Dana White played as Ilia Topuria in a UFC 5 video game match against blogger Adin Ross, who selected Arman Tsarukyan. White's fighter was knocked out during the match, and he subsequently had to apologize for the loss. The gaming session between the UFC president and the popular content creator was apparently recorded and shared across social channels. Details about the specific circumstances of the match or the context of the apology are limited in the original post. This appears to be a lighthearted promotional activity involving the UFC president and a major social media influencer.
UFC president Dana White found himself on the losing end of a UFC 5 video game session against popular content creator Adin Ross, with the result apparently requiring White to issue an apology after his in-game fighter was knocked out.
White took control of Ilia Topuria for the match, while Ross selected Arman Tsarukyan. The gaming session was recorded and circulated across social media platforms, turning what appeared to be a lighthearted promotional appearance into a moment of good-natured embarrassment for the UFC boss.
Topuria, the fighter White chose to represent him in the game, is currently ranked number two in the lightweight division and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter carries a 17-1-0 professional record and fights out of Climent Club. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, the orthodox striker lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and also supplements his game with nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Ross countered with Tsarukyan, the number-one ranked lightweight contender. Also 29 years old and standing five-foot-seven, the Russian fighter out of American Top Team holds a 23-3-0 record and brings a longer 72-inch reach to his orthodox stance. Tsarukyan lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute with a 50 percent accuracy rate and is a persistent presence on the mat, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The matchup digitally mirrors one of the most anticipated real-life lightweight title bouts currently on the horizon
- Both fighters are ranked first and second in the 155-pound division, giving the gaming session an added layer of relevance for lightweight title picture followers
- The viral clip puts further spotlight on two of the division's biggest names at a pivotal moment in the lightweight rankings
