UFC president Dana White’s bull to make PBR World Finals debut in Fort Worth
It only took one ride for Dana White to realize that bull riding was not for him.
The UFC president took one by the horns in 2015 while in Houston filming “Lookin’ for a Fight,” a series about him traveling the country finding new fighting talent. He did his best to hang on for eight seconds.
“One of the dumbest things I’ve ever done,” White told the Star-Telegram in a phone interview May 1.
While it was a one-and-done experience, it gave White a newfound respect for both bull riders and the bulls themselves. He soon decided to grab his checkbook rather than another bull rope.
“I totally got into it and started buying bulls,” White said.
White’s latest purchase — Playmate — is one of more than 130 bulls that will compete at the PBR World Finals in Arlington and Fort Worth this month.
Fort Worth will host the world finals elimination rounds from May 8-11 and the “Ride to Redemption” event from May 14-15 at Cowtown Coliseum in the Stockyards. The following weekend, May 16-18, Arlington’s AT&T Stadium will host Kid Rock’s “Rock N Rodeo” and the world finals championship.
After making his PBR debut in 2024, White’s bull Playmate gets his first world finals nod on May 8.
“This is fun for me. I like it like I like fighting,” White said. “You have the best riders in the world versus the best bulls in the world.”
White on buying Playmate
When it comes to bull buying, White said he’s looking for “mean, nasty, violent bulls.”
This rings true with Playmate, who is the son of three-time PBR World Champion, SweetPro’s Bruiser. On April 24 during his PBR team series debut, Playmate went berserk in the bucking chute and the rider had to be helped off the raging bull.
“He’s a good-looking dude, I like everything about him,” White said.
White, who has been head of the UFC for over 20 years, said evaluating bulls and fighters are comparable.
His partner in the bull business — Dennis Davis of Orchard, Texas — sends pictures and videos of him working with the bulls. The duo also worked together on another one of White’s bulls, Twisted Steel, who competed in the 2024 world finals and died earlier this year.
White said he’s thinking about stopping by Fort Worth to see Playmate make his debut on May 8. But if he isn’t there, White shared advice for riders who will give his bull a go.
“Good luck, boys,” White said.
