The MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) industry has been thriving in the global market ever since the rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). And further, with Dana White’s groundbreaking announcement to take UFC to every corner of the world, the promotion aims to become a phenomenon.
White said that if the UFC ever wants to be bigger than soccer, it’ll need to be more international, MMA Mania reports. The promotion is currently broadcast in over 170 countries, with a growing presence in Asia, the Middle East, and South America.
[Revealed] Dana White’s UFC Dream: Fights in Every Country?
If you don’t miss any UFC fights, then you might have noticed that Dana White is not as visible as he used to be. The CEO of the promotion is focusing on side ventures such as his energy drink, promoting big crossover events like Canelo vs Crawford, and most importantly, his controversial slap fighting league, Power Slap.
With the UFC being the powerhouse of fighting promotion, what motivates Dana White today? Yes, the same exact question was asked by 15-year-old influencer Jazlyn “Jazzy” Guerra in an interview.
White answered, he wants his promotion to be in every country in the world. Specifically, he mentioned that they are targeting Spain. Though there has been a meeting of UFC events in Spain, nothing has been finalized due to last if suitable venues and the absence of government support or incentives.
“We’re still continuing to build a sport. I was just in another room over here with the sports minister of Georgia. And not Atlanta, Georgia. I’m talking about Georgia, the country, and we’ve never been there before. I’m going on a big tour of China in August. The government is gonna take me around. We’re making moves over there.” White said.
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It’s confirmed, White is actively networking with sports officials of Georgia and planning a China tour in August 2025.
Maybe Dana White is stepping back from daily UFC operations, but his vision to expand UFC is getting bigger than ever.
[Legacy] UFC’s Growth Under Dana White
Dana White as a president, and now CEO of the UFC, has changed the fate of the organization from a struggling fighting promotion to becoming a multi-billion dollar business. His dedication and marketing strategy have paid off.
It all began in 2001 with Dana White becoming the president of the UFC after it was purchased by the Fertitta brothers for $2 million. Matter of fact, White himself insisted that the Fertitta brothers acquire the company.
In 2016, UFC was sold to WME-IMG for $4 billion. 7 years later, the fight promotion was sold to TKO Group Holdings for $21 billion, with Endeavor, the former majority owner of UFC, holding a 51% stake in TKO.
With the rise in the valuation of the company over the years, one can simply understand what Dana White accomplished.
Pankaj Kapoor’s Take On Dana White’s UFC Expansion
For many casual fans like me, MMA equals UFC. Fighters in other promotions often aim to sign with the UFC, because it is the big league now. Undoubtedly, the fight promotion has set industry standards for fighters.
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