With the tremendous growth of MMA over the last few years and the seemingly, ever increasing popularity of the UFC, the promotion’s chief Dana White has consistently stated that the company’s vision is to take the Octagon worldwide. Obviously the UFC has had huge success in nations like Canada, the U.K., Australia, and places like Abu Dhabi, among others, but still, how far can the promotion go? Is White serious when he states the UFC is heading into places like China or India? Or are those comments more, you know, of the spouting off variety, like when half-tanked buddy at your favorite ‘watering hole’ tells you he’s an expert in JKP and would fight in the UFC, if not for his torn DCL.
Well in a recent interview with Fighters Only Magazine, White continued to insist that the UFC is indeed working hard at bringing the promotion to those tiny, billion plus person markets of China and India.
“No we’re working hardcore to go to those places right now. Those are right here, right now places. Just like when I said we were going to the Middle East”….”We already have several meetings and done deals in China and now we are working on India. Probably what’s going to happen first is we’re going to get on television there and also the internet, the internet is very popular in China. Then we are talking about doing The Ultimate Fighter China, which would feature Chinese fighters.”
Better start adding more to your UFC PPV fund now….