Dana White joins list of ‘Most Influential People In Sports Business 2024’ after Joe Rogan’s ‘boxing influence’
UFC CEO Dana White included in list of most influential people in sports business after a bountiful 2024 for his company.
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Dana White takes the cake as big mover and money-maker in sports business (Source: X)
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White is “one of the best businessmen” and “one of the smartest guys” in combat sports. That’s according to entertainment mogul and Saudi GEA boxing chief Turki Alalshikh. Now, White gets the validation; the world and the man behind the combat capital of the world measure him with the same likeness.
For a man who hasn’t really done anything related to boxing this year, Joe Rogan’s inclusion in Sports Illustrated’s boxing power list was a bit of a surprise. But unlike the UFC commentator and veteran podcaster, White deserves his spot. Sports Business Journal seems to agree on it.
For as long as we’ve done this, it’s Dana White. It really has. It has been Dana White, just because he continues to push the boundaries of what the sport is. He continues to be the leader in so many different things. I’ve seen some other guys start to step in… I don’t think I ever knew if the UFC could reach the level of what it is today and how it’s viewed. But it doesn’t happen without Dana
Daniel Cormier on The Bohnfire, Ep. 13: Daniel Cormier’s five most significant people in MMA from 2024
Dana White has joined Ari Emanuel (Endeavor), Mark Shapiro (TKO Group), and Nick Khan (WWE) on the ‘Most Influential People In Sports Business 2024’ list. The annual list recognizes “the influence of institutional investment in sports.” Following this blockbuster merger, all four winning teams reunited in early 2023.
The TKO takeover has only increased stock points and talking points, but Dana White himself isn’t without merit. Taking the helm from Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, the maverick helped lead another record-breaking year in terms of revenue, punctuated by a series of blockbuster PPV cards. UFC 300 and Noche UFC PPV remains critically acclaimed. With that, White said its only the start of better things to come.
Extravagant Dana White taking UFC to international bounds
When then-President Dana White joined Ari Emanuel on the Variety500 list for 2022, he promised to make UFC a big international organism. He still holds to those. Given the quality of fights produced, UFC was the pioneer combat sports organization. It made it to the 16th World MMA Awards for the nth time!
The MSG company ‘Sphere’ produced UFC’s highest-grossing event with a mammoth $21,829,245+ gate. Now that there’s a restrictive TKO pause on venue setting in favor of spot roadshows or fighter-nation representation, White and Co. are this close to greatness on international soil.
No, not the combat capital where it has already debuted a few Fight Night grinds. Dana White means business in never-before-touched lands like Spain, South Africa, and so on. The UFC has already taken its grind and wants more to do in China and Mexico. There are new possibilities on the horizon.
We’re talking about Spain and all these other places, not to mention Seattle and Chicago and these other places that we haven’t been in a long time, …I anticipate a lot of big fights — I’ve got something in the works right now, it’ll drive you fu*kers crazy…
Dana White durign UFC Tampa post-fight conference interviews
Despite a shakeup, broadcasting grind might also find favorable homes to stream from in foreign lands. In a year-end industry survey, media insiders pegged Netflix as the winner. As the (possibly) UFC’s new home when the promotion’s broadcast deal with ESPN expires next year. UFC parent company TKO Group brokered a $10 billion deal to bring WWE already.
ESPN has more than a traditional broadcasting deal with the UFC. It has bought exclusive rights to sell UFC pay-per-views behind the ESPN+ paywall in the US. But with other streaming giants, there’d be no need to stack the lineup with ever-noticeable slights of buffering badness. Dana White and UFC are planning super fights and a larger audience. Expect more to come out of 2025.
Related: Conor McGregor vs. Jake Paul is looking more likely than ever
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