UFC CEO Dana White dismissed the statement from UFC senior executive VP Lawrence Epstein about merging the fanbases of UFC and WWE, stating his disagreement with the idea of every UFC fan becoming a WWE fan and vice versa, following the official merger of the fight promotion with the pro wrestling leader.
UFC CEO Dana White did not hide his displeasure over a quote from a longtime UFC executive regarding merging the UFC and WWE fanbases. This remark was taken from an ESPN.com article on the official merging of the fight promotion with the pro wrestling leader. The proposed merger, which occurred on a Monday, was portrayed optimistically, suggesting potential growth and profitability from these promotions working together. However, UFC senior executive VP Lawrence Epstein’s statement, “Where we want to get is where every UFC fan is a WWE fan and every WWE fan is a UFC fan,” made White openly express his disagreement.
White proceeded to comment on Epstein’s quote, stating, “Lawrence, I love ya, one of the dumbest statements of all-time”. Epstein previously served as the UFC’s chief legal counsel and currently holds a broader executive role in the company. Following White’s initial reaction, he further elaborated, admitting scepticism about the statement, saying, “I don’t know why he said that — I don’t even know what to say to that.” He acknowledged that while there may be some crossover fans, it is not feasible for every UFC fan to embrace the WWE, or vice versa. According to White, the beauty of the synergy between the two fan bases is their distinctiveness, suggesting little crossover. He hopes Epstein was misquoted, emphasizing his total disagreement with the statement.
The merger united White with WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon as they initiated their newly formed alliance, TKO Group Holdings. Becoming a publicly traded company, the UFC and WWE are independently led under their existing management, with 51% of TKO’s stock owned by the UFC’s former corporate parent, Endeavor. Though named UFC CEO, White does not hold a seat on TKO’s Board of Directors. Despite this, White maintains that the concept of competitive crossover between WWE and UFC should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, highlighting former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar’s successful transition into pro wrestling, along with other notable exceptions.
Considering the fan bases of both sports entertainment promotions, there is considerable debate on the expansion of the UFC’s fan base at the expense of the WWE. Especially during the UFC’s explosive growth in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it’s noteworthy that there is less evidence of the opposite, with UFC fans turning into WWE enthusiasts. Former UFC champ Ronda Rousey also commented on the difference in fans’ reaction to talent in both platforms. She noted on her YouTube channel that while WWE fans exhibited more empathy and respect for wrestlers, UFC fans were generally perceived as fickle and less respectful of their sport’s veterans and legends. This suggests that despite similar production and talent structures, the UFC and WWE may not necessarily be competing for the same fan base.