UFC CEO Dana White wants to be recognized for his films, worlds, and acts at The Sphere.
The Las Vegas venue will host the UFC 306 pay-per-view (PPV) event this Sat. night (Sept. 14, 2024), topped by the bantamweight title fight pitting champion Sean O’Malley against top contender Merab Dvalishvili. But with a production price tag of nearly $20 million, the promotion will need a big night at the box office to break even.
Which could prove challenging after slashing ticket prices.
“You know me, I love to break records,” White told reporters at this week’s “Contender Series” press gathering (video here). “This is going to be the biggest gate we’ve ever done in the history of the company, and the most pre-buys on PPV ever, too. People have been buying the event the week before the week before the event. My goal with this thing is to be nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Grammy. So yes, there will be a documentary.”
Hopefully it’s a step above this widely-panned effort.
Some of the names helping White and Co. craft the UFC 306 cinematic “worlds” include filmmaker and musician Carlos Lopez Estrada, along with 14-time Emmy award winner Glenn Weiss. This weekend’s “Noche UFC” fight card (see it here) was crafted as a “love letter” to Mexican fight fans, including crosstown rival Canelo Alvarez.
Not surprisingly, UFC at The Sphere will be “one and done.”
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 306 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 306 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 306: “O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 306 fight card and PPV lineup click here.