Over 20 years after Dana White assumed leadership of the UFC and 29 years after its beginning, the championship is still seeking global expansion with Africa in its sights.
After UFC 281 on Saturday, in New York City, UFC President, Dana White, was questioned about perhaps reaching all 50 states in 2023. Currently, the promotion has now reached 47 countries. But, White revealed that he was thinking about going global.
He answered: “I never thought of that, but I’m so focused on Africa right now. I want to do Africa so bad. That’s sort of my focus. Plus, it’s been so long since we’ve been to some of these other [places], like Canada. Get back to Australia, and some of these other countries. We’re going to South Korea this year, we’re going back to Brazil.
“So, we gotta knock a bunch of those out first, the places we haven’t been in a minute. And like you said, all the time we were kept out of New York, and now we’re number one and number two all-time at Madison Square Garden. Think of the events that have been held here, and we’re one and two. It’s pretty badass.”
White spoke a little more extensively about Africa than he had in the past. When asked which country in Africa the promotion was aimed towards, White replied: “Nigeria. What we are thinking in Nigeria.”