Shortly after ending ties with USADA, Conor McGregor celebrates UFC’s new relationship with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for exciting fight events

Conor McGregor lauds the collaboration with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. It signifies UFC's expanding global presence.

Shortly after ending ties with USADA, Conor McGregor celebrates UFC’s new relationship with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for exciting fight events

Conor McGregor celebrates UFC's new relationship with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Image via Imago)

UFC will enter the MMA market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a Fight Night card on March 2, 2024. The news was confirmed to ESPN by UFC officials on Wednesday. The news has generated much buzz. In the future, superstars like Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, and more could potentially fight in Saudi Arabia.

Many UFC personalities expressed their excitement. Among the first to celebrate this new chapter was none other than Conor McGregor. McGregor shared his enthusiasm on X, stating, “Huge congratulations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UFC on the major announcement! Incredible news! I am honored! Bravo.”The forthcoming event will be organized in collaboration with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. This marks a pivotal step in UFC’s global outreach. This strategic move coincides with the Kingdom’s increasing involvement in combat sports.

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Earlier in August, the PFL made waves when it disclosed the sale of a minority stake to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. The PFL has currently signed two elite fighters, Francis Ngannou and Cedric Doumbe. Moreover, the Kingdom has hosted high-profile boxing and MMA events recently. Furthermore, they have also attracted numerous football players from Europe and South America to play in their football league.

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The news of the promotion entering the Saudi Arabian market came against the backdrop of the UFC severing ties with USADA after December 31, 2023. The split was announced days after McGregor announced his inclusion in the USADA testing pool. Moreover, rumors are circulating that the USADA’s stern stance regarding Conor McGregor was the reason for the UFC parting ways.

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supported minority stake in PFL

SRJ Sports Investments, supported by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has purchased a stake in the PFL. This is in line with Saudi Arabia’s plan to bring prominent global sports events to its territory. SRJ’s chairman, Bander Bin Mogren, commented on the partnership “Our goal is not just investment. We aim to promote martial arts, ensure gender equality in sports, and introduce new opportunities in Saudi Arabia and MENA.”

Fans react to PFL's growth
Francis Ngannou on recent PFL deal ( via : MMA Fighting)

The PFL will launch its MENA league next year and host major events in Saudi Arabia. PFL’s founder, Donn Davis, sees the SRJ partnership as a significant growth step. The move is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to rebrand the kingdom as a global hub for business and tourism. They potentially value the deal at around $100 million.

There are concerns about the deal. Critics argue that Saudi Arabia might be using sports to divert attention from its human rights issues. However, recent wins by Saudi fighters and PFL’s expansion plans demonstrate MMA’s rising popularity in the kingdom, thus indicating a bright future for the sport locally.

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