Miami is good for UFC, and UFC is good for Miami. Exclusive interview with UFC CEO Dana White

Traveling to Miami on Friday for the UFC 300 Q&A and UFC 299 weigh-ins, I spoke with UFC CEO/President Dana White (between events) inside the Kaseya Center, home to UFC 299 O’Malley vs. Vera 2.

The standout card from Miami is Saturday, March 9 on ESPN+.

Here is my video interview with UFC CEO/President Dana White.

White notes how Miami is a destination for UFC, akin to Las Vegas and New York City/Madison Square Garden.

In 2023 in Miami, UFC 287 attracted a sold-out crowd of more than 19,000 fans to Kaseya Center and recorded a gate of $11.9 million, making it the highest-grossing event ever in Kaseya Center history and the 6th highest-grossing event in UFC history.

For UFC 299, big numbers are also expected, too, according to White.

Miami is now on UFC’s scheduling map. Quite the change from UFC 42 in 2003 at the same venue in Miami. That event drew just 6,700 fans.

White says the impact of the American Top Team training center (via Dan Lambert, Conan Silveira and crew) in South Florida has helped the growth of MMA in South Florida.

When Covid shut down the world, Florida under Gov. Ron DeSantis remained open for business, and UFC conducted shows in Jacksonville. White thanked DeSantis and then Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, who will be in attendance at UFC 299.

Florida is good to UFC,

and UFC is good to Florida

UFC 287: Pereira vs Adesanya 2 marked UFC’s return to Miami for the first time in almost 20 years, generating $47.7-million in economic impact for the Miami metropolitan area, according to a study conducted by research firm Applied Analysis.

UFC 287 delivered UFC’s largest U.S. non-Las Vegas-based economic impact number measured to-date. Adjusting for inflation, UFC 287’s economic impact effectively matches that of the historic UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor, which was in 2016 at Madison Square Garden and marked the first mixed martial arts event in New York after a nearly two-decades-long battle to get the sport legalized in the state.

Attendance at UFC 287 reflected a wide range of ticket buyers, with approximately 68 percent originating from markets outside of the Miami region. When combined with visitor spending within the local community, almost $23.7 million in direct spending was generated to the benefit of the Miami metropolitan area.

UFC 287 also became the retirement match for one of Miami’s favorite sons, Jorge Masvidal, a UFC staple. Gilbert Burns of (South Florida) Kill Cliff FC beat Masvidal of (South Florida) American Top Team in front of a packed crowd that included Mike Tyson, Kid Rock and President Trump seated ringside.

Don’t know who will be front row for UFC 299, but Burns is part of the main card again.

Burns is one of several locally trained fighters on the card. Dustin Poirier, Pedro Munhoz, Mateusz Gamrot, Philipe Lins and Maryna Moroz, all of American Top Team, are also fighting.

UFC 299 starts at 6 p.m. EST (ESPN+) with the early prelims. The prelims begin at 8 p.m. EST (ESPN News/ESPN+), and the main card is at 10 p.m. EST (ESPN+ PPV).

For the latest information on this event and more, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings.

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. is an American media conglomerate created by Endeavor as part of a merger between World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and Zuffa, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

More good news for White

The day before UFC 299, the Florida Athletic Commission unanimously approved Power Slap, an American slap fighting promotion owned by White. He says Power Slap will now be coming to Florida TBA. Stay tuned.

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