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Under the Bright Lights of Success: How White Fought His Way to the Top

Article Overview: “I’m pretty happy with the way everything has worked out with UFC,” says White. “We’ve come a long way in a couple of years.” From working as a hotel bellhop to managing a multi-million dollar company, White has most certainly come a long way from where he started off. How did this boy who could barely make it through high school, become a millionaire and the envy of men across America?

Under the Bright Lights of Success: How White Fought His Way to the Top

“I’m pretty happy with the way everything has worked out with UFC,” says White. “We’ve come a long way in a couple of years.” From working as a hotel bellhop to managing a multi-million dollar company, White has most certainly come a long way from where he started off. How did this boy who could barely make it through high school, become a millionaire and the envy of men across America?

Guts: White was an amateur boxer. Everybody knew he could throw a punch. But, how would he manage in the world of business? Would he prove to be just as strong? Indeed, White proved the naysayers wrong in reestablishing the credibility and success of the UFC. White was denied opportunities from both the media and corporate sponsors, but fought back to have the final win.

Passion: “Do you like the fights?” White asks. “That's what it's really all about. I'm a guy who did exactly what he wanted to do. When you do that, the money follows.” From the very first day White stepped into the ring, he knew his life was meant for the fight. Whether it was in front of or behind the scenes, White took a chance in following his passion. It was a chance that paid off.

Satisfaction: “Boxing has a lot of problems,” says White. “It's not just one problem; they have a ton of problems. At the end of the day, it's all about the money.” White wanted the UFC to be more than just a money-making machine. He wanted to give the fans an experience that they would never forget. From making his fighters accessible to creating an unbeatable live show, White accomplished his goal.

Reputation: When American Senator John McCain called the UFC “human cockfighting,” White knew something had to change. He wanted to legitimize his sport in the eyes of his critics in order to become accepted in the mainstream culture. He began to embrace stricter rules and official state sanctioning, and promoted the event as a sport, rather than a spectacle.

Marketing: White is a realistic man. While he does not understand those who do not share his passion for the UFC, he admits that they indeed are out there. And, he does not waste his time or energy on trying to convert them. Instead, he focuses his marketing campaigns on the younger male demographic, the group in which White knows he will find his success.

White is a man who loves what he does and has been rewarded accordingly. He continues to act as President of the UFC, and although he acknowledges his modest achievements thus far, he sees only greater opportunities ahead. “It was an amazing year for us,” White says of the accomplishments of the UFC in 2006. “We exceeded a lot of the goals that we had set for ourselves. It was an incredible year, but you ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait 'til you see 2007. We're going to blow everybody's mind again in 2007.”

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Article Tags: amateur boxer, bellhop, boxing, bright lights, corporate sponsors, credibility, dollar company, envy, guts, john mccain, mainstream culture, millionaire, naysayers, passion, punch, realist, reputation, senator john mccain, spectacle, ufc



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