Palms grants UFC president Dana White gaudy 'blackjack championship' belt
Think the Palms wants to host more UFC events in the future?
The Las Vegas resort and casino gave UFC president Dana White a bad-ass championship belt for dominating them in blackjack. White posted the photo of the belt on Instagram on Tuesday. The UFC boss was given his walking papers by the Palms in May after taking the casino for $2 million during a torrid three-month hot streak.
The belt is hilarious. It features White's likeness on the side with "24-0" on his shirt and the words "WINNER BY TKO." The middle features the Palms logo with the text "Undisputed Blackjack Champion." The gold bauble probably cost the property a ton of money -- but nowhere near how much White won from it.
"Thanks to the Palms Casino for my Championship Blackjack belt," White wrote on Instagram. "Thanks to President Todd Greenberg and all the staff. It was fun whoopin ur ass."
White's limit at the Palms was cut from a maximum of $25,000 per hand to just $5,000 in the spring -- and then they pulled the plug altogether. White announced his ban from the Palms on UFC Embedded in May.
Things were friendly this time around, but two years ago the Palms cut White's credit line and White vowed not to bring UFC events back there. The UFC has not held a card at the resort since July 2012. The Ultimate Fighter Finale was once a staple for The Pearl at the Palms venue.
New Palms chief executive Dan Lee tried to make amends with White in March when he sent White a bottle of his favorite wine, 2001 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet, which goes for about $5,000 a bottle.
This championship belt is another olive branch. It's doubtful White will be allowed to gamble at the Palms any time soon, but you better believe the property is making a play for UFC events -- maybe even the TUF Finale in December since this will be one of the biggest "Ultimate Fighter" seasons ever.
