Heartwarming footage shows Dana White consoling distraught fighter following loss before offering him a UFC contract
Dana White is a ruthless businessman – but even he struggled to watch a fighter in despair after failing to achieve his UFC dream.
Featherweight prospect Angel Pacheco was almost finished by an early left hook from Danny Silva during his fight on The Contender Series last Tuesday.
Amazingly, he recovered, and the two UFC hopefuls engaged in a three-round slugfest that broke a 145lb striking record with a total of 407 strikes thrown between them.
Silva enjoyed a clear power advantage and after hurting his opponent in each round he walked away with unanimous 30-27 scorecards from the three cageside judges.
White was on his feet by the end of the fight, but Pacheco was unconcerned about putting on one of the best bouts in the show’s history and headed backstage distraught about the result.
Later, the UFC CEO went to check on the 31-year-old and tried to cheer him up by revealing he would be paid double money for putting on such an impressive performance in defeat.
However, money was the furthest thing from Pacheco’s mind.
He apologised for his performance, explained how much he wanted it and asked the big boss to keep him in mind for any short-notice UFC fights.
On Monday, Pacheco’s manager and coach, Tyson Chartier, posted footage of the backstage interaction that persuaded White to sign the 7-2 fighter.
“When I went back there, his ear is hanging off. He’s crying,” White told reporters at a post-fight press conference.
“I told him, ‘I’m going to pay your win money.’ He [couldn’t] give a f*** that I’m going to give him his win money.
“He’s crying and he said, ‘I wanted to win this fight so bad. I want to be in the UFC so bad. If there’s ever a last-minute pullout or anything, please think of me.’
“I said, ‘Oh yeah.’ I said, ‘Dude, you are right up my alley. We’re going to pay you your win money.’ I went back and told the boys, ‘We’re signing this kid.’
“If you want to be in the UFC that bad, if you want to win this fight that bad, how bad do you think he wants to win his first UFC fight?’”
The American was in the hospital when White announced the good news and found out he was the UFC’s latest signing over the phone.
Pacheco has some healing to do before making his promotional debut.