Dana White Addresses Colby Covington's UFC White House Card Absence

UFC president responds to Covington's claims about not being offered a fight on the historic event.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented UFC fight scene, with sharp planes of dark grays, reds, and blacks colliding to create a tense, confrontational visual metaphor.The ongoing feud between UFC fighter Colby Covington and the promotion's leadership comes to a head, exposing the complex power dynamics at play behind the scenes of the sport.Las Vegas Today

UFC president Dana White has addressed former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington's recent criticism about not being offered a fight on the upcoming UFC White House card. White stated that there is a reason Covington did not make the card, as the promotion has to get its fighters three fights per year or pay them, even if they don't compete. White also noted that fighters are constantly being offered fights, and the UFC doesn't 'f--- guys over' by not giving them fights.

Why it matters

Covington has been a vocal critic of the UFC in recent years, and his absence from the high-profile UFC White House event has only fueled his ongoing feud with the promotion. White's comments provide insight into the UFC's matchmaking process and the challenges of keeping a large roster of fighters active.

The details

Covington, a former UFC interim welterweight champion, has not competed in the promotion since 2024. He has since competed twice in Real American Freestyle Wrestling in an attempt to stay active and relevant. Covington was reportedly angry about not being offered a spot on the upcoming UFC White House card, which is set to take place on June 14. However, White stated that there is a reason Covington did not make the card, as the UFC has to get its fighters three fights per year or pay them, even if they don't compete. White also noted that the promotion is constantly offering fighters bouts, and they don't 'f--- guys over' by not giving them fights.

  • The UFC White House card is scheduled for June 14, 2026.
  • Covington has not competed in the UFC since 2024.

The players

Dana White

The president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the premier mixed martial arts organization.

Colby Covington

A former UFC interim welterweight champion who has been a vocal critic of the promotion in recent years.

Bo Nickal

A UFC fighter who is scheduled to compete on the upcoming UFC White House card.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Yeah, of course there's the whole Colby thing, every time you hear something publicly from these guys and 'oh this didn't happen, that didn't happen', always remember this, this is common sense, we have to get these guys three fights a year, if we don't, we have to pay them, even if they don't fight.”

— Dana White, UFC President

“What we don't do is f--- guys over and just let them sit around and 'no we're not gonna give you a fight'. It's the exact opposite, we're doing 44 cards a year, people fall out all the time, the list goes on and on, everybody is being offered fights.”

— Dana White, UFC President

What’s next

It remains unclear whether Colby Covington will return to the UFC and when he will next compete, as he continues to compete in Real American Freestyle Wrestling events.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between the UFC and some of its fighters, as well as the challenges the promotion faces in keeping a large roster of athletes active and satisfied. White's comments provide insight into the UFC's matchmaking process and the contractual obligations the organization has to its fighters.