Given that WWE and UFC are operating under the same parent company, it’s not surprising that UFC has followed in the footsteps of the Stamford-based company or vice versa. Along that line, UFC recently moved one step ahead by bringing their first-ever show to the Middle Eastern country after signing a lucrative deal.
The deal not only came against the backdrop of WWE’s strategic deal with the country back in 2018, but apparently WWE mogul Vince McMahon had a major role to play as well.
Dana White accredited Vince McMahon for securing a deal for the UFC
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WWE just wrapped up a blockbuster Crown Jewel at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this weekend snubbing all criticism. Now, UFC is all ready to head to the Middle Eastern country next year. The UFC president, however, gave all the credit to Vince McMahon for it in a recent interview with Sports Business Journal.
Singing praise to his old foe, White noted, “It was Vince McMahon (who arranged UFC’s Saudi deal). It was 100 percent Vince McMahon. He made every call. He didn’t make one move without picking up the phone and calling me, getting me in the loop, and seeing if I was cool with this and that. And he went from being, oddly enough, I don’t know why, an enemy (of UFC’s), to being an unbelievable, incredible partner.”
The two bigwigs hailing from opposite sides of the combat sports world, however, weren’t on this friendly of terms eons ago.
Dana White reflected on Vince McMahon’s deeds from the past
White and McMahon have often been at odds thanks to their professional rivalries. Following the WWE-UFC merger, things between them, however, took better shape. To reflect on the past bitter equation, Dana White made another bombshell confession.
He noted that McMahon used to be unhealthily competitive. Leading credence to this, White mentioned that UFC was once on the verge of signing a profitable deal with NBC, but Mr McMahon purposely blew it up byy not giving his nod to the contract paper.
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White mentioned it was just one of ten times when Vince McMahon had screwed over the MMA promotion. However, now that they are partners in the present time, we need to see how their relationship will mount up both personally and professionally.
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Watch the story: All About Dana White And Vince Mcmahon’s Relationship
What’s your take on Dana White crediting Vince McMahon for the recent UFC Saudi Arabia deal despite their past animosity?