http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/dec/27/ufc-will-rule-world-and-bring-vegas-along-ride/

Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Dana White

UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020.

People were saying I was a lunatic 10 years ago when we first got this going, but the stuff we’re working on right now on so many levels is mind-boggling.

The UFC will be on network television in the coming years, but we’re not going to go out and do a stupid deal because we don’t need them. We built this thing without help from anybody, and that’s why the UFC has been able to flourish even in these hard times.

The sport was just sanctioned in Massachusetts and Vancouver. We’re going to get it done in Ontario and New York in 2010. And we’re already working on taking the UFC global. We’ve already done Germany, England and Ireland, and we just sold 22,000 seats for an event in Australia in 15 minutes.

Think about this: Right now in the United States, there is nothing bigger than the NFL. It is huge. But the NFL has been spending billions of dollars trying to break into other countries and it’s not working. You know why? Because these people in other countries don’t care about American football. They didn’t grow up playing it and they’re not invested in American teams.

I take two guys and put them in an octagon and they can use any martial art they want — that transcends all culture barriers. Right now we are on some form of television in over 175 countries. We’re all human beings and we all “get” fighting.

That said: Las Vegas is a Mecca for fighting.

Between the UFC and our sister company the WEC, World Extreme Cagefighting, the economic impact fighting has in Las Vegas is astronomical. And I’m from here. I lived in Boston for a while, I love it too, but the reality is I’m from Las Vegas.

Every time I walk through the back of the MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay, valet parkers and waiters will stop me and say, “Dana, thank you for bringing the event here this weekend.” That’s when these guys make their money. We bring a lot of people into town for these events, and we bring them regularly.

So, in the next 10 years, Las Vegas will benefit even more from UFC’s success.

Me and Lorenzo Fertitta will sit down and figure out a game plan for the next 10 years, and we’ll execute it.

So, is 10 years enough time to make this the biggest sport in the world? Hell, yeah.

Dana White is the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Think 2010 could be a good year for the UFC, big fights already scheduled. I think they weathered the injuries in the second half of 2009 well.

Anderson, GSP and Brock are arguably the companies 3 biggest stars so to lose them was a big hit. BJ and Diego did respectable numbers with 107. The company finished 2008 with a huge card @ ufc 92 and started the year with some big fights, GSP v Penn 2, Franklin v Henderson, Liddell v Shogun, this set a precedent which due to injuries was not fulfilled.

If Brock did not fall ill I am sure he would have fought again in 09, that goes for GSP and Anderson also. Who knows the UFC could have ended the year with Silva v Belfort.

I think if they get their big stars back fit and healthy then they could have a big year in 2010.

Predictions- Two trilogies to be completed Penn v GSP & Brock v Mir, Koscheck to avenge the Thiago loss and push on at welter, Jon Jones to have a real go at the light heavy division (can see Dana using Forrest as the sacrificial Lamb) and Shogun to repeat the feat but without the robbery this time.

IMO the UFC can get bigger, but if boxing sorts out the politics and gets fights made now, then it will be much greater in terms of popularity.

MMA is a good sports and does require skills, but most people including the media do not accept it as well.

Boxing will always be a bigger sport than any combat sports today. With the internet now, new fans can watch old fights and appreciate them and become new fans.

I hope the UFC and boxing both grow.

have to ask .. what were the #ers for 107

I read 600k somewhere before. Not sure 100%

I think MMA will get bigger, not just UFC. Dana acts like he owns the entire sport. I wish Lorenzo would step up and be the face of UFC instead of this low rent ass clown...Boxing will always be big....

Not with the ****ty cars as of late (minus 107). I wish UFC would co-promote!

have to ask .. what were the #ers for 107

Meltzer and his team have it figured around 645k.

Meltzer and his team have it figured around 645k.

Is that good? I mean considering BJ was on the card but also considering that Brock/Mir (If I remember right) was supposed to be on this?

Dana white is funny..no matter what he's gonna continue lying about how big UFC is and will while at the same time give out over infatuated numbers and dodge audits while not talking about how tufs ratings are decreased every year..its funny how an internet phenom can change things for that boring ass show...the ufc..where vince mcmahons superstar Lesnar can get a title shot after a win and a loss..

Is that good? I mean considering BJ was on the card but also considering that Brock/Mir (If I remember right) was supposed to be on this?

Actually it's surprising. A lot of people, including Meltzer was expecting something around 400-350k due to the Brock situation and all the injuries.

Not with the ****ty cars as of late

Agreed. If these last few cards are an indication of things to come in the next 10 years, the UFC will be closer to bankruptcy than taking over anything.

They have hit their peak. They are running out of matchups and stars.

Couture-Coleman headlining a pay per view? Lets get real.

Does anyone actually believe anything this guy says? Does he not realize that it takes decades to build a sport that the whole world would embrace. They have zero chance by 2020 of becoming the biggest sport in their biggest market, America. World wise they are not even close to the popularity of Soccer or Boxing. MMA may be big but just like American Football it costs a lot to participate in it. Boxing and Soccer are both fairly cheap to train for and will always be the two biggest sports in the world. This guy may be a good promoter for his company but god he must think people are complete idiots.

