UFC CEO Dana White was forced to hold back tears as he shared the story of how he helped save a young girl’s life following her liver disease diagnosis.

Given his macho persona and typical ‘don’t care’ attitude, it’s certainly a rarity to see the UFC CEO getting emotional on a podcast, but it’s hard not to feel a swell of emotion yourself as you hear Dana White’s touching story of how he once saved a young girl’s life.

Dana White tears up during story of $50,000 medical donation

Speaking on the latest episode of the In Search of Excellence podcast with Randall Kaplan, UFC head honcho Dana White revealed why he once donated $50,000 for life-saving surgery after a young girl, only a few months old, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of liver disease.

White explained that one day back in 2010, he was messaged on social media by MMA fighter Ben Pittsley who had just traveled home from training in Thailand with veteran Muay Thai coach ‘Kru Nai’ Rattanachai.

“He was training Muay Thai over there with this legendary coach and his daughter was dying because she needed some type of heart surgery, and she was going to die in the next several days if she didn’t get the money.

“It was going to be $50,000 and the guy was like, ‘Dana White you need f***ing to put this money up right now and donate it to her, you bet this much playing blackjack’.”

According to White, people online began to argue back against Pittsley, claiming that since the money would be coming out of White’s own pocket, he was under no obligation to make such a large donation.

“But this is the way I talk. This guy was talking to me the way that I talk, and he isn’t wrong. I was like, ‘No, this dude’s f***king absolutely right, he’s not wrong, he’s f***king right… I’m supposed to do this.”

After confirming that both the story and the medical bills were accurate, White reached out to the legendary coach to offer the $50,000 donation, and choked up as he shared the end result:

“I ended up reaching out. We find out if it’s real, it’s real, and I send the $50,000 over… When you go into their gym, there’s this massive picture of me in there and I’m over her bed like I’m her guardian angel. I pay for her schooling, and I pay for her medical stuff.”

‘Money can fix a lot of problems’ if it’s used in the right way

White was obviously uncomfortable with sharing such a personal story and noted that when it comes to various charitable actions over the years, he’d rather stay away from the spotlight.

“I don’t like to talk about a lot of this stuff but I’m in a position that I’m very lucky that I can help other people.”

“I’m not one of these guys who likes walking out with a f***ing big cheque and all that bulls***,” he argued, later adding how “I do stuff because I should do it and I wanna do it, I don’t do it because I want to be recognized.”

White acknowledged that the promotion participates in various philanthropic endeavors “because we should do it,” before making a poignant remark about the state of financial success:

“Money is a tool to have fun and if you look at it any other way, you’re f**** up but money is also a tool to help people.”

“They say money can’t fix all your problems, money can fix a lot of f***** problems if you use it in the right way and areas – you can save lives and change lives.”

Whilst White remains a divisive figure in MMA, the entire UFC fanbase would wholeheartedly agree with him that putting financial success to good use for those less fortunate remains one of the most impactful things that the promotion can do outside of putting on the best fights.