Dana White and the UFC are planning something monumental, possibly unprecedented in the world of fighting promotions. UFC 306, also known as UFC Noche 2, is scheduled to take place on September 14th this year. What sets this event apart is an element so extraordinary that it could go down in history as one of the most significant and singular moments in entertainment.
Wh͏a͏t’s the͏ spectac͏ular e͏lement o͏f ͏͏the event͏, you ask? Wel͏l, it’ll be ta͏king pl͏ace ͏at t͏he ͏$͏2͏͏.3͏ billion enter͏tainment venue,͏ ‘Sp͏here’. The fi͏ghts are yet to͏ be announced, but D͏͏ana White͏ ͏is ce͏rtain that he͏’l͏l ma͏k͏e ͏th͏is on͏e of t͏he b͏i͏ggest and baddest events in figh͏ting h͏is͏tory. The UFC͏ CEO, in͏ his re͏cent ͏inte͏raction, gave͏ us a sneak pee͏k o͏f what the event wi͏ll be about. Let’s see wha͏t͏ the ͏͏CE͏O had t͏o say about it.
Dana White is pretty excited about UFC Noche 2
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The UFC Sphere will be a once-in-a-lifetime event and we are not even joking about it. The promotion is not even planning to get back to the Las Vegas sphere after the September 14th event. Why, you ask? Well, it may be because it’s too expensive to even host any event at that place let alone book the entire thing and host UFC fights. “The Sphere in September, UFC 306, although that will be an expensive event to put on, for the record,” TKO Group Holdings President Mark Shapiro said to the media.
Just days after Shapiro made the statement, Dana White came forward to emphasize that the promotion is not going to hold back on spending while doing UFC Noche 2. At the post-fight press conference of UFC St. Louis, White was asked about how he felt about Shapiro’s statement about making UFC Noche 2 a one-and-only event at the ‘Sphere’. The CEO responded with a cheeky remark, “This is going to be the sickest live event in combat sports that anybody has ever seen. It will never be done again. This will be a one-on-one, just because I want to do it,” said Dana White.
He further emphasized that they have already made every arrangement for the events and only the fight cards are yet to be announced. “We’ve already spent a sh**load of money on this thing. Nobody will ever be able to pull this off again because nobody would spend the money to do it. Nobody’s going to spend the money to do what I’m doing over there right now, and as it gets closer, I’ll lay this thing out for you guys. I’m telling you, this is going to be so bada**. I’m super excited.”
2024 is proving to be a memorable ͏ye͏ar for the͏ ͏promoti͏on, as Dana ͏White has ͏be͏en de͏liv͏ering ͏ba͏ck-to-bac͏k bangers. The upcomin͏g cards are also filled w͏i͏th fi͏e͏͏ry matchups͏. It͏ mus͏͏t be not͏ed ͏that,͏ just like ͏the͏ PFL, the͏ ͏UFC has also made some inroad͏s ͏in the desert nation o͏͏f ͏Saudi Arabia.͏
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UFC planning its expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has been heavily investing in sports recently. From the advent of E-sports to boxing to MMA, the kingdom understands the value of sports. However, after PFL, it seems like UFC is looking at a potential deal with the kingdom. The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh has already made Saudi Arabia the hub of boxing, and seems like he is looking to the world of MMA in the meantime.
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Fairly recently, Dana White announced that UFC will be finally going to Saudi Arabia for an event. Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker will headline the inaugural fight night there. It must be noted that this was not the only reason why UFC was venturing into the kingdom. Last week, Alalshikh announced that they will be endeavoring a deal with the premier promotion.” This agreement is a continuation of Riyadh Season’s aims to host and partner with prominent and international events of mass interest,” said Turki Alalshikh.
He further added, “It also enhances our efforts for Riyadh Season to produce diverse content in order to engage and attract an even wider audience with different interests from around the world. UFC is the most prominent mixed martial arts organization in the world and their platform of global fans is unrivalled.” With this deal moving through, it seems like the throne of the UFC will not be hampered by any opponent for the time being. Nonetheless, what is your opinion on the events unfolding?