**UFC Thrives Post-Pandemic with Unprecedented Financial Success**

The COVID-19 pandemic, which crippled numerous industries including movie theaters and restaurants, appears to have been a boon for the UFC. This unforeseen benefit has driven the organization to remarkable financial heights, with revenues soaring and fan engagement at an all-time high.

Dana White, UFC's CEO, remarked on the unforeseen benefits during a recent interview with Bloomberg, highlighting that the pandemic led to unprecedented viewership. "There were no sports on TV except for us. Fights that should have been doing 300,000 buys were doing a million. Our fan base grew something like 68 percent during COVID," White explained. This growth is particularly eye-opening considering the UFC was already a major player in live events and pay-per-view before the pandemic.

Recent events have underscored this upsurge in popularity and financial success. UFC 309, held at Madison Square Garden, generated over $16 million in live gate revenue, the second-highest for the promotion at this venue, falling short only to the 2016 debut card featuring Conor McGregor, which brought in $17.7 million. Additionally, a recent event in Edmonton drew over 16,000 fans and earned a live gate of more than $2.6 million.

Looking ahead, the UFC has a packed itinerary with its first-ever pay-per-view event at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome near Los Angeles in January. Moreover, international events are planned for early 2025 in Saudi Arabia and Sydney, Australia. The Saudi Arabian event is expected to be particularly lucrative, with previous site fees reaching $20 million and the next potentially even higher.

The most significant development on the horizon for the UFC is the upcoming negotiation for a new TV deal in 2025. The current contract with ESPN, worth $1.5 billion over five years, may be overshadowed by a new agreement as major players like Amazon and Netflix are anticipated to enter the bidding war.

In conclusion, while the pandemic devastated many sectors, it has undeniably contributed to the UFC's growing prominence and financial prosperity.