Dana White played a UFC video game against blogger Adin Ross, with White selecting Ilia Topuria and Ross choosing Arman Tsarukyan. In the virtual matchup, Topuria was knocked out, resulting in White's defeat. Following the loss, White had to apologize as apparently part of a wager or arrangement with Ross. The lighthearted gaming session represents promotional content involving the UFC president and a popular internet personality. Such crossover content helps the UFC reach broader audiences through streaming and social media platforms.
UFC president Dana White found himself on the wrong end of a video game defeat on April 9, 2026, losing to internet personality Adin Ross in a session of the UFC video game and reportedly being forced to apologize as part of an apparent wager between the two.
White took control of Ilia Topuria for the virtual bout, while Ross selected Arman Tsarukyan. The in-game result saw Topuria knocked out, handing White the loss and triggering whatever arrangement the two had made ahead of the session.
Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," carries a 17-1-0 professional record and currently holds the number-two ranking in the lightweight division, as well as the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old from Spain fights out of Climent Club and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, with a five-foot-seven frame and a 69-inch reach.
Ross chose a formidable virtual counter in Tsarukyan, the number-one ranked lightweight at 23-3-0. The 29-year-old Russian trains out of American Top Team and brings an even longer reach of 72 inches despite sharing the same five-foot-seven height as Topuria. Tsarukyan lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and is a persistent takedown threat, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The session places two of the lightweight division's biggest names — the top two ranked contenders — in a high-visibility, casual setting.
- Cross-platform content with major streaming personalities exposes the UFC brand to audiences well beyond traditional combat sports viewers.
- White's willingness to participate in the wager and follow through on the apology adds a rare informal dimension to the UFC president's public persona.
