Joe Rogan gushes over Dana White spending $25 million over normal budget for UFC Sphere event
Joe Rogan informs on close friend and UFC CEO Dana White overspending for the second annual Noche UFC PPV, AKA UFC 306 at Sphere.
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Joe Rogan informs on Dana White overspending for UFC 306 at Sphere (Source: IMAGO/X)
One of the wackiest cards ever took shape at UFC 306, a PPV fight card at The Sphere. UFC boss Dana White’s massive $20+ million production and combat sports experiment had its ups and downs. The UFC 306 PPV was unreal to some, uninspired to others until the main card. However, UFC commentator Joe Rogan is all here for it.
The veteran podcaster of the ‘JRE’ Show has never not been mesmerized by the setup of the Sphere. After Dana White and UFC crew had their first media test shots at the Sphere for UFC 306, others followed suit. Joe Rogan reacted to visiting the spot, live on socials. Talking about it in one of the latest episodes, Joe Rogan reiterated how White and team overspent for the venture. But it was all worth it.
This is nothing, …compared to when they had the graphic packages running…and …I ,I mean it was unbelievable – it’s just the amount of money that it cost to put on a show there. I think the UFC spent something like $25 million over a normal budget for a for an event…
Joe Rogan on the ‘JRE’ ##2280 – Peter Berg – PowerfulJRE (@joerogan)
White’s mega event at the MGM ‘Sphere’ made a whopping $21,829,245 in output. There were serious doubts about whether his UFC 306 annual Noche card would deliver. While there were certain pitfalls in the lineup, the setup was just something else. He even later joined the likes of Ari Emanuel/Mark Shapiro (TKO Group)/Nick Khan (WWE) on the ‘Most Influential People In Sports Business 2024’ list.
Per ESPN and gaming commissions, Sportsbooks across Nevada made a whopping $80.9 million in windfalls this past September. That is the highest single-month total in the state’s history. Other than the NFL’s regular season, much of the other $10.4 million came from UFC/MMA. UFC 306 was a big part of it. The use of media packages and haptic tech in Dana White’s venture was something that even TKO Group Holdings’ brethren WWE is interested in.
One UFC legend billed ‘not falling victim to the name’ and rather chose UFC 306 fight for Fight of the Year ’24
Haptic tech, post-monetized media packages, a 16,000 LED space preset, first WMMA UFC trilogy, Frostbite™ – EA SPORTS™ UFC® 5 reskin package, a striker vs. wrestler headliner; UFC 306 had a lot to go on. Dana White’s second annual Noche event delivered on quite a few fronts and a hero setting like no other. Subsequently, it provided Daniel Cormier with a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender.
Sure — there was Max Holloway’s buzzer-beater round-five KO at UFC 300. Alex Pereira made a few cases with short work and showmanship in triple-knock-out defenses. There were other last-second spectacles all through 2024.
However, ‘DC’ voted Esteban Ribovics’ wild scrapper vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 from Sphere. The all-out brawl had numerous swings going to the favor of both fighters. In the end, Ribovics won the fight by a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
I’m not falling victim to the name, …As pundits, as fans, and as people who watch the sport, at times, we fall in love with the name. It’s honestly why you’ll fight in a pay-per-view, and you’ll get a Fight of the Night bonus or Performance when you really don’t deserve it – I’m actually going with the fight between Zellhuber and Ribovics at UFC 306 when those guys fought at the Sphere. Remember how bad Daniel Zellhuber had him hurt early? Remember how bad he had Daniel Zellhuber hurt late?
Daniel Cormier via “Good Guy/Bad Guy”
Cormier lauded the essence of MMA and the full-on grit that the fight had. Both Ribovics and Zellhuber credit their couple pro losses to decisions. Ribovics recently again put out a standup show at UFC Vegas 103 at UFC Apex. Their recent performances have slated the skill ceiling of how a close-knit fight can be a no-brainer and a go-to choice, even if it goes to the scorecards.
Related: Spain to South Africa: How Dana White’s 2025 dreams could see UFC traveling to never-before venues
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