Dana White’s Four Greatest UFC Fighters
On September 9, 2024, UFC CEO Dana White gave ESPN’s First Take his personal “Mount Rushmore” of UFC fighters: Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Georges St-Pierre and Conor McGregor. This was White’s own four-name list, not an official UFC ranking, and it prompted discussion about how fans weigh championships, influence and popularity.
The Chosen Four
White named these four fighters:
- Jon Jones
- Ronda Rousey
- Georges St-Pierre
- Conor McGregor
Reasoning Behind the Choices
White named the four without laying out a single scoring system for the list. He did give a specific explanation for including Rousey, saying women would not be fighting in the UFC if it were not for her. He also cited Jones, St-Pierre and McGregor as his selections, but the list should be read as his personal judgment rather than a measured ranking.
Notable Omissions
Many other former champions and prominent fighters were not among these four picks. Names absent from White’s list include:
- Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Anderson Silva
- Demetrious Johnson
- Amanda Nunes
Fan Reactions
Coverage of the list focused in part on the names it left out, illustrating how subjective “greatest” discussions can be. Those reactions are commentary; they do not change the fact that White named four personal choices rather than publishing official UFC criteria.
The Broader Context
A four-person list cannot capture every kind of legacy in a sport with multiple weight classes and eras. A comparison might consider title reigns, records, influence on the sport, or audience reach, but White did not publish a formula weighting those factors. Readers may reasonably reach a different list depending on what they value.
Looking Ahead
White’s September 2024 selections are a snapshot of his view at that time. No change to the list was announced in the cited interview. The broader debate about UFC greatness remains open because it depends on the criteria each person chooses.
Citations:
[1] Dana White’s interview
[2] Bloody Elbow: White’s Mount Rushmore and the omitted names
[3] Sports Illustrated: Dana White’s UFC Mount Rushmore
[4] Forbes: White’s Picks and Notable Omissions
[5] The Mac Life: Dana White Names His MMA Mount Rushmore
[6] MMA Fighting: White Reveals His Four Picks on ESPN
Sources
Tags: MMA
