“UFC and Meta just signed a massive long-term partnership. Meta will become UFC’s first-ever official fan-technology partner. This is great news for UFC fans. Why? Because this means Meta will use all of its bada– apps and technology like Instagram.” Dana White proudly stated this week. The UFC CEO officially confirmed that the organization has sealed a long-awaited deal with Meta, the parent company of Facebook, led by Mark Zuckerberg. The goal? To bring mixed martial arts to an even wider global audience!

As part of the agreement, the UFC CEO revealed plans to incorporate Meta’s smart glasses into UFC events, aiming to elevate the live experience for fans. Moreover, the partnership would also result in incorporating the tech juggernaut’s platforms and products including Meta AI, Meta Quest, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads into the MMA fabric for fans to have more ways to view content. But this partnership didn’t come out of the blue!

The connection between Dana White and Mark Zuckerberg dates back to 2023 when talk of a potential showdown between the Meta CEO and fellow tech titan Elon Musk at Rome’s Colosseum captured the world’s attention. Though the fight never materialized, it kicked off a friendship between the UFC boss and the Meta CEO. That bond deepened last year when the head honcho began calling on Mark Zuckerberg to “get rid of the clowns” responsible for the UFC’s P4P rankings.

Instead, he suggested Meta’s AI could offer a more accurate system—a proposal that raised eyebrows and stirred speculation about the Bossman’s real motives behind his growing friendship with Zuckerberg. Still, some can’t help but wonder if there’s more to the LA native’s alliance with Meta than meets the eye. Now, the newly signed deal reportedly includes a stacked lineup of fan-engagement tools and immersive technologies.

While the financial terms of the deal remain under wraps, speculation continues around Dana White’s personal interest in aligning so closely with Mark Zuckerberg. But what’s driving the Meta CEO’s deepening involvement with the UFC? According to UFC legend Michael Bisping, it’s not business—it’s love. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bisping shared, “Fair play to Mark Zuckerberg, because this probably all started with his love of MMA. Of course, we saw him initially training in BJJ. I think he’s currently a blue belt—competed in some tournaments, and got a gold medal and a silver medal. Then he progressed to being ringside at the UFC, of course, standing there with Dana White.”

“He was ringside at UFC 300, hanging out with Merab Dvalishvili, hanging out with Alex Pereira, giving it the ‘chama’ and all that type of stuff—hanging out on yachts with Izzy and Volkanovski. Just these guys living their absolute best lives.” Bisping concluded.

Indeed, Mark Zuckerberg is far from a fan in name only—he’s deeply passionate about the sport. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the Facebook founder took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, training under renowned coach Dave Camarillo. His commitment paid off in May 2023 when he competed in a BJJ tournament, securing a gold medal in the no-gi category and a silver in the gi division. Riding that momentum, Zuckerberg began training for an MMA debut.

However, those plans were put on hold after he suffered a torn ACL during training—an injury that required surgery. Since then, talk of his MMA debut has taken a backseat. Still, Zuckerberg often appears alongside UFC stars like Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, Alexander Volkanovski, and many others. While Zuckerberg hasn’t made his walk to the UFC Octagon, Dana White seems to have made his own move—by stepping into Meta’s world at the boardroom level. Let’s take a closer look at how this powerful partnership continues to evolve.

Dana White reacted to his appointment to Meta’s board of directors

“What Dana’s done with the UFC is like one of the most legendary business stories, and the brand is beloved. I think he’s a world-class entrepreneur and he’s got a strong backbone. I think part of the conversation I had with him around joining our board was,” Mark Zuckerberg admitted while speaking to Joe Rogan on his podcast, revealing why he brought Dana White onto Meta’s board of directors.

The tech giant’s admiration for the Bossman stems from his unmatched business instincts and the remarkable evolution of the UFC under his leadership. Over the past 30 years, Dana White has turned the UFC into the premier name in mixed martial arts, building relationships with governments worldwide and turning a once-struggling promotion into a global powerhouse.

Impressed by that success, Zuckerberg extended an offer to White. Though initially hesitant, White recognized the potential of being part of Meta—especially with the growing impact of AI and social media—and ultimately agreed. “I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside. There is nothing I love more than building brands and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level,” White said after accepting the new role.

Now here’s a question worth asking—what do you make of Zuckerberg’s growing ties with the UFC? Could this close relationship with Dana and the fight world lead to Zuck finally stepping into the Octagon to show off his MMA skills? Would you be down to see him fight? Share your thoughts below!