Dana White News: UFC CEO Says Mexico is 'Very Important' to Him Moving Forward
UFC CEO Dana White has a few goals left before retirement, but one of them is the emergence of UFC superstars from Mexico.
White already has two Mexican-born fighters who have held UFC undisputed titles at one point – Alexa Grasso and Brandon Moreno.
In an interview with ESPN Thursday ahead of Saturday's UFC event in Mexico City, White spoke highly about his ambition to create a unique atmosphere inside the Las Vegas Sphere while cultivating new Hispanic talent.
"It's been almost 10 years," White said when recalling the last time he went to Mexico for a fight. "I don't think I've been there since '15 [for UFC 188]. So, yeah, I'm excited. I don't know how much more I can say in this interview, or any more interviews that I do, how much I love Mexico. The people. The culture. The fighting spirit that they have. So, this whole thing has been, you know, a plan for me. I wouldn't say since day one, Mexico has always been a plan since day one. But, you know, probably five or six years into [owning the UFC], once we started thinking about "The Ultimate Fighter" and where we were gonna go, Mexico has been very important to me."
It is essential enough that White plans to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new UFC Performance Institute, which culminates with the event.
White's tentative plan will see the UFC host another "Noche UFC" edition in September during Mexican Independence Day weekend, which would be Sept. 14 in Las Vegas.
If you use any quotes from this article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.
Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC and MMA