MMA to the Olympics? UFC president Dana White weighs in

The Olympics characteristic a number of fight sports activities, however MMA will not be but certainly one of them.

Whereas UFC president Dana White isn’t going to steer the cost to make it occur, he places his full assist across the thought of MMA changing into an Olympic sport.

“I believe it must be an Olympic sport already,” White stated Wednesday throughout a UFC fan Q&A. “It’s not my job. It’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m not pushing to show this factor into an Olympic sport. I agree with whoever stated that, sure. And to not point out the truth that one of many large issues the Olympics is having proper now, is viewership. You need viewers? Put MMA within the Olympics. ”

In the summertime video games, karate, judo, wrestling, and boxing are all featured. In 2021, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) granted provisional recognition to three more combat sports: sambo, kickboxing, and muay thai. These three might be featured within the 2024 Olympics or 2028 Olympics, although not assured.

MMA, in the meantime, doesn’t have the provisional recognition but. After logistics are hashed out, a proposal must be put earlier than the IOC for approval. The Worldwide Combined Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) is main the best way with its efforts, together with the obtainment of WADA status in January.

As for Olympic scores being down, White is correct. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics noticed a 46 percent drop in viewership from the 2018 Winter Video games in Pyeonchang.