Dana White played a UFC video game against blogger Adin Ross, with White controlling Ilia Topuria and Ross choosing Arman Tsarukyan. In the virtual matchup, Topuria was knocked out, resulting in a loss for the UFC president. Following the defeat, White had to apologize after his chosen fighter fell in the simulated bout. The gaming session represents a promotional activity involving the UFC president and social media influencer. The lighthearted competition highlights both fighters as White engaged with popular online content creators. Details about the context or stakes of the match were limited in the post.
UFC president Dana White took an L in the virtual cage on April 9, 2026, when he sat down for a video game session with social media personality Adin Ross and came out on the losing end — forced to issue an apology after watching his fighter get knocked out on screen.
White had selected Ilia Topuria for the simulated bout, while Ross went with Arman Tsarukyan. The result did not go the UFC president's way, as the virtual Topuria was finished, prompting White to apologize following the defeat.
The real-life Topuria, known as "El Matador," carries a 17-1-0 professional record and competes in the lightweight division, where he currently sits ranked second. The 29-year-old from Spain holds the number one pound-for-pound ranking and trains out of Climent Club. Standing 170 centimeters tall with a 175-centimeter reach, he is a technically busy striker, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
The man Ross chose, Arman Tsarukyan — nicknamed "Ahalkalakets" — holds a 23-3-0 record and ranks first in the lightweight division. The 29-year-old Russian trains at American Top Team and shares Topuria's height, though his reach extends to 183 centimeters. Tsarukyan lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and is a persistent wrestling threat, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Both fighters rank at the top of the lightweight division, making any content featuring them — even virtual — a natural draw
- The pound-for-pound top-ranked Topuria taking a simulated loss to the number one lightweight contender underscores the genuine intrigue of a potential real matchup between the two
- The session represents a growing trend of UFC brass engaging directly with online influencer audiences for promotional reach
