Earlier this year, UFC head honcho Dana White unveiled his groundbreaking vision to the fight world with ‘One and Done’ at UFC 306: Riyadh Season Noche. Beyond its fight card, this extraordinary event was headlined by the 18-acre, state-of-the-art architectural marvel, “The Sphere.” This venue was an impressive fusion of entertainment, art, and sports, boasting a massive 160,000-square-foot screen that wrapped around the structure. White’s much-anticipated event not only became the promotion’s most costly but also one of the most expensive MMA events ever, with production costs exceeding $20 million, earning its place as a true “game changer” in MMA history.

Dana White’s ambitious project set a new benchmark, and now rival promotions like the Professional Fighters League (PFL), led by Donn Davis, are striving to match that level of excellence. Davis recently discussed in an interview his aspirations to create an event that could surpass the UFC’s groundbreaking offering.

Donn Davis presents Dana White with a harsh reality

PFL President Donn Davis shows confidence, especially after signing former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who is just days away from challenging the 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament champion, Renan Ferreira, in an upcoming PFL event in Saudi Arabia. This confidence is further strengthened by the support of Saudi Arabia’s GEA Chairman, Turki Alalshikh, who backs his investment. Davis sees this as a great opportunity to gain significant rewards, and he is eager to take advantage of it, describing it as a “having your cake and eating it too” situation.

In a recent interview on The FOS, Davis expressed gratitude towards his new Saudi partners, stating, “We have a great partner to build the company, but we also have a great partner to host the biggest events. We couldn’t afford what we are putting on in October, especially what we’re presenting on October 19, without their support. PIF and Surge, along with the Minister of Sports in Saudi Arabia, are underwriting this event.”

Seizing this chance to send a message to his arch-rival Dana White, Davis mocked White’s UFC Sphere, claiming, “Dana White loves to talk about the Sphere—well, most of the $20 million went into things like historic movies. This is more than $20 million, and most of it is going into this event on October 19.”

This isn’t the first time someone has criticized White’s ambitious $20 million event, arguing that it emphasizes lavish spending on the venue rather than delivering substantial fights, labeling it a success due to its opulent setting. Previously, White faced backlash from former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub on social media for similar reasons.

Brendan Schaub exposes the UFC’s $20 million project

Dana White left everyone stunned when he converted the concert and movie premiere-oriented ‘The Sphere’ into a fight arena. However, this multimillion-dollar structure did not live up to the expectations of many, especially true MMA fans, who were hungry for a stacked fight card and nothing more. This sentiment was echoed by fighter-turned-podcaster Brendan Schaub just two days after UFC 306, as he criticized White for prioritizing ‘The Sphere.’ While it may be good for the audience attending live, what about the fans watching at home? Does The Sphere justify their expectations?

According to Schaub, no. He stated, “My issue is that the product I paid to watch was not great because it wasn’t a pay-per-view-worthy card. The highlight was the Sphere. Therefore, what you’re paying for, unless you’re in person, isn’t that impressive.” This leaves a hole in the event card, which Schaub further targeted, claiming, “You know what this is? The Sphere. It’s like the Rainforest Cafe; it looks fantastic, but the product was sh*t. I loved the Rainforest Cafe.”

Now that the event has concluded, it remains a hot topic of discussion. Dana White’s rivals, without directly mentioning UFC 306, find it difficult to promote their events without alluding to it. What are your thoughts on Don Davis’s remarks? Do you believe that, in terms of success, with Francis Ngannou on his side, Davis will cross this fiery river? Drop your opinion below.