'When You're With Me, You're With Me!' - Dana White On Offering To Resign When UFC Higher-Ups Tried To Remove Joe Rogan From Commentary

UFC CEO Dana White recently discussed the importance of loyalty.

Back in 2022, longtime UFC commentator and popular podcaster Joe Rogan was at the center of controversy. The stand-up comedian landed himself in hot water for his thoughts on COVID-19 and its treatment, including the use of antiparasitic drug Ivermectin. 

The subsequent uproar led to several music artists ditching the Spotify platform in protest of his joining it. 

Along the way, Dana White also received some calls for Rogan to be dropped from his commentary duties. Needless to say, White had zero interest in letting him go. 

'I'm Not One Of These Guys That Is Gonna Roll Over' - Dana White

During a recent interview with Lex Fridman, White was asked about how he handled calls for Rogan to be removed from the UFC. At the time, the UFC CEO defended the podcaster, even threatening to walk out on the promotion himself if push came to shove. 

White emphasized the sense of loyalty he has to his friends and colleagues, namely Rogan in this instance. He also used the pandemic as an example, highlighting his refusal to greenlight any lay-offs during a time when they were commonplace. 

"Anybody who is with me, and has been with me, knows," White said. "When you're with me, you're with me. It's a two-way street, it's not a one-way street. I'm not one of these guys that is gonna roll over [to external pressure] and- it's like going through COVID, I wasn't laying any of these people, some of these have known me for 20 years, we're gonna lay them off?

"This motherf***er will burn, burn, before I would do that to my people, it's just- none of that type of stuff is ever going to happen while I'm here."