UFC president Dana White is tired of doing closed-door events at the APEX.
The UFC’s APEX facility has been the company’s primary fight venue since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the first quarter of 2020. But even with the convenience that it brings to Las Vegas residents like Dana White himself, the UFC president is hoping that UFC 260 would be the last pay-per-view event in his home base.
“Listen, don’t get me wrong, this is amazing. I’m sure it’s a lot easier for you guys, too,” White told reporters during the UFC 260 post-fight presser. “We pull right in the parking lot, we roll in…
“You know what this is kinda like? Everybody who’s getting lazy and used to working at home. You leave your pajama bottoms on, put a nice top on, sit in front of your computer screen and Zoom somebody.
“It’s the easy, lazy way to do things, but this isn’t the right thing to do.”
So what is the right thing to do?
“We should be in sold-out arenas, fans packed, going crazy,” White said. “And unfortunately, we’ll all have to start traveling to all these cities again. But that’s the right thing to do.
“This is the easy, lazy thing to do, and it’s nice, and it was awesome while it lasted. But hopefully, this is over.”
The UFC’s next two PPV events will be held in front of a live audience for the first time since March 2020. UFC 261 will take place in front of 15,000 fans at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on April 24. UFC 262 will take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on May 15.