The Olympics are over right now, but UFC CEO Dana White thinks they can do better when it comes to viewership. White believes that adding mixed martial arts (MMA) to the list of Olympic sports could be the solution.
Currently, there are five martial arts disciplines included in the Olympic Games: Judo, Taekwondo, Karate, Wrestling (which includes both Freestyle and Greco-Roman styles), and Boxing. However, MMA fans have long been asking for their sport to be included in the international multi-sport event, which dates back to 1896 in Athens, Greece.
When asked about MMA being included in the Olympics, White said, “I think it should be an Olympic sport already.” While the UFC frontman would like to see MMA included, he added, “It’s not my job. It’s not what I’m looking to do. I’m not pushing to turn this thing into an Olympic sport. [But] I agree with whoever said that, yes [I’d like to see it added].”
White believes that adding mixed martial arts could benefit the Olympics as far as viewership goes. “And not to mention the fact that one of the big problems the Olympics is having right now, is viewership… You want viewers? Put MMA in the Olympics,” he said.
The ratings for the 2024 Olympics seem to be improving since the previous games. Through the first five days of the Paris Games, NBCU is averaging approximately $33.8 million viewers across all TV and streaming platforms, which marks an improvement of 79% compared to this stage of the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
While the road to Olympic inclusion is fraught with obstacles, Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Renzo Gracie is confident that the day will come when MMA is part of the Olympics. Gracie believes that the growing interest in MMA at the grassroots level, which is fostered by platforms like the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), will be crucial for the sport’s Olympic aspirations.
