Source: Yahoo

Dana White was sorely missed at UFC on FUEL TV 3 yesterday when the Korean Zombie shocked the MMA world walking through featherweight contender Dustin Poirier. White revealed that he has a condition known as Meniere’s disease. The disorder affects the inner ear sometimes causing vertigo, tinnitus, and sometimes even hearing loss. The disease affects only one ear and usually comes and goes in bouts so the individual never knows when it will happen. White said he first noticed symptoms back in December while he was on vacation in Fiji and at the UFC 141 post fight conference which he had to end early when he started feeling sick. White said Meniere’s disease is like  “Vertigo but on steroids.” The UFC president is scheduled to have the surgery in Los Angeles today. He was busy tweeting fans throughout the whole FUEL TV card yesterday and even gave out Fight of the Night honors on twitter. White has not sent out any tweets today as he is probably in recovery but said yesterday that he was hoping to be “in and out quick.” The fight was the first in 11 years that White has missed since taking over the UFC.

While White is expected to be out one week, he is scheduled to appear on TUF Live this Friday to announce Urijah Faber’s opponent for UFC 148. Faber and the unknown opponent will fight for the UFC interim bantamweight title while Dominick Cruz is on the mend from an ACL injury he suffered while training for the fight. Cruz is still keeping up with his coaching responsibilities on TUF Live but is expected to be out for at least 6-9 months. Speculation has been mounting in the last few days since Cruz was scratched from the fight that the opponent is expected to be either the Brazilian phenom Renan Barao or young contender Michael McDonald. I have been going back and forth between the two guys and think Barao is the favorite. If McDonald were chosen, he would be the dark horse. McDonald does have a knock out of former champion Miguel Torres on his resume which could put him over the top. Either way both guys are well qualified and could give Faber a run for his money. We are going to have to tune in on Friday to find out.

Update 5/25/2012: UFC officials confirmed that Dana White did not have surgery to address issues he has been having with Meniere’s disease. Instead the UFC president was suggested a medication which will treat the condition and help him avoid surgery.