“We are going one hundred percent with Mexico,” Dana White
2023 had seven UFC championship fights involving Mexican-born fighters, but none could take place on Mexican soil.
As rarely happens, Dana White acknowledged the mistake. However, the missed opportunity opened the door to a big bet by the developer in the market.
“We had Mexican champions and I told myself; ‘What the hell are we doing? “Why don’t I do an event on Cinco de Mayo or Independence Day?” was the reflection that led the CEO and President of UFC to create the first UFC Night on September 16 in Las Vegas.
That was the first step. With Alexa Grasso as the protagonist and figures such as Raúl Rosas Jr., Daniel Zellhuber and Lupita Godínez conquering the public at the T-Mobile Arena, full of fans who have celebrated Independence Day since the time of Julio César Chávez, with outstanding performances . in the city.
While the Mexican identity was celebrated on said billboard, the details were being finalized for the return to Mexico City for the first time since September 2019.
A new reality
UFC debuted at the CDMX Arena with a numbered event. The complete package had in Cain Velasquez the heavyweight champion, a solid television contract and a generation of fighters from The Ultimate Fighter.
Tickets sold out in a matter of hours and the venue had an enviable atmosphere despite the fact that Velasquez had to withdraw from the confrontation, the scene was repeated seven months later at UFC 188 with another full house.
From there it was time for the talents the UFC was looking to develop to build their careers and become stars. Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodríguez were in charge of being stellar in 2017 and 2019, respectively, and now they do it together with two 5-round fights that can make them contenders for the title this Saturday at UFC Mexico.
The one from Tijuana was the 125-pound champion and the one from Chihuahua was the interim champion at 145 pounds recently, a moment that is accompanied by a total of 20 peelers born in Mexico for the first time on the roster. The seed seems more solid and the passion of the fans seems even more ignited than in 2014.
“We are in a very different situation, we have more Mexican stars than ever. We are going one hundred percent with Mexico, with the Performance Institute, with that opening we have to do many fights in Mexico, and many of them will be numbered events,” considers Blanco, who will be present this Saturday on a card in Mexico for the first time since UFC 188.
The show itself is a celebration for the fans and the development of the Mexican fighters who debuted in the last four years. Only Moreno and Rodríguez were part of the company’s staff; The other 11 fighters born in Mexico are products of the Contender Series or recent signings.
White hopes that “the MMA scene in Mexico will radically transform in the next 5 or 6 years” and that the champions will develop organically, to keep those cards constant.
Develop talent and get young people off the streets
The Performance Institute of Mexico City will have an academy for fighters with the conditions of any professional under contract with the UFC. This project is designed to develop primarily Mexican talent. Although fighters from other countries will be able to use the facilities, the plan is to invest in Mexico.
“I want all the children in Mexico City and elsewhere to be able to travel. The level of talent we will have in Mexico can be the same as Brazil, look at the number of champions they have had since we bought the UFC, I think the only country that can rival it is Mexico,” White said.
But beyond the academy, which will have the mission of bringing fighters close to the UFC level to their maximum potential, Dana also wants the facilities that will come into operation in the next few hours to be able to change the lives of local fighters.
“I want children who are on the streets and who have no options, who can train, who can learn to do jiu jitsu, muay thai and many other disciplines. Maybe not all of them will become fighters, but I want the sport to touch them, maybe they will end up being coaches or be linked in some way.”
The ‘love letter’ to Mexican peelers
The success of Noche UFC struck a chord. Boxing did not have a great card and in response, PBC – Canelo Álvarez’s current promoter – reserved the weekend of Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo for the two remaining fights.
Now White intends to return with a “love letter to Mexican peelers” in the most innovative place he can find.
The newly opened Las Vegas Sphere will have its first sporting event on September 14 with a UFC Night show that will be a great challenge for production, but which Dana assures will be worth it.
“If you are Mexican you have to be there or see it on television. Being there live will be an experience that no one has had in combat sports and that no one will have afterward,” White said.
