UFC: John Oliver trolls Dana White over Covid-19 ‘selective facts’ comments and trademark war

The Last Week Tonight host accuses Dana White of using ‘selective facts’ of his own regarding Covid-19 tests ahead of UFC 249

Oliver applies for previously owned UFC trademark after the White said he trademarked Oliver’s ‘UF-Sea’ suggestion

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UFC president Dana White after a fight between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in May. Photo: USA Today

Published: 5:14pm, 1 Jun 2020Updated: 11:18am, 2 Jun 2020

Satirical TV host John Oliver has snapped back at UFC president Dana White in a Last Week Tonight segment dated May 31.

White had originally accused Oliver of ‘using selective facts’ in his rant over sports events being held during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Oliver had pointed out that three UFC staff – fighter Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and two of his cornermen – had tested positive for the coronavirus a day before the scheduled UFC 249 event last month.

Oliver also jokingly asked viewers why White did not think of the name “UFC-Sea” for his Fight Island venture. White confirmed he had trademarked the name while adding to Oliver, ‘I’m not giving you a cut’. He also appeared to forget Oliver’s name until prompted by the ESPN host.

“We mentioned that UFC president Dana White was planning to stage fights on a private island to skirt travel restrictions into the US ... Just two days after our show aired, the UFC filed trademark applications for the term ‘UF-Sea’ and Dana White even confirmed that it wasn't a coincidence,” Oliver said.

“OK, first, Dana White intentionally forgetting my name is a truly excellent neg, or rather it would be if he weren't only number 83 on GQ's list of the 100 most powerful bald men in the world from 2013. Now that is a neg right there, Dana.

“Much more importantly, I'm not remotely mad here. I want you to use that name. In fact, I think you should let us rename all of your events, because frankly you're not very good at it. Take UFC 249, it's just your logo plus a number, where's the pizazz there? What about this ‘UFC Knuckle Opera’, or ‘Dust Up at the Beef Factory’, or ‘Large Hamboy Collider’. It's better right?