The UFC has become the fastest growing sport in the world for one reason: President Dana White’s unrivaled dedication to make the company a global sensation.
From signing the greatest fighters in the world to hosting roughly 30 events per year, the sport’s No. 1 ambassador has succeeded in making the mixed-martial-arts phenomenon truly something to marvel at.
Even though White has done nearly everything to advance the UFC that’s humanly possible, including the promotion’s recent contract deal with FOX Sports, he has no plans of slowing down.
In fact, following UFC on FX 5 this Friday at the Target Center in Minneapolis, White revealed the UFC’s plan for more international excavation.
“We’re going to make a big run at India,” White told the press when asked what countries he had in his sights for 2013. “That’s the one we’re really focused on.”
It may not come as that big of a surprise, considering White is extremely aspirational when it comes to the future of the sport, but the news still solidifies the UFC’s sole target entering next year.
Expanding into a country like India would most definitely give the UFC the upper hand over other American sports organizations like the NFL, MLB and NBA.
The NFL has failed in the past to successfully attract interest from European countries like England, MLB has barely scratched its potential in Japan and the NBA has been unable to expand beyond China.
The fact of the matter is that with White’s dedication and the UFC’s already-respected international label, the company’s vast goal may be reached in its entirety.
If the outspoken president stays true to his word—and he usually does when it comes to business—the UFC’s expansion into India in 2013 could have tremendous results.
With one of the world’s largest economies and a potential market of 1.2 billion people, it’s the perfect place for the UFC to set up shop.
Not to mention that some of the earliest forms of martial arts originated in India.
The UFC has already teamed up with SONY SIX, an Indian sports channel owned and operated by MSM India, to broadcast live events, historic fights and create the country’s own version of The Ultimate Fighter reality show.
TUF India will debut sometime in 2013 in hopes of sparking millions of people’s interest in the organization, as well as discovering some of the country’s best athletes.
With a popular sports network in his back pocket, money for days and the product to make it all come together, White’s plan for global domination may come full circle within the next 15 months.
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