WATCH: UFC Stars Walk Out on Stage at Hollywood’s Golden Globe Awards

Popular UFC fighters Brian Ortega and Mackenzie Dern were at the 83rd Annual Golden Globe ceremony last night.

WATCH: UFC Stars Walk Out on Stage at Hollywood’s Golden Globe Awards

Brian Ortega and Mackenzie Dern at the Golden Globe (via X)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

UFC stars Brian Ortega and Mackenzie Dern surprised fans by appearing at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards alongside Hollywood’s biggest celebrities. The 83rd Annual ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements in film and television at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, USA.

Ortega and Dern joined the stage briefly during a promotional segment connected to the event’s official broadcast partnership. Their appearance highlighted the growing collaborations between combat sports stars and mainstream entertainment platforms, which are seeking wider audiences. UFC sent Dern and Ortega for a brief on-stage “security check” before introducing the Heated Rivalry cast.

Both fighters walked the red carpet, posed for cameras, and UFC posted their videos on their social media. However, the whole segment looked bizarre for some as both the fighters walked onto the stage with full fighting gear and with a championship belt. It received a mixed reaction from fans as they found it awkward and unnecessary. 

The Golden Globe Awards aired on Paramount’s network, reinforcing the company’s expanding influence across global entertainment and sports broadcasting platforms. Dern and Ortega’s appearance likely reflected UFC’s growing collaboration with Paramount following the recent $7.7 billion agreement.

The crossover moment showcased how combat sports now intersect with Hollywood through strategic partnerships designed for mainstream international audience exposure. UFC is currently getting ready for the first-ever UFC-Paramount card at UFC 324, which will take place on 25th January inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It will be headlined by Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, who will fight for the Interim lightweight championship. Apart from that, Amanda Nunes makes her UFC return to challenge Kayla Harrison for the women’s bantamweight championship. 

This was not the UFC’s first Hollywood crossover, as Road House with Conor McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal was a major collaboration in the past. Meanwhile, legends like Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Chuck Liddell, and Ronda Rousey have had starring roles as well.

Last year, Dana White and Sean O’Malley also filmed a promotional segment for Tom Hardy’s Venom 3 movie release. However, unlike previous efforts, this Golden Globes appearance failed to impress most fans across social media platforms.

UFC CEO Dana White gets challenged by major boxing promoter

Dana White’s big step into boxing began with Zuffa Boxing under TKO Group, launching with the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford superfight. The fight took place at Allegiant Stadium, streamed worldwide on Netflix to record-breaking attendance and massive viewership figures. 

Dana White and Eddie Hearn's rivalry
Dana White and Eddie Hearn’s rivalry (via X)

That historic card drew the third-largest live gate in boxing history and millions of global viewers, cementing boxing’s commercial resurgence under White’s influence. The event signaled how TKO boxing started with a bang, backed by Saudi investment and league-style ambition for regular major shows. 

White’s business model mirrors UFC promotion, aiming for structured matchups, contracted fighters, and new belts within Zuffa Boxing. British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has openly criticized White’s boxing push, questioning his promotional expertise and fighter pay strategies while insisting boxing doesn’t need fixing. 

Their beef intensified as Hearn resisted White’s league vision, claiming Dana White’s approach risks tradition and underestimates established promoters. In a recent interview, the UK-based prompter talked about how the competition with White has helped him to push more. 

You will never hear me talking disrespectful against Dana. It’s fair game. They’re an amazing company. It turns me on, it’s what I want. I have got to prove that I’m the best. I believe I’m the greatest boxing promoter that has ever lived. I want the big tanks coming at me. 

Eddie Hearn via IFL TV

Dana White recently admitted he never expected Eddie Hearn to react so negatively toward his new boxing promotion venture. White said he respected competition, welcomed promoter rivalries, and believed conflict often helps major sporting businesses grow faster. He also promised even bigger boxing events in the future, confident that his vision will eventually change the industry’s landscape.

Also Read: