During the global shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, most sports leagues went on hiatus for several months. However, organizations like the UFC and WWE resumed operations relatively quickly.
The UFC utilized its Apex facility, conveniently located near its headquarters, to host events without fans in attendance. This setup proved ideal, as Nevada’s relatively lenient restrictions at the time allowed the UFC to avoid disruptions caused by stricter state mandates elsewhere.
The UFC continues to hold Fight Night events at the Apex, though CEO Dana White has indicated a potential reduction in their frequency in 2025. White recently highlighted the pivotal role the Apex and the UFC’s quick adaptation played during the pandemic — a period that significantly contributed to the organization’s current success.
“Going through COVID definitely didn’t hurt us,” Dana White told Bloomberg. “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.”
Looking ahead, the UFC is showing no signs of slowing down. The organization has ambitious plans for 2025, including its first pay-per-view event at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome near Los Angeles.
Additionally, the UFC will return to Saudi Arabia for a major event on February 1 and begin negotiations for a new television deal.
