UFC president Dana White’s insane office includes samurai swords, a money gun, bar, a sabre-tooth tiger skull and war room to plan fights
Nearly the entire world has been working from home for the most part this year, but that has been no problem for Dana White - whose office is the stuff of dreams.
The UFC president has been busy in 2020, putting on a string of quality shows despite the issues that have come with the coronavirus pandemic.
It's no wonder White has been so keen to keep hard at work, given the stunning home of all his ideas.
Earlier this year, Robbie Fox of was able to get unbridled access to White's office and what he discovered was remarkable...
Office
White’s actual office is filled with various expensive artefacts and photographs, but there are a series of hidden messages portrayed throughout the room.
Take, for instance, the artwork he has right next to his desk which is of an AK-47 and accompanying bayonet. Inside the clip are a series of bullets filled with everything man has ever gone to war for; oil, cocaine, gold, blood, diamonds, religious symbols and the seeds used to make heroin.
The artist who created the piece heard White was in possession of his collection and even gifted him an accompanying grenade.
Built in 2016, the office space is decorated with several iconic pictures of boxing legends who inspire the UFC chief. Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali adorn the wall, with a picture of Tyson’s gargantuan neck dominating.
On the desk there are two samurai swords which date as far back to the 1500’s, with the original owner immortalised via a statue in the corner.
Next to the statue is the complete skull of a sabre tooth tiger, a luxury item bought by White when the economy crashed in 2009 from a museum auction.
As well as the classic boxing images, White also has several powerful pieces of art adorning the walls which symbolise power. Perhaps the most important piece is the original Japanese painting which dominates the wall above the AK-47 and accompanying grenade.
A friend of White’s revealed he had a gift for him, but needed $200,000 in order to get it to him. Without hesitation, White sent a cheque and the item arrived but was so graphic he had to put it into storage. A few months later, an art dealer asked White what he had done with his original Iraqi Yakuza.
Bemused, the UFC chief learned he had put a $1.2million original painting into storage and it was duly moved and took centre stage.
Below the Yakuza painting are a number of belts and trophies won by White from his blackjack days on the Las Vegas strip. The Palms casino even gifted the multi-millionaire a customised belt to commemorate the $1.6m he won from them. However, the belt is also a polite reminder he is no longer welcome there.
On the adjacent wall, and even on the floor are a number of bass guitars; two are from Flea of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the other belonged to the bassist of the Beastie Boys.
Bar Area
Next door, the boss has a personal bar which is fully equipped with alcohol (including Conor McGregor’s Proper 12) ready for a party.
Used to celebrate deals being completed and toasting business, the bar area comes complete with plush leather seats, a television and is fully staffed with temporary barmen when White wants to throw a serious party.
As a proud native of Boston, White also screens Celtics games for his pals and is hospitable enough to host summer staff parties for his UFC employees in the accompanying area outside.
Bathroom
Next door is White’s personal bathroom complete with a massage table and shower.
Although there are two bathrobes hanging on the wall, the UFC chief sheepishly admits he does not use them - unlike the rest of the world who have spent the last month working out of their dressing gowns.
There is also more artwork inside the bathroom, a piece designed to look like a Marlborough cigarette packet which instead says ‘Morons’ and then a picture of the first ever Victoria’s Secret model (not really suitable for work).
Gym
Whilst the UFC Performance Institute is actually situated in Las Vegas, White has his own fully-equipped gym with every possible piece of equipment you could ever need to stay in shape.
Dumbbells, barbells, medicine balls, treadmills, bags and pull-up bars are everywhere in the gym space.
But what White is most proud of are the quotes from his childhood heroes which are emblazoned onto almost every wall. Extremely visible and prominent, famous phrases from the likes of Ali, Tyson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Lee.
Check out the quote from Lee which White credits with inspiring him every single day:
THE BRUCE LEE QUOTE IMMORTALISED IN DANA WHITE'S GYM
The UFC President works out every morning with this looming over him...
“...if you always put limits on what you can do, physical or anything else, it’ll spread over into the rest of your life. It’ll spread into your work, into your morality, into your entire being. There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.”
The 50-year-old also has reformer pilates beds to help him stretch and keep himself as limber as possible.
Kitchen
Through the next set of doors you can find yourself in White’s personal kitchen, which comes fully equipped with vending machines and tables filled with sweets for cheat days.
The space itself is huge, with a huge area for the on-call chefs to operate in. White’s personal routine features a workout in his gym, breakfast alongside his employees and then a shower (but no robe).
Control room
From there, you can see perhaps the most technologically advanced room in the office space. Given White’s age, the UFC chief admits he cannot travel the world to go and see every fight as he once used to.
Instead, he will watch the fights inside his control room which is more like a small cinema alongside either Sean Shelby or Mick Maynard. Whichever one of the matchmakers is not at the fight will be sat alongside White. Ben Chiliberti, who is Head of Production for the company, also watches from the control room.
From there, he can speak directly to the control truck which will be situated outside the venue and he can help control the action.
Boardroom/ Dining room
Beyond there is a boardroom where White sometimes has guests sit with him and eat or they simply thrash out business if a more formal setting is required.
The Governor for Vegas will often get invited into this space, as will the head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
War Room
Last, but by no means least, is the room which White calls the ‘ugliest’ but also credits as being the most important.
For this tiny, cramped space is where fights are made and ideas as to how the company can expand are created.
Featuring huge whiteboards along the walls which show rankings, contract statuses and also viewing figures for fighters.
The 50-year-old credits this room as being absolutely vital to the billion-dollar business and reveals this is where some of the biggest fights of the past, present and future get made.