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Bob Arum: UFC only getting into boxing because it’s desperate for PPV buys
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White was part of the boxing world before he crossed over to mixed martial arts (MMA), and every now and then, he tries to launch a pet project in the “sweet science.”
But that hasn’t stopped White and Co. from permeating the boxing world, recently setting up a crossover bout between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and undefeated pugilist Floyd Mayweather Jr., a bout that was so profitable, it has the Las Vegas fight boss exploring his options as a boxing promoter.
“My thoughts are that UFC is desperate. Their numbers are way off, they have no marquee star. Look at their PPV numbers. They barely break 100,000 homes on their shows. They’re having trouble getting renewal on their contract with FOX. They have to do something. One of things they may try and fall back on and try and acquire a boxing presence. About a year ago, I was approached by someone repping UFC, they wanted to buy Top Rank.”
UFC was sold to media powerhouse WME | IMG in summer 2016.
While top stars like Conor McGregor continue to do well, the promotion as a whole has struggled to put up big numbers at the box office. In fact, its last two PPV events have returned record-low numbers, widely attributed to watered down fight cards.
Instead of investing in its own business, UFC appears to be broadening it with outside endeavors, which sounds strange because we have White trying to promote boxing and Mayweather looking to promote MMA.
Stay in your lane?
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White was part of the boxing world before he crossed over to mixed martial arts (MMA), and every now and then, he tries to launch a pet project in the “sweet science.”
But that hasn’t stopped White and Co. from permeating the boxing world, recently setting up a crossover bout between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and undefeated pugilist Floyd Mayweather Jr., a bout that was so profitable, it has the Las Vegas fight boss exploring his options as a boxing promoter.
“My thoughts are that UFC is desperate. Their numbers are way off, they have no marquee star. Look at their PPV numbers. They barely break 100,000 homes on their shows. They’re having trouble getting renewal on their contract with FOX. They have to do something. One of things they may try and fall back on and try and acquire a boxing presence. About a year ago, I was approached by someone repping UFC, they wanted to buy Top Rank.”
UFC was sold to media powerhouse WME | IMG in summer 2016.
While top stars like Conor McGregor continue to do well, the promotion as a whole has struggled to put up big numbers at the box office. In fact, its last two PPV events have returned record-low numbers, widely attributed to watered down fight cards.
Instead of investing in its own business, UFC appears to be broadening it with outside endeavors, which sounds strange because we have White trying to promote boxing and Mayweather looking to promote MMA.
