UFC CEO Dana White does not consider the Global Fight League competition.
The GFL has signed various notable UFC names, including the likes of Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, Tyron Woodley, Alexander Gustafsson and Urijah Faber.
The team-based promotion, which kicks off in April with a regular season, semifinals and finals events held throughout the year, held its draft this past Friday. White was asked what he thinks of the GFL and if he views the new promotion as a threat.
“I don’t think it’s blowing smoke – I think these guys are blowing real cash,” White said Thursday at the Power Slap 11 post-match news conference. “These guys are throwing a lot of money around, and I love it. Good for the fighters – it’s good for them.
“I don’t know anything about his business plan or what the deal is, but no, I don’t consider any combat sports my competition. My competition is the NFL, college football, soccer, big movies that come out on Saturday. I don’t look at other combat sports and look at them as competitors.”
The GFL has touted a 50-50 revenue split with fighters, as well as fighter retirement and insurance funds as a way to “prioritize fighters’ financial security and professional well-being, offering unprecedented profit-sharing opportunities to empower male and female athletes throughout their careers.”
