Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), recently announced thrilling plans for his most electrifying creation yet. The event will be held on the White House south lawn and is set to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. This one-of-a-kind diversion hopes to lure at least 20,000 fans. It’s further tied to buzz surrounding Donald Trump, who has reportedly sought to stage an UFC battle on the landmarked property.
The UFC is preparing to head into new territory. White called the forthcoming event a “1-of-1 event.” There was no shortage of glee at yesterday’s announcement of DreamWorks’ new affiliation with Paramount and its fresh-faced new chairman and CEO, David Ellison. White added that Ellison’s visionary approach when the original contract negotiations began really won him over. This encouraging impression creates the expectation that the UFC is indeed poised for expansion with Ellison’s fresh, alternative leadership.
“In terms of what we’re doing with Paramount, we have a seven-year deal starting in 2026 worth an average of $1.1 billion a year,” White stated. Today’s agreement secures that every UFC card, all 42 of them annually, will be streamed on Paramount+. Plus, select numbered events will be simulcast on CBS.
White shared his confidence in the direction of the UFC’s broadcasting future, stating, “We haven’t figured that out yet but we will.” He reiterated that any changes in the per-per-view model have the potential to drastically affect fighter pay. It will impact fighter pay, big time,” he explained, hinting that changes to traditional broadcasting approaches the UFC has always done things could change the way fighters get paid.
Much of the future event is still being worked out. White does view 10 p.m. as the pay-per-view start time on the clock, but not as absolutely chiseled in stone, particularly on nights when CBS is running events at the same time. In fact, he has always been quite adamant that the pay-per-view model isn’t dead after all. He claims, “It’s definitely going to happen.”
Adding to that competitive landscape, White focused on the competitive forces of the NFL, the NBA, the UFC, and global soccer. We’re coming,” he said with an almost sinister glee. “We’re coming for all of them. His comments are a reflection of the UFC’s desire for world domination. They plan to become a major player in the overall sports entertainment marketplace.
As of this writing, negotiations have not yet concluded. White hasn’t heard back from Donald Trump in regard to the UFC’s new industry-breaking streaming platform. He’s taking an upbeat view of the partnership with Paramount and by Ellison’s team. When you discuss Paramount, you discuss David Ellison, very smart, brilliant businessmen, very aggressive, risk takers. They’re right up my alley. These are the type of guys I want to do business with,” he continued.
That combination of a historic location and high-stakes entertainment makes for an electrifying atmosphere. This setting has incredible prospects to make it a truly historic occasion, both in UFC and American history. The countdown continues and fans eagerly await to experience this groundbreaking partnership between the world of sports and government.
