Discover how WWE CEO Vince McMahon played a surprising role in bringing the UFC to Saudi Arabia. Read about the partnership between the two organizations and the upcoming UFC Fight Night event in Riyadh.
| Vince McMahon arranged the UFC’s debut event in Saudi Arabia.
| He personally made every call and involved Dana White in the decision-making process.
| This collaboration showcases the evolving relationship between WWE and UFC.
| The UFC Fight Night event in Saudi Arabia is part of Riyadh Season.
| The fight card for the event is yet to be announced.
Mixed martial arts’ premier promotion, the UFC, is set to make its debut in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, March 2. While UFC President Dana White is usually the one behind event bookings, it was actually WWE CEO Vince McMahon who played a pivotal role in bringing the UFC to the Middle Eastern nation.
In an interview with Sports Business Journal, White revealed that McMahon was responsible for arranging the partnership between the UFC and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. McMahon personally made every call and ensured that White was involved in the decision-making process.
"It was Vince McMahon [who arranged UFC’s Saudi deal]. It was 100 percent 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. And he went from being, oddly enough, I don’t know why, an enemy [of UFC’s], to being an unbelievable, incredible partner."
This unexpected collaboration highlights the evolving relationship between WWE and UFC, which are now under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella following their merger in 2023. WWE has had a long-standing partnership with Saudi Arabia since 2014, holding two events in the Kingdom every year.
The UFC Fight Night event in Saudi Arabia is scheduled to be part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, a major entertainment event. While the fight card has yet to be finalized, fans can expect an exciting night of mixed martial arts action in this historic debut event.
Note: This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UFC or WWE.
