White

By FCF Staff

Following the news that UFC pay-per-view cards in the United States will only be available via ESPN+, the promotion’s president, Dana White, has announced he’s signed a contract extension.

White sat down with the UFC’s Megan Olivi recently, and while discussing the decision to have ESPN+ as the pay-per-view provider in the U.S., he said this (quote via MMA Fighting):

“We had a five-year deal with them,” White said. “Now, we have a seven-year deal. And [UFC parent company Endeavor CEO] Ari Emanuel and I just signed a new seven-year deal, too. So we’re here for seven years, ESPN is here for seven years. And the incredible things that we’re gonna work on, I just can’t even tell you how pumped I am for all of this stuff.”

“Nobody believes in this business more than I do,” White said. “After the sale, I stayed on and we’ve been working hard for the last 2-1/2 years to take this thing to the next level. That’s why I’m here. I didn’t stay here — it’s not about money, it’s not about any of that stuff. I don’t care about any of that stuff. I like to win and I like to take this thing to the next level, the next level, the next level. And it’s what we’ve done and it’s what we’re gonna continue to do.”

The UFC’s next event is taking place this Saturday in Nashville and will feature welterweight contender Stephen Thompson taking on former lightweight champ, Anthony Pettis.