Meta and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are diving deeper into the tech world together, thanks to a multiyear partnership. The collaboration crowns Meta as the ‘Official Fan Technology Partner’ of UFC, opening the door for mixed martial arts fans to experience matches more intimately through Quest and other Meta platforms.
According to UFC, the plan is to harness Meta’s cutting-edge technology to connect with their global audience in new, unprecedented ways. This includes integrating tools like Meta AI, Meta Glasses, Meta Quest, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.
On top of that, UFC has announced Meta as its ‘Official AI Glasses Partner.’ Together, they aim to find creative uses for these innovative AI glasses during UFC events, enhancing the fan experience.
“Over the years, I’ve partnered with many who’ve helped this sport grow, but Mark and the Meta team are on another level,” stated UFC President and CEO Dana White. “With their top minds in tech, Meta is going to redefine fan engagement. We’ve already begun collaborating on a new fighter rankings system, which I’ll discuss soon. Fans should brace themselves for an exciting transformation in the coming years.”
The partnership seems like a match made in heaven, considering Meta’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has become quite the UFC enthusiast, even dabbling in Jiu Jitsu himself.
“I’m passionate about this sport and eager to work with UFC to offer fans fresh and exciting experiences,” Zuckerberg noted.
Additionally, Dana White brought his expertise to Meta’s board of directors earlier this year, joining the ranks alongside John Elkann, CEO of investment firm Exor, and tech investor Charlie Songhurst.
While specifics regarding what UFC integration on Quest will look like are still under wraps, Meta hints at a robust collaboration across all major Pay-Per-View and Fight Night events. This means we might see brand placements in the iconic Octagon and innovative in-arena experiences for fans. Threads, Meta’s social platform, will also feature exclusive UFC content, further binding the two brands.
Back in 2022, UFC first teamed up with Meta to stream 180-degree Fight Pass livestreams through Horizon Worlds, the social VR platform on Quest, and the Xtadium app. With this extended partnership, there’s potential for even greater exposure for UFC matches on Quest, paving the way for more dynamic viewing options.
Both companies promise more exciting announcements about this partnership are on the horizon. Stay tuned!
