Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg loves combined martial arts (MMA) whether or not he is watching ringside or truly in the ring himself. He built an octagon at his Hawaiian compound. He is sparred on a barge and even had surgery to repair some fighting-related accidents. Dana White, CEO of the MMA promotion firm, UFC, sits on Meta’s board.
Now, Zuckerberg’s firm and the UFC are getting into right into a “large partnership,” White announced Wednesday on Instagram. The phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.
“I like this sport and I am trying ahead to working with the UFC to let followers expertise it in new methods,” Zuckerberg mentioned, in a statement.
Meta will turn out to be the “official fan know-how associate” of UFC, White mentioned on Instagram. Threads, Meta’s X-like app, will turn out to be the “official social media associate” of the UFC.
Meta’s full suite of merchandise will probably be built-in into UFC programming, together with different social media and messaging platforms WhatsApp, Instagram, and Fb, plus merchandise like Meta Glasses, Meta Quest, and Meta AI.
“I’ve had a number of nice companions over time which have helped us develop this sport, however Mark and his group at Meta are going to do issues that may blow away UFC followers,” White mentioned, within the assertion.
White additionally famous that his group has “already began” working with Meta on a “new fighter rating system.”
“The following few years will probably be an absolute recreation changer for followers of this sport,” White added.
For Zuckerberg, taking part within the sport has its downsides (in addition to damage). Final 12 months, Meta named its founder’s love of fight sports activities a risk factor for the corporate.
“We presently rely on the continued providers and efficiency of our key personnel, together with Mark Zuckerberg,” the corporate mentioned in a corporate filing. “Mr. Zuckerberg and sure different members of administration take part in varied high-risk actions, reminiscent of fight sports activities, excessive sports activities, and leisure aviation, which carry the chance of great damage and loss of life. If Mr. Zuckerberg had been to turn out to be unavailable for any motive, there may very well be a fabric opposed influence on our operations.”
