UFC President Dana White has seen a lot of big name fighters pass through the ranks of the UFC during his two plus decades in the promotion.
However, the UFC President is now calling UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt the next big star in the promotion.
“Our most bankable (future) star?” White said on The Dan Le Batard Show. “November 4 at Madison Square Garden, this kid who’s the world champion, he’s gonna fight. His name is Cody No Love. Very marketable guy. I think Cody No Love could be the next big star.”
Gabrandt won the UFC Bantamweight Title with a decision win over then champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 207.
When it comes to the promotion’s biggest failures, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones tops White’s list.
“He’d also go down in history as probably the greatest ever and if nothing ever happened he’d probably be fighting at heavyweight right now and who knows what could have happened?” White said. “I’m in a business where when the fame happens and the money - you have to understand the crazy type of money that comes into the fight business instantly. Even in the NFL, they come in at a certain level and if they become great, they have the opportunity to make millions. Jon Jones came in and just started making millions of dollars immediately and he was, like, 24 years old. And you can go back to interviews of me saying, ‘That’s great, he’s talented enough to win the belt. Can he handle the pressure and all the stuff that goes along with being a world champion? With being famous? With being rich?’ And that question got answered.”
While Jones’ future is in the air after a second failed drug test, the UFC Bantamweight Champion is defending the gold against TJ Dillashaw at UFC 217.
