White Signs Heavyweight After Calling Fight 'Horrible'

Dana White signed Senegalese heavyweight Adama Diop to a UFC contract Tuesday night despite delivering a scathing review of his Contender Series performance.

Diop stopped Zaurbek Sabanov in the opening round at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, per MMA Mania, but neither fighter impressed in a bout that saw both men gassed early. The 31-year-old landed shots against the cage that forced Sabanov to turn away for the referee stoppage.

White made his displeasure clear when announcing contract decisions. "Your fight was horrible, sloppy, and one of the worst fights I've ever seen on the Contender Series," he told Diop, according to the report. "Your stand-up is horrible. You tried to wrestle your way to a win til the crowd started booing you out of this place."

The UFC CEO questioned what options remained for a fighter of Diop's age without the opportunity, then pivoted to offering him a deal anyway. "Don't make me regret this," White said before adding later, "Take this seriously and get in the gym."

Diop becomes the first UFC fighter from Senegal. He entered as a heavy underdog at plus-410 against the minus-590 favourite Sabanov, who trains at Ares FC.