“It’s Gonna Affect My Business”- Dana White Concerned About the Impact of COVID-19

UFC President Dana White candidly spoke out to ESPN’s Hallie Grossman and shared his concerns about the future of the sport. White’s views were voiced through Marc Raimondi’s think piece and have brought about certain questions about the MMA landscape. Chiefly, the conversation occurred due to the lack of regional MMA promotions that are up and running right now.

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged several smaller business models, and smaller combat promotions are included in the mix. Other than the mainstay promotions like the UFC, Bellator MMA, etc, the pandemic has hit regional organizations in a big way. Not to mention, the impact on the hopeful prospective fighters looking to make it big, is a legitimate concern going forward.

Dana White voices his concerns

The long-time boss of the UFC predicted a long-term fall-out from the lack of a regional circuit for the sport. He acknowledged the fact that it wouldn’t lead to an immediate and direct impact on the UFC model. However, the trickle effect on the growth of the business was a key concern for White.

“It bothers me,” UFC president Dana White said to Hallie Grossman last week. “It’s a problem. … It might not affect me this year or next year, but it’s gonna affect me. It’s gonna affect my business. Not a good thing that’s happening right now. It’s absolutely, positively something that is a concern to me.”

What’s more, Dana White intimated a venture that UFC’s platform ‘Fight Pass’ would undertake to help regional promotions. By providing them a massive platform that the UFC possesses, it’s easier for up-and-coming talent to gain better visibility.

“What I’m trying to do is put as many of the strong regional shows on there as I possibly can,” White said. “Obviously, it helps fund their production and enables them to be able to put on live events. So we’re trying to beef that up.”

The next big star in MMA probably doesn’t have a fight booked at the moment. Without a proper platform to showcase their skills and promote themselves, the growth of the sport will be somewhat impacted. Dana White’s Contender Series is one of the few platforms currently available to fighters looking to make it big in the current MMA climate.