The UFC hasn’t even held its first occasion in Saudi Arabia but, however that didn’t cease Dana White from touring to Riyadh earlier this week to signal an ‘prolonged partnership’ with the Kingdom. And in keeping with the UFC CEO, it’s all as a result of the Saudis needed Energy Slap.
Energy Slap is both the quickest rising sport on the earth or a horrific carnival of concussive blows to defenseless rubes, relying on who you ask. Or perhaps it’s each. There’s no denying the present does spectacular numbers on social media websites, with tens of millions of individuals stopping to witness the carnage as they scroll via their Fb reels, Instagram tales, and TikTok feeds.
Is there precise curiosity within the product previous that? White says sure, and that curiosity was the seed that led to the brand new Saudi / UFC deal.
“Nicely, it began with Energy Slap,” White stated on the UFC St. Louis post-fight press convention. “They needed Energy Slap. I bought in there and began speaking to them, after which we did one other UFC battle too.”
That’s a fairly wild assertion, even compared to different wild statements White has made in regards to the sporting juggernaut that’s Energy Slap.
Saudi Arabia introduced the extension by saying they’d “one thing huge” lined up for his or her subsequent UFC occasion. In addition they plan on asserting an ‘enhancement’ to their cope with WWE subsequent month which might see a significant occasion just like the Royal Rumble transfer to Riyadh. UFC and WWE mum or dad firm TKO have to be actually proud of Dana if it was his Energy Slap promotion that helped solidify the UFC’s partnership with the Kingdom.
White additionally declared we’d see extra bundling of Energy Slap, UFC, and WWE occasions collectively over the identical weekend in varied cities.
“We have already got these dates arrange proper now the place Energy Slap goes Friday and UFC goes Saturday,” he stated. “You’re gonna see Friday Energy Slap, Saturday UFC, and Sunday WWE. You’ll begin seeing that stuff too.”
Whether or not you need to or not.
