Since merging with the WWE to form TKO Holdings, it only makes sense that the Saudi Arabia UFC relationship would grow. The 2025 UFC and Saudi Arabia relationship is expected to have "something big" happening in Riyadh during 2025.
Fans eager to support their favorite fighters in the MMA can explore Sambafoot's DraftKings review to find the best MMA bets today. The relationship between the UFC and Saudi Arabia 2025 will be one to watch. The UFC has worked exclusively with Abu Dhabi for years and the relationship will continue.
Extension Between UFC and Saudi Arabia
An announcement was made by UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh announcing an "extended partnership" between UFC and Saudi Arabia 2025.
Alalshikh has been reportedly looking to make a big push to transform the boxing world. This move shows that he hasn't lost focus on the MMA landscape, and the Saudi Arabia UFC relationship is one that will have major impacts on what happens going forward.
There are few details to be had about the extension and what it means for the 2025 UFC and Saudi Arabia relationship. "This is a strong message to the market with UFC," Alalshikh said to ESPN. "We are working with everyone. My favorite is boxing, but we will try to make Riyadh one of the biggest cities around the world in MMA."
Potential Events
It is expected that there will be at least one "major" UFC event to be held in Saudi Arabia in what is known as Riyadh Season. That period runs from Oct. 2024 to March 2025. Riyadh Season promotes Saudi Arabia and now, due to the relationship, UFC will promote Riyadh Season featuring a big sponsorship deal at The Sphere for UFC 306.
"I'm excited about this deal," White said in a video on X. "My goal from day one is to bring this all over the world. We're going to do our first event in the Kingdom this year and now we just signed to do another one next year."
Growing Saudi Influence and Impact on MMA Landscape
This deal feels similar to what has happened with the Saudi Arabian influence on the golf world. There is a lot of money being thrown around and they have the influence to become a major destination for MMA events in the future.
It also doesn't hurt that there is a bit of corporate synergy between UFC and WWE. Saudi Arabia has had the Crown Jewel event held the last several years but is reportedly making a play to hold one of the major events – particularly the Royal Rumble – to Riyadh in the future.
Notably, WWE did bring a version of the Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia for its first ever premium live event there, which was dubbed the Greatest Royal Rumble event. However, that is not the traditional Royal Rumble that comes around at the beginning of the year and determines who will face the champions at WrestleMania. Instead, it was an extraneous event that served no real purpose, as the Greatest Royal Rumble winner, Braun Strowman, was given a championship that was never seen again after that day. For WWE to bring the actual Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia would be a monumental feat.
The same is going to happen for the UFC. Major events are starting to be put together to be hosted in Riyadh, making it more and more likely that other major events will take place there as well. For the UFC and TKO, it just means an even bigger payday.
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