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It was a secret all combat week in late September: why had the UFC closed its doorways to followers and media? Why have been they internet hosting a card not simply with out an viewers, however with seemingly nobody in attendance past needed employees? Rumors ran wild, however the fact couldn’t be contained for lengthy. The world’s largest MMA promotion turned a non-public operate for one of many world’s richest males, Mark Zuckerberg, in order that he and his spouse may benefit from the occasion with out rubbing elbows with the hoi polloi.
The transfer sparked some severe blowback from followers, and even a few former fighters, who noticed the choice to shut the Apex to the general public as one thing of a slap within the face from each from the promotion and from billionaire Fb CEO. That doesn’t imply everybody was towards it, nonetheless. Former UFC champion, and present commentary crew member, Michael Bisping talked about Zuckerberg’s UFC attendance on a recent episode of his podcast. It appears so far as he’s involved, it was all excellent news.
“They’re all good factors,” Bisping mentioned, in response to UFC gentle heavyweight Anthony Smith’s feeling that Zuckerberg’s fame may convey the UFC to new audiences (transcript through MMA Fighting). “And this isn’t meant as an insult to him—and it feels like a meathead remark—however [more fans can get into the sport because of] somebody that’s as nerdy as him. He’s a tech genius. You’ve seen him, and he might be described as, quote unquote, a little bit of a nerd. However to see a man like him who does have that affect, who does that wealth, who does have that energy, and I don’t know what to consider Mark Zuckerberg, he’s a f-cking nerd, let’s be trustworthy, however he’s superior as a result of he’s there and he’s watching the UFC.
“I imagine this can open up, probably, one other realm of individuals as a result of MMA is massively and wildly common, however there’s nonetheless skeptics, there’s critics, and there’s nonetheless those that received’t give it a shot. However seeing somebody that’s clearly wildly clever as he’s, to be an admirer of the game, and his spouse is there having fun with it, it’s solely going to herald extra followers.”
Simply how a lot impression Zuckerberg would possibly even have on UFC viewership is difficult to measure. A cursory look at tales listed by Google across the combat card present little attain past the usual MMA shops that will have been protecting the Struggle Night time card within the first place. And given the extent of secrecy round the entire thing within the lead-up, it appears seemingly that most individuals would solely know he was in attendance in the event that they have been already watching the occasion dwell.
On the very least, nonetheless, the UFC has clearly captured the curiosity of one of many world’s strongest males. Who is aware of what which will result in down the road?
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