The UFC has become one of the most recognizable brands in the world of sports, but its rise to the top was not without the help of a few key individuals. While the role of Joe Rogan in the early days of the organization is well-known, UFC President Dana White recently revealed that NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal also played a crucial part in the UFC’s success.
Speaking on Shaq’s podcast, “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” White recounted how O’Neal’s involvement helped the UFC during its nascent stages. “Shaq did a lot of very good things for us early on when we were trying to build the UFC,” White said. “So when we were launching the Ultimate Fighter, Shaq came in and laid down one of the baddest commercials for the Ultimate Fighter that you will ever see. And what is crazy is when we went in to film it, he did it in one take.”
The Ultimate Fighter, a reality TV show that featured up-and-coming MMA fighters, proved to be a pivotal moment in the UFC’s history. According to White, the success of the show and the climactic fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar ultimately saved the organization.
In addition to Shaq’s involvement, White has also credited other individuals for their contributions to the UFC’s early growth. Donald Trump provided the organization with his hotels to host events, while Joe Rogan offered his services as a commentator for free.
As the UFC continues to evolve, White is once again looking to make a significant impact with an upcoming event at the Sphere, a newly opened state-of-the-art immersive arena in Las Vegas. White has hyped the event as the greatest live sports show ever to be put on, and he is investing $17 million to ensure the venue is ready to host UFC 306.
Only time will tell if the UFC’s event at the Sphere will have a similar impact on the organization’s growth as the Ultimate Fighter did in its early days. However, with the continued support of influential figures like Shaquille O’Neal, the UFC’s future looks brighter than ever.
