UFC President Dana White denies any crossover between UFC and WWE despite both organizations being under the same umbrella after a deal made by UFC parent company Endeavor.
Dana White, the UFC president, emphasized this week that fans should not expect any wild UFC vs. WWE shenanigans following the announcement that the fighting promotion is now part of the same family as the world’s largest professional wrestling organization. The deal was made by UFC parent company Endeavor to align the sports entertainment forces, and given that it was evaluated at $21.4 billion, many are curious as to what this means for the promotions. White told the Associated Press that there will still be major differences between the UFC and the WWE, even with this new partnership.
In his statement, White highlighted that while the WWE has an entertainment value provided by incredible athletes, it’s well-known to be scripted. Conversely, the UFC is as real as it gets, with athletes well-rounded and well-versed in various aspects of martial arts. The entertainment side exists as well, but the fighting is real, and there are no predetermined outcomes. White asserted that crossover potential would be minimal due to these distinctions.
Though MMA and professional wrestling share historical roots, promotional similarities, and even athletes who have crossed between the UFC and the WWE, White’s primary concern is about the sharing of resources between the two entities. He envisions a unified fan base combining the power of WWE and UFC fans, as well as the “viral ability” of a new platform called Power Slap. He also mentioned the ease of collaboration and increased opportunity for both organizations, as any given resource is now just a phone call away.