Dana White got involved in the UFC when his childhood friends, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, acquired the company in 2001. At the time, White was working as an boxing and MMA promoter, and the Fertittas knew they could trust him to help them turn the financially struggling UFC into a successful business. White began working with the Fertittas as their consultant and soon became the UFC’s figurehead, helping to promote the company through appearances at events and interviews. In addition to increasing the UFC’s profile, White also made a number of decisions that helped the company achieve financial success.