UFC president Dana White played a UFC video game against streamer Adin Ross, with White selecting Ilia Topuria and Ross choosing Arman Tsarukyan. White's character, Topuria, was knocked out during the match, resulting in a loss. After losing the game, White offered an apology for the defeat. The casual gaming session was apparently recorded and shared on social media. This represents a lighthearted promotional moment involving the UFC president and popular internet personality.
UFC president Dana White found himself on the wrong end of a virtual knockout on April 9, when he faced off against internet personality Adin Ross in a casual UFC video game session that was captured and shared on social media.
White took control of Ilia Topuria for the match, while Ross opted for Arman Tsarukyan. The result did not go the UFC boss's way, as Topuria's virtual counterpart was knocked out during the bout. White reportedly offered an apology after the defeat, keeping the tone of the session light and entertaining.
The choice of Topuria as his avatar was a natural one for White. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter, nicknamed El Matador, currently sits ranked number one in the pound-for-pound standings and second in the lightweight division. Competing out of Climent Club, Topuria carries a professional record of 17-1-0 and has built his reputation on sharp offensive output, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute with 48 percent accuracy. He stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach.
Ross's selection of Tsarukyan proved prescient in the virtual arena. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, is the number one ranked lightweight in the UFC with a record of 23-3-0. Tsarukyan matches Topuria in height at five-foot-seven but holds a notable reach advantage at 72 inches, and he is a consistent threat on the ground, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The session puts two of the lightweight division's biggest names in the spotlight ahead of what remains one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the division.
- Both Topuria and Tsarukyan are ranked in the top two at lightweight, making any content featuring both fighters relevant to fans tracking the title picture.
- The social media clip serves as informal promotion for the UFC video game and the sport more broadly, reaching Ross's large online audience.
