There was a palpable energy in the air during UFC 316 fight week, as fans eagerly awaited the highly-anticipated rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. The buzz was electric, fueled by the intense adrenaline of the upcoming fight and the lively exchange of trash talk between the fighters. However, amidst all the chaos and excitement, one notable figure was noticeably absent – Dana White.
For those who may not be familiar, Dana White is the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. He is known for his charismatic personality, business acumen, and unwavering dedication to the sport of MMA. So, his absence at such a significant event in the UFC calendar definitely raised some eyebrows.
Many speculated about the reason behind Dana White’s absence, with some even speculating that it was due to personal reasons. However, the truth behind his absence was far from that. It was recently revealed that there was a $140 billion reason behind White’s absence from the UFC 316 weigh-ins and press conference.
The reason behind White’s absence can be traced back to the burgeoning partnership between the UFC and the popular sports streaming platform, ESPN+. In March 2019, the UFC inked a deal with ESPN, making the sports network the official broadcaster of all UFC events in the United States. As part of this deal, ESPN also launched a premium streaming service, ESPN+, which features exclusive UFC content.
This partnership has proven to be a lucrative one for both parties, with the UFC gaining a wider global reach and ESPN+ seeing a surge in subscribers. In fact, in May 2021, ESPN+ announced that it had surpassed 13.8 million subscribers – a remarkable achievement considering it was launched just two years ago.
But what does all of this have to do with Dana White’s absence? Well, it turns out that White’s absence was a strategic move to protect the UFC’s partnership with ESPN+. As the face of the UFC, White is known for his unfiltered and sometimes controversial statements. And with the UFC 316 fight week being aired on ESPN+, the UFC and its partner did not want to risk any potential backlash from White’s words.
It’s no secret that White has a way with words that can sometimes rub people the wrong way. And with the heightened media attention surrounding the UFC 316 event, there was a possibility of White saying something that could harm the UFC’s partnership with ESPN+. So, in order to avoid any potential PR disasters, White was advised to stay away from the media spotlight during the fight week.
This move may have disappointed some fans who were looking forward to hearing from White and getting his insights on the upcoming fights. But ultimately, it was a strategic decision that was made to protect the UFC’s partnership with ESPN+ – a partnership that has proven to be incredibly lucrative for both parties.
In the end, White’s absence did not dampen the excitement and hype surrounding UFC 316. The fights were still highly entertaining, and the event was a huge success. And while it may have been strange not to see White’s larger-than-life presence during the fight week, it was a small price to pay to protect a partnership that has brought the UFC to new heights.
As the UFC continues to grow and gain a global fan base, partnerships like the one with ESPN+ will play a crucial role in its success. And if that means keeping Dana White off the stage for a bit, then so be it. At the end of the day, the UFC’s success is a team effort, and sacrifices must be made for the greater good.
So, while it may have been disappointing not to see Dana White during UFC 316 fight week, fans can rest assured knowing that it was all for the sake of protecting a lucrative partnership that is sure to bring even more exciting fights in the future. And who knows, maybe White’s absence will only make his return that much more highly anticipated.
