In an unprecedented transfer, UFC Vegas 61 turned a closed door occasion, with out followers and even media members allowed to attend.
When headliner Mackenzie Dern beforehand introduced it was because of Fb/Meta head Mark Zuckerberg having “rented out the whole event,” Dana White instantly issued a robust denial.
Shock, shock. Because the occasion began on Saturday night time, the controversial social media mogul was seen entrance and heart, with barely anybody else within the venue. Technically, White could not have lied as a result of circumstances across the phrase “lease,” however all the things else was correct. It turned a closed door occasion catered to Zuckerberg, who occurs to be a new BJJ and MMA fan.
Other than Zuckerberg’s inside circle, it was just about simply the UFC and ESPN manufacturing staff and fee members. No followers and even media members have been in attendance.
This didn’t occur in the course of the peak of the pandemic and all of the lockdowns. This didn’t occur when A-list celebrities and even the US President attended UFC events as particular company both.
Had the @Facebook staff on the Apex tonight for at @UFC. What an ideal group of individuals. They actually loved the fights and I might inform quite a lot of them practice primarily based on the questions they have been asking. Thanks a lot for coming..
— Reed Harris (@reedharrisufc) October 2, 2022
After mainly preventing in a cage for the billionaire’s weekend leisure, one of many winners determined to ask Zuckerberg for some cash.
“I do know Mark from Fb is right here. You may throw in a bonus too, you understand? Assist us out,” Ilir Latifi stated after beating Aleksei Oleinik.
As anticipated, there have been additionally combined reactions from fighters and media members on-line, with some not completely happy about it being a non-public occasion arrange for one of many richest individuals on earth.
“Keep house bro wtf,” Al Iaquinta quipped as he famous how the gang is one of the best a part of UFC occasions.
One other former UFC title contender Nate Quarry commented on how Zuckerberg “can’t be bothered to be among the many unwashed plenty.”
Other than the change of ambiance and not using a crowd, media members not being allowed meant the post-fight press convention and media scrums have been additionally scrapped, lessening the publicity and highlight these fighters would’ve in any other case obtained in the course of the occasion.
Sure, who of us hasn’t purchased out a whole area to look at athletes bludgeon themselves whereas we will’t be bothered to be among the many unwashed plenty?
I’d say for many of us the lap of luxurious entails shopping for brown mustard. https://t.co/nfxK0WhjaJ— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) October 2, 2022
The most effective half in regards to the ufc occasions reside is the gang going nutso like keep house bro wtf
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) October 2, 2022
That the UFC thinks it is a nice advertising alternative exhibits how out of contact they’re.
I’m sufficiently old to recollect when the fighters have been the primary draw.
Not the promoter.
And definitely not a visitor on the fights. https://t.co/nfxK0WhjaJ— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) October 2, 2022
Convey them earlier than me. Allow them to spill blood for my enjoyment.
-The Ruling Class, time and again via the centuries.Perhaps I’m alone right here however this simply appears humiliating.
Dictated:
When.
The place.
Who.
Uniform.
Sneakers.
Your whereabouts 24/7.
In entrance of tens of millions or nobody. pic.twitter.com/xORK0foyAk— Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) October 2, 2022
They’re lettin Mark Zuckerberg choose the winner tonight
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) October 2, 2022
Of us getting misplaced into the query of ‘lease’ as if that is the central one. The difficulty is whether or not everybody else’s absence is a perform of his presence, not whether or not that is predicated on a monetary transaction. https://t.co/zTEf1SzZua
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) October 1, 2022
