Dana White says the UFC’s first White House event will not be getting a rematch.
After UFC Freedom 250 took over the South Lawn, the UFC CEO told reporters on Monday that the massive production was too expensive to repeat.
“I can’t afford it,” White said, per ESPN. “I’ll never do the Sphere again, and we’ll never do this again.”
The event, staged during America’s 250th anniversary celebration, carried an estimated production cost of about $60 million. White did not share exact financial details, but said the night met the company’s goals.
“In every way you can gauge success,” he said.
White said merchandise sales hit record levels, Paramount streaming numbers were “monstrous,” and about 200,000 people attended the surrounding two-day fan festival.
At the event, Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria to win the lightweight title, in a bout White called “one of the greatest fights you’ll ever see.” Ciryl Gane also stopped Alex Pereira in the co-main event, blocking Pereira’s attempt to become the first UFC fighter to win titles in three weight classes.
Pereira entered fight week under allegations of sexual assault, stalking, and domestic abuse made by two women resurfaced. Pereira has denied all allegations.
White was also forced to condemn fighter Josh Hokit’s outburst, in which he called former FLOTUS Michelle Obama “a man.”
“I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families. Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense,” White told Time magazine.
