Dana White Reveals Long Grudge Against Barclays Center

Dana White has not brought the UFC back to Brooklyn's Barclays Center in more than seven years — and says he never will.

The UFC CEO revealed at the UFC 334 post-fight press conference that he has held a grudge against the arena since the pandemic, when the venue canceled a planned card in April 2020. That event, UFC 249, was the fifth attempt to book Khabib Nurmagomedov against Tony Ferguson before government restrictions shut the fight down for good.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 334 on Ticketmaster →

White Warned Barclays Against Canceling UFC 249

White told the venue not to pull the plug. According to MMA Mania, he said he warned them at the time that if they canceled, he would never return — and he has stuck to that position. The UFC previously held major title fights at the Barclays Center every year after New York legalized MMA, but the last card there took place in January 2019.

The promotion celebrated a decade of hosting events in New York at UFC 334 in Madison Square Garden. MSG has remained the UFC's only New York home since the pandemic, with annual cards continuing at the Manhattan venue while Brooklyn stays frozen out.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 334 on Ticketmaster →

White and the UFC pushed hard to continue hosting events during the pandemic despite government restrictions. Six years later, the CEO is still not over the cancellation.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Dana White reveals long grudge over ‘COVID sh-t’: I’ll never come back!