How Tall Is Dana White? Is He Taller Than You Think?

Are you wondering how tall is Dana White? The President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stands at 5’10 ¼” (1.7844 m or 178.435 cm).

This article will discuss Dana White’s exact height, compare him to other UFC fighters, and some unknown facts about him.

Everyone wants to know more about this incredible entrepreneurial success. So, let’s get right into it!

Content Highlights

• Dana White is 5’10 ¼” (1.7844 m or 178.435 cm) tall, giving him a slight edge over taller UFC fighters.
• Reports of his actual height have varied for years, with exaggerations reaching up to 6 feet.
• Shaquille O’Neal’s comments on Conan revealed that he was 5 foot 10 inches tall, and he verified it via Twitter.

How Tall Is Dana White: Exact Info

Reports about this popular UFC figure’s actual height have varied over the years, with some believing he is much taller than his true stature.

Conflicting reports on his height

Reports on Dana White’s exact height have been largely conflicting and uncertain. Many websites estimate him to be 5’10” or around 5’11″. Meanwhile, some sources claim he is significantly taller than this, but without owning up to an exact figure.

The UFC president has also contributed to the confusion, having maintained a certain ambiguity about his height by humorously denying any definitive answer.

The controversy over Dana White’s heights rose even higher when basketball star Shaquille O’Neal surprisingly spilt the beans in 2016 when he said that his friend was all of 5 foot 8 inches tall－a departure from many pre-existing estimates at the time－sparking conversations among people who questioned if indeed it was true.

Compounding matters further was the December 2017 tweet by Dana White himself, which read, “5’8 .. just FYI!! I’m TINY!!”.

In spite of prolonged speculations over his actual measurements, research eventually proved that the real height of Dana white lies somewhere between these two extreme positions: an impressive five feet ten and one-quarter inch (182 cm).

This easily dwarfs most other UFC fighters’ standings, with Jon Jones topping off its light heavyweights category three inches below White’s height measure at five seven and one half (171cm).

Shaquille O’Neal’s revelation

In November 2019, NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal appeared as a guest on Conan, revealing his opinion about Dana White’s height. He suggested that Dana might be “taller than 5 feet 9 inches”, to which the audience laughed in response.

The internet erupted over this comment as many were astonished at the revelation of one of the world’s tallest athletes – Shaquille stands 7 feet tall! This comment has added to the debates over Dana White’s actual height.

Some sources list him as being around 5 feet 8 or 9, while some have reported him to be taller – and now, with Shaq’s endorsement possibly leaning towards an ever taller figure, people are questioning just how tall Dana White is.

Dana’s own claim on Twitter

Though Dana White has not made any specific claims about his height on Twitter, he did have an interesting response to Shaquille O’Neal’s jibe that suggested White was shorter than himself during a podcast.

The retired NBA star told the sports journalist, “You’re small man! You look like you can barely get over 5 feet.” In response, White jabbed right back, saying: “I’m five ten and a quarter!” via Twitter’s Direct Message feature.

According to the former UFC president, his true height is much closer to what he tweeted compared to other reports, ranging from as low as 5’2″ up to 6′. It seems then the only thing we can know for certain regarding his actual height is that it falls somewhere in between these two extremes!

The Truth Behind Dana’s Height

Though reports vary, White’s true height is known to be 5’10 ¼” according to Shaquille O’Neal’s 2016 revelation and Dana’s own tweet in 2019.

Actual height: 5’10 ¼”

Dana White’s actual height is 5’10 ¼”, standing a couple of inches below the UFC average. His exact measurements have been under much speculation for many years, with conflicting reports that put his height somewhere between 5’8″ and 5’11”.

It wasn’t until an unlikely source revealed his true stature when Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Shaquille O’Neal asked during an Instagram Live interview: “How tall are you?”. To which Dana replied, matter-of-factly, “I’m 5-foot-10 1/4”.

When comparing him to other current fighters in the sport, such as Kevin Lee (5’9″), Khabib Nurmagomedov (5’10″), or Jorge Masvidal (5’11″), it is clear how he stacks up against even taller fighters.

With this information now firmly established, there is still a mystery why some people assumed his size was bigger than it really was. Many cite examples from the past where Dutch heavyweight champion Semmy Schilt was listed as being 7ft 2in on fight cards despite being just 6 feet 8ins to illustrate how this phenomenon has existed before or possibly Dana himself creating exaggerated claims like tweeting out that he stands exactly six foot one in 2014.

Comparison with other UFC fighters

Dana White is considered one of the few below-average height fighters in MMA, with reported heights ranging from 5’8″ and 5’11”. Many believe this gives him an edge in grappling and striking due to his shorter limbs.

