UFC's Dana White calls Donald Trump 'the ultimate American bada**' to ESPN's Pat McAfee after botched assassination attempt in Pennsylvania

After decades promoting mixed-martial arts, UFC CEO Dana White considers himself an expert on toughness.

And in Donald Trump, the 54-year-old told ESPN's Pat McAfee, he sees exactly that.

'Everybody wants to act like a tough guy, well when the s*** goes down, you find out who tough guys are and who tough guys are not,' White told McAfee on Monday, following the botched assassination attempt on Trump. 'This guy is the legitimate, ultimate American bada** of all time.'

But aside from the triumphant image of a defiant, bloodied trump pumping his fist as he was being rescued by secret service agents, White did stress that the shooting was a dark day for all Americans, both conservative and liberal.

'This is the former president and a candidate,' said White, who is scheduled to introduce Trump at this week's RNC in Milwaukee. 

'Imagine if somebody took a shot at Biden or Obama or Clinton. It's like, this is our president. If it happened to anybody, any of our presidents, every American on earth should be horrified by this and disgusted and upset and angry.'

White initially learned about the shooting while traveling, prompting him to post a message on social media.

'I'm on a plane right now flying to Italy and my phone has been blowing up with text messages from people informing me @realdonaldtrump was shot,' White captioned the photo of Trump on Instagram. 'I am absolutely SICK to my stomach and in complete shock. I still don't know how bad it is or if he's ok.'

Trump survived with a bloody ear, but a man named Corey Comperatore was killed in the attack.

And he wasn't the only UFC voice to offer support for Trump after the failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

'A 78 year old multiple billionaire he should be on a yacht on the med touring golf courses,' Conor McGregor wrote. 'But he is not.' 'He is in Pennsylvania spitting out bullets! Running for the love of his country! God speed Donald! God bless the United States'

Besides McGregor, several UFC and MMA figures paid tribute to Trump following the incident. McGregor's scheduled opponent, Michael Chandler, posted the photo of Trump with his fist in the air and wrote: 'fighter.'

'President Trump is the toughest man on the face of this earth,' wrote avid Trump supporter and former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington. 'God bless him and his family right now'

'God loves this man! I'm happy that President Trump is ok,' wrote Covington's bitter rival, Jorge Masvidal. 'The left knows no bounds! They say they are the non violent ones. They will stop at nothing! Make sure you take screen shots of any leftist celebrating what happened today.'

'Trump is an utter savage,' said former middleweight title holder Sean Strickland. 'Man gets shoot and still is for his people.'

Trump has long had a strong relationship with the UFC. During the organization's early and dark years, the billion-dollar businessman turned politician hosted cards at the Trump Taj Mahal in New Jersey.

Decades later, as MMA became mainstream with the UFC as the leading promotion, Trump has often sat cage side next to UFC president Dana White at biggest cards.