UFC News: Dana White Says UFC Is 'Officially Here' Following Return To Mexico
For the first time since 2015, UFC CEO Dana White traveled to Mexico City to celebrate the promotion finally breaking ground in the region.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony culminated with UFC Mexico City, headlined by a closely contested flyweight rematch between Brandon Royval and Brandon Moreno, which White, like two of the three judges, scored for Royval in a split decision victory.
Nonetheless, White stayed for the post-fight presser and was pleased with how the event panned out, further outlining his plans for the UFC to remain a priority sports league in Mexico in the coming years.
"With the opening of the P.I., we have huge plans for Mexico, and it’s not just Mexico City,” White said. “I want to go all over Mexico. The UFC is officially here in Mexico now. We actually planted a flag here. We have a our own building here now. We have our facility. We’re going to be doing a lot in this country now. We’re here.”
The UFC's global reach and popularity make Mexico a critical destination, along with Brazil, Abu Dhabi, China, the U.S., and England. White said he noticed an observation while driving around the city that made him stop and reflect on the event's significance.
"When you think about when we started and what we faced going head-to-head with boxing, which was so ingrained in our culture – I was driving to the arena the other day," White said. "There’s this huge playground – swings, things that spin around, and a boxing ring in the middle of the playground. Like a little kid playground. That tells you how crazy it is for us to be down here and doing what we’re doing [to grow MMA]. There’s still a lot of work to do down here. This is just the beginning.”
The promotion also announced plans to host an event at the Sphere in Las Vegas, which will serve as the backdrop for UFC 306 on Sept. 14, dubbed "Noche UFC 2."
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