They have hit their peak. They are running out of matchups and stars.

Couture-Coleman headlining a pay per view? Lets get real.

True that, i think UFC has done pretty much all the match ups we wanted; Shognu VS Liddell, Liddell VS Wanderlei, Anderson Silva VS Dan Henderson, Lesnar vs Mir, GSP VS 170 pound division.

Evertyhting has been done, i think we can expect to see the UFC fading from 2010 on.

True that, i think UFC has done pretty much all the match ups we wanted; Shognu VS Liddell, Liddell VS Wanderlei, Anderson Silva VS Dan Henderson, Lesnar vs Mir, GSP VS 170 pound division.

Evertyhting has been done, i think we can expect to see the UFC fading from 2010 on.

We still have to see whether Vitor Belfort can knock the piss out of Anderson Silva. Once Silva recovers from his elbow surgery of course, but I can see the excuses already if Silva loses that fight. Also that dream matchup between GSP and Anderson Silva would be pretty cool. But I only see that fight happening if the UFC loses ratings and gets truly desperate.

True that, i think UFC has done pretty much all the match ups we wanted; Shognu VS Liddell, Liddell VS Wanderlei, Anderson Silva VS Dan Henderson, Lesnar vs Mir, GSP VS 170 pound division.

Evertyhting has been done, i think we can expect to see the UFC fading from 2010 on.

I wouldn't say that. It's not like there aren't going to be any up and comers and new signings.

There are still plenty of good match-ups in MMA that haven't been done and some that most people haven't even contemplated.

The UFC has already it's blown it's wad.Using Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell,two washed up former superstars who have clearly seen better days only proves it.People never asked for such a match and once again the UFC seems intent on forcing it down it's fans throats.

The UFC is on a steady decline.The fans are sick and tired of the twice a month PPV's and the each card being such a major letdown.


The promotions biggest star is a star that was never their's to begin with.A former WWE superstar who has carried his persona over to what is supposed to be a legitimate sport.


Mr.White's comments show us of what he really thinks of the sport that his company is at the top of.He see's his promotion as an actual sport,he has marketed his promotion so that nobody would dare even ponder what else is out there.There was another man who came up with this idea himself,and he can be seen every other week pulling his pants down and making his employee's kiss his behind.


http://obsessedwithsports.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/vince-mcmahon1.jpg

People still listen to what Dana White says?

This guy is so full of **** it is ridiculous.

2010 will be a ****ty ****ing year for MMA. All their notable stars are injured, and those ****s know nothing about developing fighters.

People still listen to what Dana White says?

This guy is so full of **** it is ridiculous.

2010 will be a ****ty ****ing year for MMA. All their notable stars are injured, and those ****s know nothing about developing fighters.

I wouldn't say that. The UFC isn't the whole sport.

There are TONS of good fights coming up outside of the UFC.

For example this Thursday is NYE Dynamite and it's ****ING PACKED with good fights.

-Masato vs. Souwer
-Sefo vs. Nishijima

Overeem vs. Fujita
Goodridge vs. Mousasi
Manhoef vs. Misaki
Minowa vs. Sokky
Ishii vs. Yoshida
Aoki vs. Hirota
Kid Yamamoto vs. Kanehara

And that's not even the entire card. The event is at least 6 hours of K-1/MMA fights!!!

I'm ****ing stoked for the NYE Card.

The injuries are making things seem worse than they really are.

But to say 2010 is going to suck is silly. Just because the UFC is suffering doesn't mean there aren't good fights happening elsewhere.

With Pacquiao retiring in 2010 boxing would die again. its time for UFC to rise in 2010.

have to ask .. what were the #ers for 107

the ufc does not submit any numbers to any one any number value you hear is mostly made up by some guy at yahoo sports with a little bit of dana's money to give him an idea of how many people watched. the actual numbers dana dosnt give to any one that isnt one of his fighters.

the ufc does not submit any numbers to any one any number value you hear is mostly made up by some guy at yahoo sports with a little bit of dana's money to give him an idea of how many people watched. the actual numbers dana dosnt give to any one that isnt one of his fighters.

Even though he's entrenched himself in the PPV companies since the early 90's and has people who have degrees and business and finance have look at expenditures and other business related items since the mid 90's, being the first to break that Ted Turner was being shut out of AOL/TW.

I also got to mention this because of the hilarity of the issue.

Meltzer has been reporting on MMA since 1989-1990. Dude busted his ass to get sources in the PPV business just to get buy rate numbers and later on builds up a bunch of guys he could talk to on finacial issues during the decline of WCW just to find out how much money the company was losing. WCW wasn't giving bupkiss so he had to do some actual footwork to find out. Al this time, Meltzer is covering the MA scene. Yahoo hires him because he's ben pretty much the go to guy when it comes to pro wrestling and MMA. Later on Schafer states the obvious that Zuffa doesn't share numbers. The Fans mind you, THE FANS throw Meltzer (and to a lesser extent MMA Payout) under the bus. There proof is that their fans of MMA and that Meltzer works for Yahoo.

