Dana White -- UFC Fighters Are NOT Violent People ... Outside the Ring

Vantris Patterson is dead wrong ... the UFC does NOT transform athletes like Phil Davis into violent people outside of the octagon ... this according to UFC honcho Dana White.

White just called in to "TMZ Live" to take on the allegations Davis' baby mama made in her nasty custody battle with the UFC fighter -- that the sport has turned him into a monster.

"Phil Davis ... we've never had problems with this guy EVER," White said ... "He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met."

White says he has hundreds of guys who fight under the UFC banner -- and barely ANY of them have issues with violence after the bell rings.

His explanation -- "When you train, every day all day ... the last thing you wanna do is fight outside the octagon."