‘Not a big soccer guy’… Dana White praises Cristiano Ronaldo after watching UFC Saudi Arabia with ‘superstar’
February 2, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has somehow made a fan out of notorious soccer hater Dana White.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was sitting in the front row when Israel Adesanya got knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia at the anb Arena in Riyadh on Saturday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo wrestled with Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov ahead of his co-main event fight against Michel ‘Venom’ Page, who won by unanimous decision as he expertly shut down the one-eyed Russian knockout artist over three rounds.

After the fights were done, Dana White opened up about his experience with the sports legend.

Cristiano Ronaldo looks on during the UFC Fight Night event at anb Arena on February 01, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Dana White is a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo

During the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight press conference, White was asked where he ranks Ronaldo on his list of all-time great athletes.

The UFC boss didn’t directly answer the question as he’s famously not a soccer fan, but he did heap praise on the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has impressed him on a personal level every time they’ve interacted.

“I’m not a big soccer guy,” White said.

“As far as superstars, he’s one of the biggest superstars ever.

“You know what I like about him too? As popular, as successful, and as wealthy as he’s become, he’s a very nice, humble guy. I like him, he’s a very nice guy.”

Dana White caused controversy with his opinion on soccer

In 2022, ahead of the Qatar World Cup, White made headlines as an old video went viral on social media.

It was taken 10 years prior and showed the MMA mogul expressing his utter disdain for Ronaldo’s sport.

“Soccer? That’s a whole other ball [game],” White said.

“Can’t stand soccer. It’s the least-talented sport on Earth. There’s a reason three-year-olds can play soccer.

“When you’re playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1, are you s***ting me right now? You know how untalented you have to be to score three points when the net is this big?

“In hockey, you have guys on skates with crooked sticks and you have to hit a puck into a net that’s the same size as the goalie. That’s a sport where the score should be 3-1. And at any time someone could take your head right off your shoulders and it’s perfectly legal.

“That’s a real sport that takes real talent, speed, and all the things you need to be a real athlete.”

Source: https://bloodyelbow.com/2025/02/01/not-a-big-soccer-guy-dana-white-praises-cristiano-ronaldo-after-watching-ufc-saudi-arabia-with-superstar/

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