Dana White’s $20 million+ event is ‘No. 1 crowning moment’ and will never be replicated, claims UFC legend

UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas was a groundbreaking and visually spectacular event. It pushed the boundaries of sports entertainment in terms of what is possible. The question is, when will Dana White come back for another spectacular event? UFC icons Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier had some things to say on this.

Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier recently sat down for a conversation on the ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ show on ESPN. During their discussion, Chael Sonnen pointed out that Noche UFC 2024 was one of Dana White’s many crowning moments where he broke the limits of what was thought possible.

This was epic. He’s already said it’s going to be a one of one. He says we’re not going back… Atleast for a meaningful period, I don’t think they are going to go back. So yes Daniel, it not only is a crowning moment, it may go down as No. 1.
Chael Sonnen on ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’

Held over Mexico’s Independence Day weekend, the event featured intense MMA action and an immersive, cinematic experience created with state-of-the-art technology. The Sphere, a cutting-edge venue with a 160,000-square-foot LED screen, allowed the UFC to project different “worlds” during the fights.

The production costs were substantial, exceeding $20 million, far beyond the usual $2 million that UFC typically invests in a pay-per-view event. This was due to the involvement of top-tier Hollywood directors, animators, and technology experts who have worked on everything from Super Bowl halftime shows to major film franchises.

However, White was disappointed by the lack of nail biting fights in the co-main and main-event. In the post fight press conference he even criticized these fights and hoped most fans stopped watching right before these 2 fights were aired.

Daniel Cormier believes Dana White may host another grand event at the Sphere

Despite the spectacle of UFC 306 at the Sphere, Dana White has said the UFC will not be returning to the venue. One major reason is that the UFC has exclusive contracts with MGM, a competitor to Sphere’s owner. White praised the technology and visuals but also admitted that producing the event was stressful.

Daniel Cormier believes UFC 306 was not the final UFC event at the Sphere (Image via Imago/X)

He described it as something he did not enjoy personally. However, aspects of the innovative production, such as drones and new camera technology, will be used in future UFC events. Amidst all this, Daniel Cormier believes this is not the end.

You know for me, I was watching and I started to hear John Anik standing there saying, ‘What coulr possibly be, a once in a lifetime’. And that gave me hope that it could happen again.
Daniel Cormier on ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’

UFC 306 at The Sphere featured several top-tier fights. The main event saw Merab Dvalishvili dominate Sean O’Malley to capture the UFC bantamweight title. Another standout fight involved Valentina Shevchenko, who regained her UFC women’s flyweight championship by defeating Alexa Grasso. In the featherweight division, Diego Lopes made a huge statement by defeating Brian Ortega in a one-sided bout, earning a unanimous decision victory.