Earlier this year, the UFC made headlines by naming Meta as its first official fan technology partner. UFC President Dana White has played a big role in making this partnership happen. He’s especially excited because Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn’t just a tech leader—he’s also a huge MMA fan. That shared passion helped build instant chemistry between them.
Recently, White reflected on their first board meeting, calling it an incredible experience. What stood out most, though, was White’s praise for Zuckerberg. White made it clear that he’s thrilled about the direction their partnership is heading, especially with Zuckerberg’s growing focus on AI and fan engagement tools.
Dana White’s First Board Meeting with Meta Engineers Left Him Speechless
Dana White recently joined the Meta board of directors, deepening his connection with Mark Zuckerberg. Their partnership aims to bring big changes to the UFC. One major move is the plan to use AI-powered rankings, which would replace the current system based on media votes.
In a recent talk with Stephanie McMahon, White looked back at his first board meeting with Meta. He said it was eye-opening. During that meeting, Meta engineers gave the board a detailed look at how far AI has come.
White was clearly impressed. He shared how much faith he has in the future of AI after seeing what Meta’s team showed him.
My first board meeting, they brought in all the engineers to walk the board through AI,” White recalled. “And where it’s at right now, where’s it’s headed in the next — when I say, like this summer. Not like a year from now. This summer…” He added, “It’s crazy. Crazy cool — and crazy scary at the same time. A lot of unknowns with AI.”
Dana White Praises Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
In the interview, White has also openly expressed admiration for Mark Zuckerberg, describing the Meta CEO as an obsessive learner who fully immerses himself in his interests.
“In my time that I’ve become friends with Mark, what I have noticed about him is, when he is into something, he is obsessed with it. And now he’s obsessed with MMA. No doubt about it,” White remarked, highlighting Zuckerberg’s deep dedication to the sport.
Beyond Zuckerberg’s passion for MMA, White was particularly impressed by his in-depth knowledge of Meta’s operations. According to him, the CEO possesses an unmatched level of oversight in his company.
“There’s some s** going on at the UFC right now that I have no clue about,”* White admitted. “This guy knows every single thing that’s going on in every single department. It’s fascinating.”
In the whole discussion, White looks very hopeful about the UFC-Meta partnership, especially with Zuckerberg’s dual expertise in AI and his obsession with combat sports.
Subscribe
