This year, the UFC has received a lot of criticism from fans with regard to the overall quality of the cards.
Although this was somewhat helped by the Octagon that the Apex left for events such as UFC Baku last weekend, recent events did not produce too many highlights.
On Saturday evening, Dana White gave all bonuses to the lightweight collision between Nazim Sadykhov and Nikolas Motta that stole the show, but even, that fight contained one of the two finishes on a 12-field card.
During the press conference after the fight, where White announced the pension of Jon Jones, the UFC CEO also proposed a change that could possibly come to the promotion schedule.
Although more fighting may sound a good thing, fans have expressed concern about whether this is actually positive for promotion in general.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Dana White suggests that the UFC can double the number of battles of the Competer Series in the future
The UFC is now in a crucial period, because the promotion continues to negotiate the current deal of the broadcasting rights.
Dana White gave an update to telling Sports Business Journal that it is likely that the UFC will have several employment partners, although the details of what a split would look like, are currently unknown.
During the UFC Baku Post-Fight Press Conference, White was asked a question about a promising hunter from Belarus and what the best approach is to go to the UFC.
He further suggested that as part of the new temporary employment deal, the amount of battles of Dana White's Contender Series battles could be doubled.
“Not to mention the fact that, while we are going to do our new TV rights deal, probably double the amount of contender series -fights that we are now doing. So listen, stay active, keep winning and fight remarkable people so that you can be noticed and you will certainly get the Contenter series.”
Dana White: As we have entered into our new TV Rights Deal, we will probably do double the amount of Contender -Series -Fights we are doing now.#UFC pic.twitter.com/xiqwfwhazr
– Jed I. Goodman © (@Jedigoodman) 21 June 2025
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Fans criticize Dana White and the UFC for adding more fights and signing more Contender Series Talent
With some fans who believe that the overall quality of UFC events has decreased because there are too many events with graduates from the Contender Series that take up a large part of the schedule, the reaction to White comments was not overly positive on social media.
Although it would offer more opportunities for hunters to earn a shot in the UFC, this would also suggest that the level of talent that is held on the Contender Series will not be that high because the promotion could not be so selective.
Dana White says that the UFC will probably double the amount of Contender Series fights, as part of their upcoming TV/streaming deal
– Nolan King (@mma_kings) 21 June 2025
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'Cheeky. RIP MMA. '
'Yes, this is what we have waited for! A more bloated schedule with less talent perfect to fill the Apex cards. Just [wait] Until the world opens again. '
'Yes, I am probably done with UFC. The water that has been going on in recent years is destroy to joy. '
“I am not against this, as long as they are more selective about who they give contracts.”
“GG UFC selection will be a whole series of cans.”
'The UFC product quality really went in the drain and this will make it worse. I notice that I look at BKFC, PFL (which now allows elbows), one, Octagon, KSW, Glory, much more. '