Dana White Teases New Mega Event After UFC Freedom 250 and UFC Sphere Success

UFC CEO Dana White is working with Content Officer Craig Borsari to host another major spectacle for the promotion.

Dana White Teases New Mega Event After UFC Freedom 250 and UFC Sphere Success

Dana White wants to surpass top UFC events (via MMA Fighting)

Dana White has transformed the UFC into a global MMA powerhouse with help from trusted advisors. Hunter Campbell and Sean Shelby are among his most recognized executives. Craig Borsari, meanwhile, often works behind the scenes to create the production magic fans see at UFC events.

Borsari joined the UFC in 2005 and has spent more than two decades helping develop its production operation. His first event was UFC 55 at Mohegan Sun Arena, giving him an early look at UFC broadcasting. He eventually became UFC’s Chief Content Officer and Executive Producer, overseeing major production projects.

Borsari helped oversee the year-long planning for UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. His team managed major production and logistical challenges. The preparations covered construction, seating, lighting, audio, and other requirements for the event. Borsari also helped develop the Claw like structure on the South Lawn.

UFC Freedom 250 drew 34 million global viewers, making it the promotion’s most-watched event. The event also reportedly cost UFC around $60 million. White has now revealed Borsari is developing another mega-event concept.

Now, my head of production, Craig Borsari, is so cocky after he absolutely killed that [UFC White House] event, we are talking about something right now that he came up with this was his idea, and I love it. I have to do some more ground work on it.

Dana White via The Pat McAfee Show

White has always spoken about how the UFC keeps pushing new boundaries with major productions. UFC 306 became the first live sporting event held at Sphere in Las Vegas event cost more than $20 million and featured immersive visuals across Sphere’s massive interior display. It also drew a whopping $22 million gate.

The UFC continues setting records at traditional venues, with UFC 328 establishing a new Prudential Center record. Drawing 17,783 fans, the event generated a $7.52 million gate. Sean Strickland headlined against Khamzat Chimaev, winning by split decision and handing the Chechen phenom his first career loss.

The UFC’s first event in Serbia, UFC Belgrade, also set a new knockout record for the promotion. Held at Belgrade Arena on August 1, the card produced 10 first-round finishes. The event also featured 12 total finishes, with Uros Medic closing the night with a 30-second knockout over Daniel Rodriguez.

UFC Freedom 250 was a major success, but White has said he does not want to repeat an event of that scale. The event ultimately produced an approximate $30 million loss for the UFC.

The financial impact came from unusually high costs and the absence of ticket revenue, making another White House-scale production difficult to justify.

Dana White and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had set major Super Bowl-level expectations for UFC Freedom 250’s viewership.

Those expectations did not fully materialize, despite the event reaching 34 million global viewers. It remains to be seen what White and Borsari are now developing for another major UFC spectacle.

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Dana White Reveals How UFC Freedom 250 Will Surpass the $20 Million UFC Sphere Event

Dana White reveals potential title fights to be hosted at UFC’s most controversial arena

The UFC APEX has long divided opinion because its smaller setting differs greatly from the atmosphere of traditional UFC arenas. Fighters have also criticized the venue, with former champion Tyron Woodley blaming the APEX environment for affecting his late UFC performances.

A major Meta APEX renovation recently transformed the UFC’s Las Vegas facility while introducing its new name through Meta’s partnership. Expanded seating, concessions, hospitality areas, and other upgrades increased capacity to nearly 1,200. Reports placed the project’s cost at around $35 million.

Dana White
Dana White (via X)

UFC Vegas 120 was the latest event at Meta APEX, where Quillan Salkilld submitted Mateusz Gamrot with a rear-naked choke. The victory strengthened Salkilld’s standing among the UFC’s top lightweights. Dana White’s Contender Series also recently held Season 10, Week 1 there. White later entertained hosting a UFC title fight at the renovated venue.

We’ve had big fights here when it wasn’t as nice as it is now. We had porta potties and pipe and drape everywhere. So, yeah, we probably would [put on big events and title fights at the Meta Apex].

Dana White via UFC media team

Meta APEX has also become a home for Zuffa Boxing, expanding its role beyond UFC events and DWCS. Despite those additions and its renovation, the venue remains unpopular with many fans. Dana White’s plans for bigger fights there could keep the controversial arena at the center of debate.

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