Dana White and the UFC have made it no secret they’re constantly looking towards the future, a future that involves working with tech giant Mark Zuckerberg.
This week, that partnership became official as the combat sports leader announced a multi-year deal with Zuckerberg’s Meta corporation, with an emphasis on “fan technology.” White also made sure to mention his expectation that the team-up will result in an overhauled ranking system for the UFC, though he’s yet to specify exactly what changes will be made and how those supposed improvements will be implemented.
White did not explicitly mention AI in this week’s press release, but he has previously stated—in not so many words—that algorithmic ranking could be the best way to ensure that fighters are slotted in their proper place. It’s not as if anyone else has come up with a superior set of rankings, AHEM.
Fans are skeptical as to how this partnership will actually lead to an improved viewing experience and if it’s just more insubstantial bells and whistles meant to drive more cash into TKO’s pockets.
How did it come to this? Once upon a time, Jorge Masvidal vs. Leon Edwards had as much heat as any feud in combat sports. Now? Sounds like fans are over it. Way over it.
Readers weren’t exactly over the moon with the announcement that Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley were running it back, but the reaction to Ian Machado Garry signing on to fight the dangerous Carlos Prates has been considerably more positive.
Dana White teaming up with Zack Snyder and Turki Alalshikh to make a UFC movie? OK, this could be pretty terrible, but damn you guys were merciless in the comments!
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