Dana White insists that the UFC’s new deal with Saudi Arabia was organised by Vince McMahon, as MMA chief heaps praise on ‘incredible partner’ after signing historic deal

• The UFC recently announced their first ever Fight Night planned in Saudi Arabia 
• UFC chief Dana White has confirmed that Vince McMahon organised the deal
• Listen to Mail Sport’s new boxing podcast THE HOOK – with exclusive interviews 

Dana White has labelled Vince McMahon as an ‘incredible partner’ after claiming he was responsible for the UFC’s historic deal with Saudi Arabia.

Last month, the UFC announced they will host their first ever event in Saudi Arabia in March next year in news hailed by Conor McGregor as ‘incredible’. 

It seems the nation state will dip their toe into the mixed martial arts scene with a UFC Fight Night event planned, rather than a major pay-per-view card to start with. 

Reflecting on the historic deal, UFC president White claimed that it was in-fact McMahon – his new business partner – that organised the deal. 

According to Sports Business Journal, White said: ‘It was Vince McMahon. It was 100% Vince McMahon. He made every call, he didn’t make one move without picking up the phone and calling me and getting me in the loop and seeing if I was cool with this and that. 

UFC chief Dana White (R) said Vince McMahon (L) organised the UFC’s deal with Saudi Arabia

The UFC has agreed to stage its first ever event in Saudi Arabia next year under the ‘Fight Night’ promotion

‘And he went from being, oddly enough, I don’t know why, an enemy (of UFC’s), to being an unbelievable incredible partner.’

The news comes after UFC’s merger with the WWE, controlled by Endeavor Group, which has staged many shows in Saudi Arabia since 2014 after penning a lucrative deal with the Kingdom. 

It is the first time the WWE has not run under a McMahon name, having been a family-run company, firstly with Vince McMahon Sr, before his son took over in 1982.

As a result of the merger, McMahon stepped down from his position as WWE CEO and undertook a new role as the company’s Executive Chairman.

As Executive Chairman, McMahon is tasked with issues such as securing a new media rights deal for the WWE – which explains the deal with Saudi Arabia. 

Saudi Arabia has increased involvement and investment in a number of sports in recent years, particularly football, golf and boxing. 

Endeavor – who own UFC – hold a 51 per cent stake in the combined company, while WWE shareholders will hold 49 per cent, according to the agreement. 

It was confirmed that the deal values the new company at more than £17.3bn ($21.4bn), with UFC valued at £9.8bn ($12.1bn) and WWE at £7.5bn ($9.3bn). 

The UFC and WWE were part of a historic merger, controlled by Endeavor Group, in September

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