UFC Owners Eye An Entry Into Boxing
The UFC could enter into boxing, with the potential for a partnership in the Middle East.
The UFC has already established itself as the leading MMA brand in the world. They have also made inroads in Saudi Arabia, having held their first event in the region this year. Robert Whittaker stopped Ikram Aliskerov in the first round of the main event. The Saudis also sponsored UFC 306, which was headlined by Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. It was the first-ever combat sports event at The Sphere, setting a UFC live gate record of $22 million as Merab came out on top. Now, it seems the UFC wants to extend that influence into boxing.
UFC Plans
Dana White has long been linked with an entry into boxing. Plans for Zuffa Boxing going ahead in 2018 did not materialize. However, Dana has some experience in boxing. He helped make Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in 2017. White has been praised for putting on the best fights in the UFC, something which boxing has been criticized for. The influence of the Saudis will only help make the biggest fights moving forward. White recently teased the idea of entering into boxing, stating there would be a big announcement.
“There will be some big announcements soon. I never say anything I don’t do, ever. We’ve been kicking the whole boxing thing around for a long time, but you’ve never heard me commit and say, ‘I’m in.’ I’m in,” White said
Mark Shapiro, the President/ CEO of TKO Group Holdings, has now expanded on those comments. Despite White’s enthusiasm, he initially revealed that the UFC was still some way off coming into boxing. But there has now been a change in narrative. Shapiro outlined the conditions for any involvement in boxing. He ruled out buying another promotion that had already been set up. Instead, he was looking to find a partner in the region to start an organic organization.
Shapiro Reacts
That would potentially give the UFC more influence over how they could run their operations. Shapiro also revealed that he would like the UFC Fight Night Pass events to increase, with more boxing. Callum Walsh is an Irish boxer that White has supported, with his fights airing on the platform. If those conditions are met, the UFC could find a home in the boxing sphere.
“Look boxing is something we would do organically. So nothing to buy, just something we’d start up and likely take a partner from the Middle East that would serve as an investment partner for us. So that’s something we’re exploring right now. Nothing to announce.
“I think boxing, especially with Fight Pass, we own our own direct-to-consumer platform with the UFC where we put a lot of preliminary bouts from our fights, we put karate, jiu-jitsu, we’re doing more in wrestling and Fight Pass is owned and operated, if you will. We think we can put some boxing there and really drive subscription growth for Fight Pass,” Shapiro said
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