Rift with MGM led to Noche UFC event at the Sphere

Since its announcement, UFC 306 celebrating Mexican Independence Day at the Sphere in Las Vegas was characterized as a ‘one-off’ event.  On Tuesday, following Dana White’s Contender Series, UFC CEO Dana White explained how a rift with partner MGM led to the fight promotion hosting an event at the state-of-the-art venue.

Last year’s “Noche UFC” event was held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  T-Mobile Arena is owned by MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).  The UFC has a partnership with MGM.  When the fight promotion wanted to book T-Mobile Arena for this year’s “Noche” event, the venue wasn’t available.  

“We went there last year.  That was our date last year,. and then without even asking us, or talking to us, they gave the date away,” White said during the DWCS: Week 3 Post-Fight Press Conference.  “That’s why I’m at the Sphere.  I couldn’t do the Sphere because I’m under contract with MGM, but because they f**ked us, they let us do it.”  

The fight promotion has had a longterm deal with MGM for more than two decades, but White hasn’t been thrilled with the way the UFC has been treated over the years.  Before last year’s UFC Noche event concluded, T-Mobile Arena was already booked for the super middleweight championship boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga.   

“Props to Al Haymon.  He slid right in there before we were even done with the weekend and took the date from us without MGM even telling us,” White said.  “Bill Hornbuckle (MGM Resorts International CEO and President) is trying to fix this whole thing.  That’s why he gave me the Sphere this year, and I’m sure we’ll get it figured out.”

“When I say MGM, it’s the guys who run the arena, who have been literally disrespecting us since day one of the relationship.  Now, Bill Hornbuckle, the guy who runs MGM, had to get in the middle of this thing and try to fix it.  And that’s how I ended up at the Sphere.  It’s one-and done.  We’ll be back with MGM and hopefully Bill can figure this thing out between us and the f**king guys at the Arena,” White continued.

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Not only did MGM quietly book the Alvarez vs. Berlanga boxing match, they’re allegedly guaranteeing the gate.  They’re putting up the money in advance to ensure a specified gate revenue for the promoters.  It felt like an ‘extra kick in the balls’ to the UFC CEO.

“That’s what they do.  This is what these guys have done for the last how-ever-many years.  It’s f**king crazy,” White said.  “There’s a documentary coming out.  I lay the sh*t all out in the documentary.  You’ll hear every little detail of what has happened with and the MGM over the last 23 years.  It’s f**king crazy.”

“I just think that the guy who runs the arena has been a complete douchebag to us for 23 years, That’s what I think.  But again, Bill Hornbuckle is in the middle of this and trying to fix it,” White continued.  “That’s just a sliver of the disrespect that these guys at the arena have shown us over the last however many years.  It’s crazy.”