Meanwhile.....Kevin Iole, Yahoo's Boxing contributer, has his lips firmly planted round Dana's nuts to the point of Sabotaging fighter negotiations (http://www.fightlinker.com/kevin-iole-rides-again-2.mma), Running (http://www.fightlinker.com/yahoosports-are-****ing-morons.mma) interferance (http://www.fightlinker.com/yahoo-sports-does-the-ufcs-dirty-work.mma) and even causes internal strife (http://www.fightlinker.com/the-ufc-will-never-work-with-affliction.mma)

And No One NO ONE calls this douche out!! This is a mother ****er who blamed Loreta Hunt (http://www.fightlinker.com/kevin-iole-blames-loretta-hunt.mma) for Dana calling her a ***** for gods sake. This guy is the Maestro of UFC propaganda and no one gives him a second lok. They rather dogpile on the guy who actually is doing some ****ing work.

hopefully the UFC can get over it's recent injury bug .. but apparently Kos is out for 109

honestly that's been hurting the UFC most, because several big events had to be switched up because of injuries

so maybe with some good up and coming names, along with some other established names the UFC/MMA can expand interest into their product.

but comments like below fear that the UFC might have just peaked out.

T hey have hit their peak. They are running out of matchups and stars.

Couture-Coleman headlining a pay per view? Lets get real.

and that fight isn't even the worst "big time" match up

(old news) but the UFC has even brought Chuck Liddell back to fight Ortiz for a third time .. which reeks of a desperation move

and what'll they (UFC + Chuck) get out of it?

because worst case in that situation is Chuck gets knocked out brutally yet again, but probably stupidly chooses to fight on

and best case would be Chuck beats tito to FINALLY win a fight .. and thinks he's back in the title hunt so he fights again

im looking more forward to the GSP-Hardy, Mir-Carwin, Nog-Velazquez and even Shogun-Machida rematch

Even though he's entrenched himself in the PPV companies since the early 90's and has people who have degrees and business and finance have look at expenditures and other business related items since the mid 90's, being the first to break that Ted Turner was being shut out of AOL/TW.

? either way its not coming from ufc and its not the actual numbers.

With Pacquiao retiring in 2010 boxing would die again. its time for UFC to rise in 2010.

Boxing will never die, there are many young, up and coming prospects for the future, boxing has done the big numbers for over a hundred years and it will do the same for the next hundred.

the main attraction at ufc is a former wwe star who lost 1, won 1 then got a shot at the title??

the ufc has already reached its peak, it will now fizzle out. Meanwhile, a possible fight between pacquiao and mayweather is looking to shatter the all-time PPV record.

With Pacquiao retiring in 2010 boxing would die again. its time for UFC to rise in 2010.

Do you even watch Boxing? Come on, I love MMA just as much as the other guy but Boxing will never die bro. Too many big names still left and upcoming prospects in the game for that to ever happen. Well then again I think Boxing would only die to *******s.

Boxing will never die, there are many young, up and coming prospects for the future, boxing has done the big numbers for over a hundred years and it will do the same for the next hundred.

the main attraction at ufc is a former wwe star who lost 1, won 1 then got a shot at the title??

the ufc has already reached its peak, it will now fizzle out. Meanwhile, a possible fight between pacquiao and mayweather is looking to shatter the all-time PPV record.

as there are in MMA too, jon jones is a good example off the top of my head, I agree with you that boxing will never die, but neither will MMA, I believe both sports can coexist with each other and even help each other and the only reason lesnar is such a big draw is because of his time in the WWE, that says more about the way the UFC is marketed than it does about MMA as a sport.

Dana white is funny..no matter what he's gonna continue lying about how big UFC is and will while at the same time give out over infatuated numbers and dodge audits while not talking about how tufs ratings are decreased every year..its funny how an internet phenom can change things for that boring ass show...the ufc..where vince mcmahons superstar Lesnar can get a title shot after a win and a loss..

yep. this is the truth.

i think the UFC will be as big as it is now. no bigger. face it, only those who love fighting and watching mma and boxing are going to pay to see it. look around you now, has boxing gained a bigger audience since the 80's? MMA continues to grow since it's new, but i feel it's almost peaking which isn't great news for dana white and co. he's talking about it like it
s the NFL or something. what it is now is what it will always be. certain individuals will be bigger than the sport, but that's about it. fighting is not for everyone.

how many big names are left in boxing?

Mosley, Floyd and Pacquiao are the big three that I can think of. and as far as the up and comers

ESPN did had a pretty big list of prospects headed by the undefeated Danny Jacobs, and others listed such as the two Olympians Deontay Wilder and Demetrius Andrade

but how many of those prospects will blossom into stars, and more importantly what about something I like to call the care factor

because guys like Chad Dawson and Paul Williams have both been kicking @ss and taking names for the most part yet will probably never become superstars

plenty of talented boxers are out their ... it's just getting the general public to care which is the hard part.