight next Saturday is the Conner.

That's fun.

The Connor that I love to be around fight week, the Connor that I love to see, uh, get in there and fight on fight night.

He's motivated.

He's focused.

Um, you know, he has plans for the rest of the year.

This kid is saying that he wants to go in, He's going to show us all something we've never seen next Saturday night.

And then he wants to fight two more times this year, if that is true.

And Connor does continue on this path and he fights two more times this year, he's going to fight for a world title.

And you know, if he wins on Saturday and he will defend it, so it would be it would be a great year.

We can't wait to see Connor.

We can't wait to see Saturday, ABC, Alright.

I let Mexico because I wanted thio change topics here for a second.

Dana.

Obviously huge.

Mm.

A fan.

Huge combat, sports, boxing.

We know this, and people probably think of you as a West Coast guy also, but you're actually East Coast.

You're a Boston guy, and you are a huge football fan.

I don't know if everybody at home knows this die hard New England Patriots.

Um so please tell me, Dana, how has this year been for you?

You could go anywhere you want with this Tom Brady and the bucks.

Your patriots.

What is on your mind?

Yes, I'm a Patriots fan of the end.

When we flew over here on Fire Island, I had a had a Patriots hoodie on and I was getting tortured at the airport.

Everybody was like, What do you do with this on?

I said, I'm living in the past.

You know, I'm a Patriots fan, but I am a huge Tom Brady fan, too.

And obviously, I'm pulling for the bucks.

The Patriots aren't in it.