Vince McMahon has been behind multiple sports partnerships in Saudi Arabia.
Back in 2018, McMahon was integral in orchestrating a multi-year partnership between WWE and The Kingdom, which would see the promotion hold 2 major shows a year for the next 10 years. However, WWE is not the only promotion that has secured the lucrative deal.
Along with F1 hosting a Grand Prix in The Kingdom for the past 3 years and multiple major boxing matches now an annual fixture in Saudi Arabia, UFC is set to host Fight Night 235 in Saudi Arabia in March 2024, which will be the promotion’s debut. According to UFC President Dana White, this is all down to his new business partner.
Speaking with the Sports Business Journal, White declared that “100% Vince McMahon” was the reason behind the new partnership, adding how McMahon has had a change in heart over the past few years:
“He made every call. He didn’t make one move without picking up the phone and calling me and getting me in the loop and seeing if I was cool with this and that. And he went from being, oddly enough, I don’t know why, an enemy (of UFC) to being an unbelievable, incredible partner,”
Vince McMahon And Dana White: From Bitter Enemies To Best Friends
Following the merger of WWE and UFC back in September 2023, one of the biggest surprises is how willing McMahon and White have been to work with each other considering the historic rivalry between the two promotions. As the Ultimate Fighting Championship gained traction and was on the rise, McMahon did all he could to stop it and sometimes would mess with White just for the fun of it.
Now business partners, Dana White has looked back on times when dealing with McMahon was not as straightforward. When previously attempting to secure a TV deal for the MMA promotion in the past, Dana White recalled a time when the deal was set to go through but was scrapped by Vince McMahon.
In a rare in-person appearance outside of wrestling, McMahon and The Undertaker attended the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou fight one week before Crown Jewel. When interviewed about the new deal upon arrival, The Undertaker revealed how hilarious he found it that Vince McMahon and Dana White are now working together.