Dana White From UFC Congratulates BYU WR Puka Nacua For TD Grab
Oct 31, 2021, 11:56 PM | Updated: 11:58 pm
SHENZHEN, CHINA - AUGUST 31: UFC President Dana White attends the press conference after the UFC Fight Night event at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre on August 31, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)
(Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Did you know UFC President Dana White is interested in BYU football these days? White has a close relationship with Puka Nacua and he’s always willing to show love to the Cougars star wide receiver.
On White’s Instagram Stories, he shared the video from the BYU Football social team of Nacua’s first quarter touchdown grab in BYU’s 66-49 win over Virginia.
White wrote a caption that read, “Congrats Puka!!! @byufootball”
Pretty cool to see UFC President Dana White showing love to #BYU’s Puka Nacua.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/qsF8NCIcR9
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 1, 2021
What’s the connection between White and Nacua? Before moving to Utah, Puka grew up in Las Vegas, the home of White’s UFC empire. The ties to the Nacua’s and Vegas run deep. Puka’s older brother, Kaimana “Kai” Nacua, was a star QB at Liberty High School, who later became one of the best safeties in BYU football history.
White has a son, Dana III, who grew up playing football in Vegas as well. Nacua and White III played pop warner football together, props to SB Nation’s Robby McCombs for the discovery.
It’s #TBT how times fly! GREAT TIMES w/Lil Cowboys @danawhite @danaiiiwhite @AsapPuka #inspire2Bgreat pic.twitter.com/7eRukz8MDE
— Coach Whitey (@coachDavidWhite) May 31, 2019
Getting ready to take on OU's football camp with @danawhite boys & the Polynesian Punisher Puka! #UFC #soonermagic pic.twitter.com/ivsQ4FUK
— Coach Whitey (@coachDavidWhite) June 5, 2012
The younger White is currently a redshirt freshman at the University of San Diego.
This isn’t the first time White has given props to Puka for big plays during his collegiate career. While Nacua was up in the Pacific Northwest at Washington, the UFC President would show love to Nacua to his millions of followers on various social media platforms.
Congrats @AsapPuka SO PROUD OF U!!! Have an amazing season kid. We love you!! pic.twitter.com/plrKdQP89B
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 15, 2019
View this post on Instagram
Through eight games this season, Nacua has 28 catches for 551 yards and two touchdown catches. He’s currently averaging 19.1 yards per catch, which is good for 16th nationally so far through nine weeks.
Nacua and No. 17 BYU are back in action this Saturday when they take on the Idaho State Bengals.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
