Meta has entered into a significant partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), marking an exciting multi-year agreement that designates Meta as the official Fan Technology Partner for the mixed martial arts organization. This collaboration paves the way for deeper integration of UFC events across Meta’s platforms, including Quest, promising to enhance the viewer experience.
The UFC is thrilled about leveraging Meta’s cutting-edge technology to engage more effectively with its vast global fanbase. This includes incorporating resources from Meta AI, Meta Glasses, Meta Quest, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the Threads platform to bring fans closer to the action than ever before.
Additionally, Meta will also serve as the UFC’s Official AI Glasses Partner. The plan is to creatively utilize these state-of-the-art glasses during UFC events, offering new and exciting ways for fans to interact with the sport.
Commenting on the new alliance, UFC President and CEO Dana White expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Throughout the years, I’ve partnered with many great companies that have helped our sport grow, but the collaboration with Mark and the Meta team is set to exceed expectations for UFC fans. Meta has some of the brightest minds in tech, and together, we’re set to revolutionize fan engagement. We’ve already started brainstorming innovations around a new fighter rankings system, which I’ll be revealing soon. This partnership with Meta means the next few years are going to be transformative for UFC enthusiasts.”
The partnership seems like a natural fit, especially since Meta’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has developed a genuine interest in mixed martial arts, even participating in Jiu Jitsu tournaments himself. “I’m a huge fan of this sport, and joining forces with the UFC to deliver new experiences for fans is something I’m really excited about,” Zuckerberg stated.
Interestingly, back in January, Dana White joined Meta’s board of directors, bringing with him extensive experience and passion for the sport to Meta’s executive team, alongside other notable figures such as John Elkann of Exor and tech investor Charlie Songhurst.
For Meta’s Quest, this partnership promises enticing opportunities, though specific details are currently scarce. Meta anticipates integrating UFC themes into all Pay-Per-View events and Fight Nights, which means fans can look forward to brand placements within the iconic Octagon, enhanced broadcast features, and imaginative in-arena experiences.
Moreover, exclusive UFC content is expected to premiere on Meta’s social platform, Threads, expanding the ways fans can engage with their favorite sport. In 2022, UFC had already begun partnering with Meta to offer 180-degree Fight Pass livestreams on Horizon Worlds and the social VR platform Xtadium. This new collaboration suggests an exciting expansion, potentially boosting the visibility of UFC events on Quest.
Stay tuned, as both companies promise to reveal more details about this groundbreaking partnership shortly.