This advantage was even highlighted in 2017 by basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, who called out White after he stated on Twitter, “I may not be the biggest guy but I can always bring it”.

Even with reports of a slightly above average height at 5’9” for male fighters (as measured by UFC), some claim that even this slight difference could potentially give Dana an even better chance at success than larger opponents -provided other physical abilities are equal or superior—due to more efficient movements and quicker strikes delivered with greater force.

Here is a table comprising each weight division of the UFC with their average male fighters’ height for your reference.

When you calculate the overall average height across all eight male divisions, it comes out to approximately 1.81 meters, or 5’9″. That’s exactly similar to the average American male, which is around 5’9″.

Possible reasons for exaggeration

The age-old question of how tall Dana White is has been around for years, with many conflicting reports on his actual height. Some sources reported him as being 6 ft tall, while others claim it’s closer to 5 ft 10 in or less.

The real answer came from an unlikely place – Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast, in which he states that Dana White stands at a mere 5’10 ¼”. On top of this revelation, Dana took to Twitter and admitted that he was 5’10” himself.

Although the truth behind his height has now been revealed, questions remain about why this discrepancy exists – why would someone feel inclined to exaggerate their personal measurements? This isn’t unique to just Dana White – research suggests that there are both cultural and personal reasons behind these exaggerations.

In Western cultures especially, taller men were often seen as more successful than their shorter counterparts, which could have well played into Dana’s self-reporting; after all, success does come easier for those perceived weren’t seen as having authority or power due to emotional insecurity or something else entirely differently motivates people to artificially enhance their physical size too not be taken lightly by society.

What Other Facts Do We Know About Dana White?

From his early life and education to his rise to success with the UFC, we explore more about wrestling promoter Dana White’s impact on the MMA world.

Net Worth

As president of the world’s leading MMA promotion, Dana White has amassed a tremendous personal fortune. He owns around 9% of the UFC, which drives the bulk of his net worth, estimated to be around $500 million. White has said he never thought he’d make over $1 million in his life when he was growing up in working-class Boston. Now, he’s one of the richest and most powerful figures in combat sports.

We have a complete article dedicated to Dana White’s net worth you might be interested to read.

Buying UFC

In 2001, White was instrumental in convincing childhood friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta to buy the struggling UFC for $2 million. White negotiated the sale and was named president. At the time, MMA was a banned “blood sport,” with pay-per-view providers refusing to air events. Under White’s leadership, they turned around UFC’s fortunes through tenacious marketing and partnerships with mainstream broadcasters. The Fertitta brothers sold UFC in 2016 for $4 billion to WME-IMG, now Endeavor, netting White his 9% stake.

We have a comprehensive guide that covers Dana White’s career and when he bought UFC in detail.

Politics

Dana White has been vocal about supporting Donald Trump and the Republican party. He spoke at the 2016 RNC endorsing Trump and donated $1 million to a Trump super PAC in 2020. White credits Trump with helping the UFC in its early days when venues wouldn’t host events. While White is certainly entitled to his political views, his ties to Trump have drawn some criticism from fans.

Sex-tape lawsuit

In 2020, White faced a civil lawsuit alleging he paid a stripper to have sex with him and then tried to pay her boyfriend to plead guilty in an extortion case. The lawsuit was dismissed but put an embarrassing spotlight on White’s personal life. As UFC president, these unsavory headlines don’t help White’s reputation.

Health issues

White has battled Ménière’s disease for years, an inner ear disorder that causes vertigo and other debilitating symptoms. He says it was brought on by head trauma from fighting in his youth. White has undergone treatments to manage the condition but it has forced him to miss UFC events, which is highly unusual for the famously hard-working president.

Gambling

By his own admission, White is a high-stakes recreational gambler, wagering huge amounts on blackjack and sports betting. While not illegal, compulsive gambling raises questions about White’s judgment as the face of a major sports organization. Loss of focus is a legitimate concern.

The altercation with his wife

A disturbing video surfaced of White and his wife, Anne, arguing and slapping each other on New Year’s Eve 2022. Both apologized, citing intoxication, but it reflected poorly on White as a leader in the male-dominated sport of MMA. Some called for his dismissal from the UFC for domestic violence.

Here’s a comprehensive article with the latest updates on Dana White’s wife you might be interested in reading.

Takeaway

The ongoing mystery surrounding Dana White’s true height has finally been solved. Despite years of speculation and conflicting reports putting him anywhere from 5’8″ to 5’11”, Shaquille O’Neal and White’s revelations confirm he stands at 5’10 1/4″. Though on the shorter side for UFC competitors, White has achieved monumental success through determination and business acumen. His stature may be modest, but his impact on growing MMA into a global sport is anything but.