UFC President Dana White, the man who is at the forefront of “the world’s fastest growing sport,” is also currently near the top of Time’s list of the world’s most influential people. The voting is not yet complete, but White was ranked number one and is currently ranked number three.

According to voters, White is more influential than Conan O’Brien*, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton, to name a few. If you would like to vote or see the current poll results, check out www.Time.com.

White has taken the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) and turned it into a global phenomenon. White has stated that within ten years, the UFC will be bigger than the NFL.

A sport that was once outlawed and illegal in nearly every state in the Union, is now legalized and regulated by state athletic commissions in all but a few states. White has not only helped turn a million dollar company into a billion dollar company, but a whole industry has grown up around the sport’s success.

The fact that White is now being recognized by such mainstream media outlets as Time, is just one more indication of how far the UFC and the sport of MMA has come. Will it actually become more popular than the NFL one day?

*UPDATED April 2, 12:26 a.m. – Dana White is now ranked number 3 by voters and Conan O’Brien is ahead of him in the results. This could change many times before they close the voting. It does not state on the Time.com article when the voting will close. So go vote for Dana to show your support for the UFC and MMA!

UPDATED April 2, 12:36 a.m. – Title was changed from “Dana White tops Time Magazine’s list…” to “Dana White near the top…”

It is well in its way.

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