2024 has been quite a year for the UFC. With a host of memorable cards, starting right from the UFC 300 anniversary super-card in April, to Jon Jones’ return at Madison Square Garden in November, this has been a good year for the promotion. But Dana White‘s favorite UFC moment of the year is another one, where the promotion pushed the limits and did something totally unprecedented.

“The best moment in the UFC this year, in your estimation?” sports analyst extraordinaire Stephen A. Smith asked White on ESPN. “Without a doubt, it had to be The Sphere. Pulling off [UFC 306 at] The Sphere, I thought that when we did The Sphere, people would be flocking to this, to The Sphere to try to do it. I don’t think anybody’s ever going to do it. I don’t think anybody’s ever going to replicate what we did there that night,” the UFC CEO replied.

‘The Sphere’ in Las Vegas is literally the most unique and advanced live event venue in the world. With its massive, seamless 80-feet wraparound LED screens, a show at ‘The Sphere’ is an extremely special experience, which was especially true for UFC 306. But the UFC had to invest reportedly over $20 million in production costs alone to make the event happen, which is why Dana White thinks no other fights would be put on at the venue anytime soon.

And this is why the UFC CEO predictably felt that “if the production team here at UFC doesn’t win every single award there is in television, the awards are BS,” before confirming that they would never be returning to ‘The Sphere.’ “That was a one-and-done,” White added. Still, the UFC CEO promised a few firsts for next year.

What Dana White and Co. have in store for 2025

Dana White revealed that the UFC had gone from strength to strength this year, which has been record-breaking for the company in more ways than one. “This is a record year for us again, not only as far as financially, for the company, but breaking Arena records,” the UFC CEO said.

UFC 306, for instance, was the highest gate-grossing event in the promotion’s history, with three other 2024 UFC PPV events in the top ten list as far as the box office collection goes. Not to mention the promotion also broke records, more than once, for ticket sales collection as far as Fight Night events are concerned.

But what does the UFC have in store for next year? Well, according to White, “my focus is to go to a lot of places that we haven’t been in a while or ever.” The UFC CEO promised the UFC’s first-ever Spain event next year, which will almost definitely feature featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, along with a return to LA, Chicago, and Seattle closer to home. Do you agree with Dana White calling UFC 306 the best moment of 2024?