Anderson Silva has criticised Dana White for analysing how fighters approach bouts given his lack of experience in the cage.
The legendary former middleweight champion has always had a positive relationship with his ex-boss, and the pair appear to have a mutual respect. White even released Silva from the UFC in 2020 after growing concerned at his losing record, only to later back-track when the Brazilian defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Tito Ortiz in his new boxing career.
However, Silva does have one issue with White; when he criticises the choices fighters make during competition. Examples include Silva himself when he opted for an overly-safe gameplan against Demian Maia, or when he refused to sign Manchester's Brendan Loughnane after he opted to shoot for a takedown instead of going for a finish to secure a decision on Contenders Series.
“My problem with Dana is if he talks about fights because Dana has never fought MMA in his life," Silva explained during an appearance on The MMA Hour. "That’s my problem, when he talks about, ‘You can’t do that, can’t do that, you don’t fight correctly.’ No that’s my only problem with Dana - I think Dana is a good person.
"Everybody talks about Dana, ‘He’s not good, blah blah.’ He’s a good person, but he’s a businessman. UFC doesn’t get to this point now as a big company in the world if the people think, ‘I did something, I’m sorry fighters, I did something incorrect.’ No, the company grew up because of hustlers doing something and that’s the game. You’re inside or not.
"You can sign or not sign, you can go anywhere, but when you sign, you make the deal with my company. You can’t say nothing because why did you sign? You signed. You have a contract. ‘Oh no, let me out of the contract.’ You signed the contract, you’ve seen the rules of the contract, why are you talking about it now?
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"And I’m so lucky because I’m not in the UFC anymore and I have my own journey right now. I don’t need to say, ‘Can I do that?’ I don’t need to ask permission from the UFC or from Dana for absolutely nothing anymore.”
Silva is currently preparing for a boxing fight with YouTube star Jake Paul on October 29 in Arizona, where he will net millions and take on one of the sport's most recognisable names. He has had a rebirth in the boxing ring over the last few years since his 2020 release from the UFC, most recently brutalising Bruno Machado in an exhibition bout.
He and Paul have swapped the favourite tag, while White has publicly backed Silva to win the fight prior to the social media star accepting the fight. The YouTuber has already knocked out MMA legends Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, but Silva is his first opponent who has a winning professional boxing record.
