White warns UFC illegal streamers: I have a ‘surprise’ for you this year

The UFC and Dana White remain adamant in catching illegal streamers.

Last month, the UFC announced a price hike on its pay-per-view cards beginning in 2021. From $59.99, fans will now have to pay $64.99 for each event. According to an ESPN representative, the reason is more nostalgic in nature.

This price change represents a return to the price that UFC fans traditionally paid, prior to ESPN+ decreasing the PPV price for most of 2019.

As expected, it didn’t sit well with many fans. One of them was utterly dismayed and felt the need to broadcast their intentions of pirating the event. Unfortunately, UFC president Dana White got wind of these plans and sent out a warning.

Here’s a screenshot of the brief Instagram exchange (H/T MMA Mania).

Since 2012, the UFC has been cracking down on illegal streamers. In 2014, the company was able to successfully track down and sue an individual for $12,000.

The new PPV price will take effect for UFC 257, a card headlined by a rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. It happens on January 23 in “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.