Dana White reacts to PFL exec's bold claim about Francis Ngannou PPV being bigger and more expensive than Noche UFC at The Sphere
UFC CEO Dana White's friction with MGM paved the way for the organization's colossal event at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Noche UFC 306, the recently concluded pay-per-view event celebrating Mexican Independence Day and the nation's rich combat sports culture, exceeded $20 million in production compared to the approximate $2 million spent at regular pay-per-view events.
While the MMA community at large is still in awe of the sheer magnitude of the UFC's groundbreaking event, PFL co-founder Donn Davis recently claimed that their upcoming pay-per-view fixture featuring the return of Francis Ngannou against Renan Ferriera is a bigger and more expensive card. Speaking to the New York Post, Davis said:
"The UFC is the bigger company, but we’re putting on the bigger event. So this is a big deal for us. Our No. 1 metric is putting on the highest quality MMA fight for fans in the world. We want to show fans that we can put on just as good, or better of a product than anyone else in the world. That’s metric No. 1." [H/t: MMA Fighting]
He added:
“Metric No. 2, we want to do okay financially, just okay financially. The cost of this fight is astronomical. Dana White talks about his $20 million Sphere event, this is more. Fighters make more, the card here has more big fights coming. This cost to us is more than his cost to the Sphere.”
Catch Don Davis' comments below:
White addressed the comments during the post-fight press conference of the recent episode of Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS), stating:
"I didn’t even know who he was until you said it. So, what did he say? Sounds like a good idea. Good for him. Good luck. I hope it all works out. Yeah.”
Catch White's comments below (7:00):
Francis Ngannou is set to make his highly anticipated return to MMA against Renan Ferreira in the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants card on Oct.19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dana White shares a fan's reaction to Noche UFC 306
Dana White played an instrumental part in the UFC's trailblazing spectacle at the Sphere in Las Vegas which featured a pay-per-view showcase orchestrated to celebrate the Mexican spirit of fighting.
White recently shared a message from a fan to the UFC's head of production Craig Borsari regarding the success of the event. He captioned the post:
"I have been getting texts nonstop since Saturday and people walking up to me in the street saying amazing things about #NocheUFC. Today a family from Mexico approached me at the Airport and literally made my day with all the things they said about them flying here to see the show. This text was sent to @craig_borsari our head of production and I had to post it. Thank you everyone!! I’m glad the Mexican people loved the Tribute on Mexican Independence Day"
Check out the Instagram post below: