Episode Details

In this edition of SBJ On Stage, we take you to SBJ's Media Innovators conference in the fall of 2024 for a conversation with UFC CEO Dana White, and SBJ Publisher and Executive Editor, Abe Madkour.  

Fresh off a record-setting run at Madison Square Garden, White discusses the UFC's upcoming media rights negotiations, the rise of streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, and why he believes the sport has yet to reach its ceiling. He also shares his views on global expansion into markets like Spain, Mexico and Africa, the evolution of athlete development through UFC's Performance Institutes, and how TKO Group is creating new opportunities across combat sports. 

White dives into the rapid growth of Power Slap, the future of boxing under the TKO umbrella, the challenges of piracy, Las Vegas' emergence as America's sports capital, and the leadership principles that have guided UFC's rise from a niche property to a global powerhouse. 

Plus, he offers thoughts on social media, younger audiences, talent development, workplace culture, longevity, health and performance, and the vision that continues to drive him after more than two decades at the helm of UFC. 

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