“They Have the Money…”: Weeks After Saudi Arabia’s Investment, Which Made Them Lose $800,000,000, Dana White Finally Lays Bare His Feelings on Middle East’s Involvement in Combat Sports

What do you think is the correct way to address whatever the Middle East is doing today in the sports world? A revolution, a case of sports washing, or anything else? Whatever you label it, it is surely forcing drastic changes. The effects are already seen in F1, golf, and soccer, and recently, the tremors were felt in the MMA world. Saudi Arabia’s latest venture into MMA has shocked the world, but Dana White has already figured out the sensibility of things.

Notably, Saudi Arabia’s $100 million investment in rival PFL saw UFC stocks plummet by $800 million. While some might call it a red flag for the promotion, the UFC president is unbothered. The reason? He foresees that investment as part of a grand scheme. The 54-year-old disclosed it all in a conversation with Piers Morgan.

Dana White sees sense behind the chaos of money

When asked about the exodus of soccer players after Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia and the similar shifts in other sports, White pointed out that sports were a smaller piece of the puzzle. In addition, he touched on his relationship with Abu Dhabi.

“My relationship has been with Abu Dhabi in the UAE for years now. And if you look at what that royal family has done with that country over the last 50 years, it’s incredible. They were the first ones really to do it. They started getting involved in sports and saw the whole sports thing coming,” UFC head honcho declared.

Following this, the $500 million-worth American businessperson hinted the cash-splashing spree would continue. However, he also anticipated that it was a well-thought-out strategic plan. He said, “I think you’re going to see more of that. Obviously, they have the money, you know. Saudi, UAE, Qatar—the list goes on and on. They have the money, and they see where this is all going.”

Read More: “They’re Making Moves”: Days After Losing More Than $800 Million Due to Saudi Arabia’s PFL Move, Dana White Finally Reveals the Real Reason Behind the Alliance Between the Two

Meanwhile, the UFC has made a trip to Abu Dhabi, an annual stop in their calendar. Further, the fans could recall the monumental endeavor UFC undertook in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic with Fight Island. These have been the recent additions to their relationship that go back almost 15 years.

UFC and the Middle East go way back

“I mean, UFC has been in business with them for like 15 years. And to be honest with you, when the sh*t hit the fan during COVID, these guys were way ahead of the curve,” White expressed.

The UFC’s trip to Abu Dhabi has garnered eyeballs in recent times, as the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have headlined the event. This year, the trip is scheduled for October 21, and Charles Oliveira and Makhachev will run it back once again at UFC 294. What do you think of these comments by UFC president Dana White? Let us know in the comments below.

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