Dana White Reflects on How COVID-19 Benefited UFC
“It definitely didn’t hurt us…”
Dana White was determined to keep hosting UFC events during the pandemic in 2020. At a time when most sports were at a standstill, MMA became one of the few forms of entertainment available. The UFC’s innovative solution—Fight Island—debuted during this period, showcasing stars like Khamzat Chimaev and Guram Kutateladze. Recently, White looked back and acknowledged that the pandemic was, in fact, advantageous for the organization.
UFC’s Growth During the Pandemic
With MMA as one of the only sports accessible during the pandemic, the UFC experienced a surge in viewership. Memorable moments from 2020 included Joaquin Buckley’s stunning knockout against Impa Kasanganay, Dustin Poirier’s brutal war with Dan Hooker, and Justin Gaethje’s dominant win over Tony Ferguson. White reflected on the success: “COVID definitely didn’t hurt us. There was no sport on TV except for us. Fights that should have gotten 300,000 buys were getting a million. Our fanbase grew by 68% during COVID.”
Emily Chang of Bloomberg Originals asks Dana White what he wants the next 25 years of the UFC to look like.
Later, Ari Emanuel and Dana White talk about when the popularity of the UFC exploded.pic.twitter.com/4PVNEL5TeS
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 15, 2024
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The Future of UFC Broadcasts
Before the pandemic, the UFC relied on hundreds of broadcast agreements to reach audiences worldwide. White anticipates that the future of TV will consolidate into fewer, larger platforms, and he sees UFC as part of this evolution. “When you think about this industry and where the TV landscape is headed, ten years ago, we had to sign 300 agreements in different countries. Now, with streaming, I always say this—when I was growing up, there was Channel 3, Channel 5, Channel 8, and Channel 13. That’s coming back but on a global scale. What channels will those be? Is it Amazon, Disney, YouTube? What’s the ceiling for the UFC? We’re entering new markets every day. The ceiling is eight billion people where we can hold an event that fans in England, Canada, and Mexico all want to watch.”
COVID-19 Challenges
Despite the growth, the UFC faced significant challenges during COVID. Frequent testing often resulted in canceled fights on short notice. For instance, Curtis Blaydes tested positive the Friday night before his bout against Derrick Lewis. Similarly, Jacare Souza had to withdraw a day before his fight with Uriah Hall. It was an uncertain period, but the UFC adapted and maintained its momentum. The organization’s resilience not only kept fans engaged but solidified its position as a leader in global sports entertainment.
Source: MMAnytt.se
