UFC CEO Dana White isn’t notably thrilled with Mike Tyson’s return to the boxing ring this summer time.
Earlier this week, it was introduced that the legendary pugilist would step again contained in the squared circle for a showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at a blockbuster occasion inside AT&T Stadium — residence of the Dallas Cowboys — on July 20.
By the point struggle night time rolls round, Tyson shall be 58 years outdated, greater than 30 years older than his opponent.
Requested for his ideas on the information throughout the UFC 299 post-fight press occasion, White was reluctant to slam the matchmaking, taking his friendship with Tyson into consideration, however made it abundantly clear that he didn’t approve.
“He will get mad once I do that, however Mike is [57], man,” White mentioned. “I really like Mike Tyson personally, as a good friend. He’s one in every of my favourite athletes of all time. Let’s see if he can go in there and put collectively a coaching camp, however I don’t wish to see the man preventing. There’s a 31-year age distinction in that struggle. You guys know what I consider that stuff.”
Dana White feedback on Paul vs. Tyson airing stay on Netflix this summer time
In one other attention-grabbing twist, the struggle will happen on Netflix, changing into the streaming large’s first foray into stay fight sports activities.
“I feel that Netflix ought to have gotten into stay sports activities years in the past,” White added. “I feel they’re late to the sport, however they’re a drive, and while you have a look at the quantity of houses that they’re in worldwide… You guys heard me discuss concerning the present Reacher. I posted about it. I really like that present. I hate TV. I don’t watch any f*cking TV present rarely. Don’t watch films anymore, however I really like the present Attain, proper? I can watch Reacher at any time when I need to. I can watch it once I get residence. I can watch it subsequent week.
“Dwell sports activities like [UFC 299] you need to watch tonight. As all these large streaming corporations begin to get larger and greater, they must be concerned in stay sports activities.”
In January, it was introduced that World Wrestling Leisure would transfer its flagship present — Monday Night time Uncooked — to Netflix in a blockbuster deal beginning in 2025. Will probably be the primary time the present airs solely on a streaming platform since debuting in 1993.
The UFC and ESPN will head to the negotiating desk to debate a brand new broadcast rights deal within the close to future. The promotion inked a profitable seven-year settlement with the chief in sports activities in 2018 that was reportedly price greater than $1.5 billion.
With that deal set to run out subsequent yr, the UFC is planning to take a seat down with ESPN earlier than fielding gives from different networks and streaming companies wanting so as to add the Las Vegas-based group to their library.
Negotiations shall be dealt with by the UFC’s guardian firm, TKO Group Holdings which is led by CEO Ari Emanuel.
