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White to continue with UFC

Cape Town - It was about 15 years ago Dana White approached his long time friends the Fertitta's about purchasing the then failing Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Well it was a $2 million gamble that paid off for White and the Fertitta's after it was announced on Monday that the promotion was sold to Ari Emanuel and his WME-IMG agency for $4 billion. 

White is expected to be pocketing a sweet little sum of around $350 million thanks to his investment into the company back in 2001.

So will Dana join the Fertitta's and leave the company?

The answer is a simple no. 

Lorenzo and his brother Frank Ferttita will still have a small minority ownership interest but White will stay on after returning a undisclosed portion of the 9% stake he had in the UFC.

He will continue as president, a minority owner and the day-to-day promoter. 

"This is what I do, man," White told the latimes.com.

"On Friday we filmed the new episode of 'The Ultimate Fighter,' and I got goosebumps about five times. I just love it. People have been doubting us since the day we bought this company, doubting our ability to be able to do what we said we could do, doubting the sport, doubting athletes." 

"Now it all starts again," he added.

The White and Fertitta trio rebuilt the UFC from a bankrupt, going nowhere business to a global empire that is seen in 156 different countries.

Considered around the world as the top tier league in combat sports, the company reportedly generated $600 million in 2015. 

White brings with him a wealth of promotional and sporting knowledge into this new relationship.

He has key relationships with fighters, media and television all around the globe. And most important of all he brings with him a lot of respect for what he has been able to accomplish since 2001. 

"I look forward to proving everyone wrong again," said White. 

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