Dana White Reveals Why UFC Stars Fight Only Once a Year

Dana White has given his two cents on why the promotion's biggest stars and champions fight mostly once a year.

White, during an interview with MMA Junkie, first disclosed that reigning welterweight titleholder Islam Makhachev had verbally agreed to fight top contender Carlos Prates in January.

However, later the P4P king changed his mind, after which the matchmakers decided to book Prates vs. Morales for the interim belt.

The UFC CEO also requested his champions to stay active and fight at least twice a year, if not three times, to "back up the division."

White then spoke about why he thinks most UFC champions and top stars are happy with one outing a year.

DANA WHITE ON WHY MAKHACHEV, TOPURIA, CHIMAEV FIGHT ONCE A YEAR

According to the UFC head honcho, when contenders turn into champions and start earning way more than what other fighters are making, it kills the hunger to compete more often.

Fighting just once a year usually is enough to pay all bills and enjoy life.

He said to MMA Junkie: “I think it’s money.

Once you get so much money.

When guys are young and hungry, they want to fight a lot because they want to get paid.

But once you start to get enough money, you don’t have to fight all the time.

“And for him, to be fair to Islam, look at what he’s accomplished.”

Check out Dana White's comments below (1:09).

SEVERAL UFC CHAMPIONS CURRENTLY INJURED

Most of the UFC's top stars and champions have been dealing with major injuries, which have forced them to remain on the sidelines.

Tom Aspinall, the now-former heavyweight titleholder, had to vacate the title due to ongoing issues with his right eye.

Current and two-time bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan underwent lower back surgery and took months to recover before meeting Merab Dvalishvili a third time at UFC 336.

Light heavyweight titleholder Carlos Ulberg tore his ACL the night he won the strap, and so far, there has been no news about his return.

Middleweight kingpin Sean Strickland is dealing with a shoulder injury and is also unhappy with his contract.

"Tarzan" therefore has shown no real interest in returning to the octagon.

Lightweight titleholder Justin Gaethje, meanwhile, has a hand injury and has not yet decided if he will return to defend his title or vacate and retire.

Meanwhile, the promotion's biggest draw, Conor McGregor, who returned to the octagon after five years at UFC 329, tore his AC.

ILIA TOPURIA'S RETURN DATE

Former two-division UFC champion Ilia Topuria will not be back to the octagon before the end of the calendar year but UFC CEO Dana White has provided an update on his return.

“In ‘27,” White told Jim Rome about Topuria’s next fight.

“He’ll come back in early [2027] and we’re working on that, too.

“That entire lightweight division — you’ve got [Justin] Gaethje, Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, [Charles] Oliveira, Paddy Pimblett, [Max] Holloway, the whole top 10 is straight killers.

It’s the best and most bad-ass division we have right now.”

The 29-year-old “El Matador” was undefeated heading into his UFC White House headlining bout against Justin Gaethje in June.

Topuria, now 17-1, was brutally stopped at the end of the fourth round and handed the promotion’s lightweight title over to Gaethje.

THE GAETHJE-VOLKANOVSKI SUPERFIGHT QUESTION

Dana White is open to a Justin Gaethje vs. Alexander Volkanovski superfight.

Gaethje’s possible retirement remains the main obstacle.

Volkanovski has already called for the fight after Gaethje beat Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event.

UFC CEO Dana White says he is ready for a champion vs. champion fight between Justin Gaethje and Alexander Volkanovski.

But Gaethje's future remains uncertain after the newly crowned lightweight champion hinted at retirement.

The 38-year-old has issued a challenge to Justin Gaethje after his successful defence of his title against Movsar Evloev in UFC 333.

Gaethje, who turns 38 on November 14, won the undisputed lightweight title by stopping Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event in June.

WHITE MAKES A RARE ADMISSION ABOUT VOLKANOVSKI AND GAETHJE'S FUTURE

Dana White said on the Jim Rome Show, “I would pretty much do anything for Alexander Volkanovski at this point in his career.”

He added, “Justin coming off this unbelievable win at the White House.

He is an incredible athlete too.

What does he want to do next?”

Justin Gaethje has stated that he may be retiring in 2027.