Dana White Will Deliver The ‘Greatest Live Combat Sports Show’ In 2024

In some top MMA news, Dana White does have plans for a UFC Noche event for next year, on Mexican Independence Day, to take place at The Sphere, Las Vegas.

The news arrives on the back end of the success that UFC Noche had, which featured Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso.

During the course of that process, Mike Bell’s scorecard of 10-8 to Grasso in the final round deprived ‘The Bullet’ of a win as the result was declared a split draw.

The controversy in the aftermath generated a need for a rematch, and given that the event was the most viewed UFC fight on ESPN, the fight was clearly a success.

And now White has made it clear that there are plans in place to hold regular fights on Mexican Independence Day, starting with The Sphere.

White On The Sphere

“Mexican Independence Day, we are booked for The Sphere. We are already working on the creative for the show. It’s a massive challenge, and I love every minute of it. I can’t wait to dive into this thing. As I get more of the pieces of the puzzle put together, I’ll let you guys know as it comes along. I’m super excited about this. I love challenges.

“Everybody keeps saying to me, ‘I don’t understand how you’re going to put the octagon in there, I don’t understand how you’re going to do this, I don’t understand how you’re going to do that. Remember that I said this to you tonight — I’m going to put on the greatest live combat sports show anybody has ever seen,” White said 

But in order to do so, White would have to go up against the sport of boxing. The sport has historically put on mega fights on Mexican Independence Day, with Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez being mentioned for 2024.

However, what the UFC has shown is that it is capable of holding its own as shown by the fact that the sport continues to receive huge investment.

The PFL’s recent investment of over $100 million from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, through SRJ Sports Investment, shows the huge demand.

And given that the UFC will hold its first event in Saudi in 2024, White has previously dismissed boxing’s ability to compete with the UFC at The Sphere.

White On Boxing

“You know I will spend the money to make it right. Boxing’s gonna f— around with them on the tickets. They don’t have the money to do it. None of those bums have the money to do it. I’ll do it. They can join all the forces they want to join. Those guys, all they’ll do is fight with each other, who’s gonna spend the money, who’s gonna be reimbursed, who’s gonna get their money out first. It’ll turn into a big fight and eventually turn into a lawsuit and it will be an absolute f——- nightmare for The Sphere. Good luck to them. What are they gonna do?” White stated