Dana White has signed a long-term deal with Mark Zuckerberg to incorporate Meta’s technology within the UFC.
UFC CEO White made the groundbreaking announcement on Wednesday, declaring Meta as his promotion’s ‘first-ever official fan technology partner.’
As part of the deal, the UFC will see a complete overhaul to its controversial ranking system.
White has complained about the UFC’s ranking system numerous times in the past, voicing his frustrations in viral online rants directed towards those in charge of them.
He controls the matchmaking and negotiates business deals within his promotion, but doesn’t oversee the rankings.
However, it seems as if White’s worries have seemingly passed following the brand-new partnership with Billionaire tech organisation Meta.
“UFC and Meta have just signed a massive, long-term partnership,” White said on X.
“Meta will now become the UFC’s first-ever official fan technology partner.”
The 55-year-old then explained how all of Meta’s various social media apps like Instagram and Facebook will be used to create amazing experiences for fans.
“We’ve already started to work with Meta to create a new fighter ranking system that will debut later this year – thank God,” White added.
“We’ll also be using Meta’s AI powered glasses to capture UFC content, and we’re going to do things with Meta that will blow UFC fans away.
“The next few years will be an absolute gamechanger for fans of this sport…stay tuned everybody.”
The current ranking system was introduced in 2013 to help fans clearly identify who the best are in the UFC’s massive roster, which includes more than 700 fighters.
They are updated by more than 20 members of the media following every fight night as they collectively vote on who should be included as the top 15 fighters for each weight division.
Pound-for-pound (P4P) rankings are also voted on using the same system to compare fighters regardless of how heavy they are.
White has famously asserted several times that current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is the out-and-out No.1 P4P fighter in his promotion, calling the media ‘morons’.
Back in August, White embarked on an X-rated rant following Jones’ new ranking.
“Jon Jones is ranked number three pound-for-pound in the world,” he said.
“The most f****** ridiculous, embarrassing, stupid, know-nothing about f****** fighting ranking of all time.
“Jon Jones is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, period, end of story.
“To have anybody above Jon Jones right now, just goes to show that you know absolutely f****** nothing.
“It’s not debatable. Anybody who even tries to debate this with me, you’re just hating on Jon Jones and you don’t like him as a person. These are f*****g facts.
“It’s not like me and Jon Jones have this unbelievable relationship.
“What I’m saying about Jon Jones is not debatable. The baddest dude to ever walk the face of the earth in combat sports.”
Zuckerberg, the owner of Meta, is a huge UFC fan and even cornered ex-featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in his last fight with Ilia Topuria at UFC 298.
The 40-year-old was also spotted training with former UFC champion Max Holloway in December.
