Dana White and Turki Alalshikh: A New Era for UFC Begins with UFC 306

UFC President Dana White and Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh are just getting started, setting the stage for an exciting partnership as UFC 306 approaches. The upcoming event, held at the Las Vegas Sphere, is one of the most anticipated cards of 2024, headlined by Sean O’Malley defending his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili and Alexa Grasso facing Valentina Shevchenko in a highly anticipated trilogy fight.

White has described UFC 306 as the organization’s biggest event of the year, thanks in part to a significant partnership with Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, which will sponsor the event. This collaboration marks the beginning of a long-term relationship between the UFC and Saudi Arabia, following a successful first event in the Middle East earlier this year featuring Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov.

At a recent Dana White Contender Series press conference, White spoke highly of his partnership with Alalshikh, hinting at more collaborations in the future. “I’ve created a great relationship with him over the last few months. I like him, and yeah, we’re going to do some stuff together,” White stated, keeping specific details under wraps but confirming that more joint ventures are on the horizon.

Saudi Arabia is making a significant impact in combat sports, not only in MMA but also in boxing, with Alalshikh playing a pivotal role in arranging high-profile matchups like Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk. With Alalshikh’s involvement and White’s enthusiasm for future collaborations, the UFC’s presence in the Middle East is set to grow, ushering in a new era for the sport on a global scale.

As UFC 306 draws closer, fans can expect a thrilling event that could redefine the UFC’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, highlighting the growing influence of the region in the world of combat sports. Stay tuned for more updates as Dana White and Turki Alalshikh continue to make headlines with their ambitious plans.