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'He should resign': Dana White faces calls to step down as UFC chief after slapping wife at party

'My bet is he’ll just join the ‘hypocrite parade’ and stay on with the ‘I’m sorry I got caught’ apology,' said a user

CABO, MEXICO: A lot of people are demanding the resignation of the UFC chief Dana White after a video of him slapping his wife Anne White at a Mexican club during New Year's Eve surfaced online. In the video, he allegedly said "never bounce back from putting your hands on a woman" in 2014. After the incident of hitting his wife made headlines, White has been slammed and eventually asked to step down from his $500 million role as president of the UFC.

In a candid talk with TMZ, the 53-year-old top at the UFC apologized for his action and tried to explain the situation. He said, "My wife and I were out Saturday night on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, that is what happened. I am one of the guys who say there is never, ever an excuse for a guy to put his hands on a woman and now here I am on TMZ talking about it. This is one of those situations that is horrible. I am embarrassed. We have three kids and since the video popped up, we have shown the kids and we are more focused on our family right now. People are going to have their opinions on this and people's opinions would be right, especially in my case. You don't put your hands on a woman, ever." 

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White and his wife who are married since 1996 were celebrating New Year's Eve at El Squid Roe in Cabo San Lucas. The video which captured the slapping incident in a VIP area above the dance floor of the club shows White appearing to talk to Anne, who then reacted by slapping him. The UFC president then hit her back before the duo walked away.

According to the Daily Mail, the 2014 video of an interview of White reacting to a video of ex-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice abusing his wife resurfaced following the video of White hitting his wife, sparking comments and calls wanting him to resign. "It's a tough one. First of all the video is horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. You're talking about a guy who's been in the fight business since he was 19 years old. It is the most disturbing thing you will ever see," White told FOX Sports at the time.

"We've been human beings in letting these guys, other guys make up for what they've done and come back. There's one thing that you never bounce back from and that's putting your hands on a woman. Been that way in the UFC since we started here. You don't bounce back from putting your hands on a woman," he added.

Responding to the disturbing video of White hitting Anne at the club, his wife told TMZ that "to say this is out of character for him is an understatement - nothing like this has ever happened before. Unfortunately, we were both drinking too much on New Year’s Eve and things got out of control, on both sides. We’ve talked this through as a family and apologized to each other." According to eyewitnesses, the couple was heavily intoxicated before the fight took place at the club. Over the couple's nearly three-decade marriage, they share three children together.

Meanwhile, social media was flood with users saying he should step down as UFC chief. One user said, "He isn't a commissioner of a pro sport league. He is the UFC president and promoter of the UFC. AND HAS made himself the face of the promotion for the last 25 years. He has tarnished the UFC image irreputably and should resign not for 1 month but permanently." Another said, "Dana White should resign now, unacceptable." A third one said, "Dana White told fighters in 2014 'you NEVER bounce back from putting your hands on a woman' If he had any class or character he would resign … my bet is he’ll just join the ‘hypocrite parade’ and stay on with the ‘I’m sorry I got caught’ apology". Yet another wrote, "Dana White should be fired. Or resign. Without question."

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