Dana White and Pat McAfee made the TIME Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list.
White, the President of the UFC, was listed under Leaders while McAfee, a former WWE commentator and manager, was under Innovators.
On White:
Through his force-of-nature personality, Dana White has transformed what was once a fringe activity, deemed “human cockfighting” by John McCain in 1996, into a $1.5 billion operation that stages cage fights around the world. In 2025, the UFC helped secure its future when it inked a seven-year, $7.7 billion media-rights deal with Paramount that effectively doubled revenues from the previous agreement with ESPN. And on June 14, White will host his most high-profile spectacle: a fight card on the South Lawn of the White House. Ilia Topuria, a Georgian-Spanish lightweight who’s ranked the second-best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, is scheduled to face American Justin Gaethje in the main event. “We’re putting on the most historic sporting event in history,” White—like his friend President Trump, no fan of understatement—told TIME
On McAfee:
Pat McAfee, the former Indianapolis Colts punter fond of wearing tank tops on camera, has built an impressive media presence. In 2023, McAfee signed a five-year, $85 million deal with ESPN for the network to license his daily YouTube show. Its unfiltered style—and newsmaking discussions with controversial vaccine-skeptic Aaron Rodgers—gained traction among sports fans. McAfee has earned a seat at the College GameDay table: His kicking contests on the beloved ESPN football pregame program, in which students try to convert a 33-yard field goal on campus for cash prizes, regularly go viral; McAfee has awarded more than $5 million in cash and charitable contributions over the past two seasons. His heel character has also made regular WWE appearances in recent years, exposing his brand to an ever-wider audience, though in April he said he’s stepping away from wrestling. McAfee’s access to sports and entertainment figures should give him a prominent voice for years to come.
Fans can view the list here.
