Before anyone else, Dana White takes pride in bringing combat sports to the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Putting on a spectacular night of fights at the futuristic arena in September 2024 cost the UFC’s CEO more than $20 million.
Now, two boxing legends aim to replicate the success the 56-year-old businessman saw with UFC 306.
Dana White issues warning to Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 promoters
On September 19, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to meet again at the Sphere.
Speaking at a press conference over the weekend, White was asked about the boxing icons following his lead by staging an event at the $2.3 billion venue.
The UFC boss did not hold back, issuing a warning to Mayweather, Pacquiao, and everyone involved in their second bout – a rematch of their 2015 fight that remains the highest-grossing combat sports event ever.
“Who is promoting it? S—! I wonder who is paying for production,” White said at the Zuffa Boxing 04 post-fight press conference.
“They are in for a big surprise. It is incredibly expensive. It’s interesting.
“They’d better call somebody to figure that out.”
Why the UFC probably will not go back to the Sphere
White has made it clear he does not plan on bringing the UFC back to the Las Vegas Sphere.
Contract commitments, along with the sheer cost of hosting an event there, make it an unlikely option.
When asked if fans could expect another event at the venue after UFC 306, White responded: “No, I’m under contract with MGM.
“I told you guys leading up to this, the way that this whole thing played out, tonight was meant to happen. It happened, we did it, we killed it… I have literally been getting blown up by everybody about this event.
“The other thing we did was that it translated well onto television, too. People felt like it was a different experience than they get on a normal Saturday night for a UFC event.”
MGM does not just own Grand Garden Arena; it also run T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas where UFC 326 recently took place.
If UFC events do stay in ‘Sin City’, those venues seem likely to remain at the top of White’s list.
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