Dana White rips ‘bitter’ Dan Hardy after ex-UFC commentator claimed he ‘staged’ concern over a fighter’s safety

UFC President Dana White had some harsh words for Dan Hardy after learning the ex-UFC color commentator claimed he’d staged a video where he showed concern for a fighter’s safety because the broadcast was on national television.

During an appearance on Freedom Pact podcast, Hardy described being present when White ordered that Calvin Kattar be taken to the hospital immediately after a savage beating from Max Holloway at UFC on ABC 1 in January 2021. White was seen wearing a microphone. He said that this was an indication of the promotion trying to create the moment.

“I can tell you we’ve never staged anything ever,” White responded during the UFC 280 post-fight press conference. We have a documentary we shot during COVID. That’s why I was mic’d. I’ve never been mic’d. I was mic’d because of that.

“Are you talking about when I was talking about let’s get him straight to the hospital? Do you know how many fights a week I say that to [UFC Chief Business Officer] Hunter [Campbell] or [UFC Chief Medical Consultant] Dr. [Jeff] Davidson – no interviews, no nothing, that guy goes straight to the hospital. Everyone should have worried about Calvin Kattar’s death .”

Hardy, who previously called fights for the UFC before he was terminated in 2021, took the UFC to task and said the incident contributed to his uneasiness about the culture around the fight promotion.

“Actually protect fighters – do not do anything to help the sport, or company, if fighters are hurt,” Hardy stated. “That hurt me to watch that, because I can see the game being played. They are pretending to be concerned by Calvin Kattar. I didn’t believe it

White was furious at Hardy’s suggestion that Kattar’s concern for his health had been orchestrated.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks, so don’t worry about me staging any. And Dan Hardy doesn’t think I am a fool,” White stated. “Dan Hardy’s a guy that was mistreating a woman who worked here and that’s why he was fired. He’s obviously bitter, and it’s obvious that he’d say things like .”

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At the time of his split with the UFC, Hardy stated that he had a “disagreement” with an employee “over an opportunity missed, or withheld” from him. After hearing White’s comments on Saturday, Hardy fired back on Twitter, writing that the UFC President didn’t have all his facts straight.

“‘Mistreating women’ Dana White,” Hardy wrote. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing. Clear proof that you were told lies about what happened and why they steered all of the ‘Dan Hardy’ questions away from you.”